United States v. Medical Society of South Carolina

298 F. Supp. 145, 11 A.L.R. Fed. 734, 71 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2057, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9280, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,002, 1 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 725
CourtDistrict Court, D. South Carolina
DecidedMarch 10, 1969
DocketCiv. A. 68-671
StatusPublished
Cited by45 cases

This text of 298 F. Supp. 145 (United States v. Medical Society of South Carolina) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Medical Society of South Carolina, 298 F. Supp. 145, 11 A.L.R. Fed. 734, 71 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2057, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9280, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,002, 1 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 725 (D.S.C. 1969).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND ORDER

MARTIN, Chief Judge.

This action was instituted on June 29, 1968, by the Attorney General on behalf of the United States, pursuant to Titles II and YII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000a, 2000e, to restrain the defendants from operating Roper Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, on a racially segregated basis and from discriminating against Negro employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their race or color.

The defendants have answered by way of general denials. The parties have filed with the Court a Stipulation, which reflects that there is no dispute between the parties as to the material facts except as indicated in said Stipulation.

The Court, after carefully considering the record, hereby enters its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. The defendant Medical Society of South Carolina (hereinafter the Society) is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of South *147 Carolina. The Society owns and operates a hospital known as Roper Hospital, which is located at 816 Calhoun Street, Charleston, South Carolina, in a complex of hospitals and other medical buildings in that part of the city.

2. The defendant Board of Commissioners of Roper Hospital (hereinafter referred to as the Board) is the governing body of the hospital, and manages the hospital on behalf of the Society. The defendant Edward F. Parker is the Chairman of the Board. The defendant C. A. Robb is the Administrator of the hospital and responsible for its daily operation.

3. By the will of Thomas Roper, admitted to probate May 25, 1829, certain funds were bequeathed to the Society “for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a hospital for the reception and treatment of such sick, maimed and diseased paupers as need medical aid, without regard to religion, complexion, or national origin.” 1 Pursuant to the will, and after complex litigation, 2 the original Roper Hospital, located on Queen Street in Charleston, was completed in 1856 and became the first community hospital in South Carolina. Until 1959, the old Roper Hospital was the primary facility used for the care of Negro patients in Charleston County, South Carolina.

4. In 1946, the new Roper Hospital was opened at its present location, and the old Roper Hospital was closed in 1957. Presently, Roper is a general hospital with a bed capacity of 322. The services of the hospital are set up in departments, including medical service, surgical, anesthesia, pediatrics, obstetrics, operating room, X-ray, physical therapy, laboratory, pharmacy, electroencephalograph, electrocardiograph, recovery room, intensive care, private outpatient department, dietary, administrative, laundry, maintenance, housekeeping, School of X-Ray Technology, and the School of Practical Nursing, medical records department and business administration department.

COVERAGE UNDER TITLE II

5. On the premises of Roper Hospital, immediately adjoining the lobby on the ground floor, there is located a snack bar. There are a number of small tables and a counter on the premises of the snack bar and food is sold there for consumption at these tables and the counter. The snack bar served sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks and other beverages, and similar items, all in a form suitable for consumption on the premises.

6. Also on the premises of Roper Hospital, immediately to the rear of the lobby on the ground floor, there is located a cafeteria. The cafeteria has one dining room consisting of two adjoining dining areas, one with 14 tables and the other with 21 tables, and patrons eat their food at these tables. The cafeteria serves full meals including steak, chicken, pork chops, roast beef, seafood, numerous vegetables, breads, salads and desserts. All of the food served in this cafeteria is sold in a form suitable for consumption on the premises.

7. Both the snack bar and the cafeteria are operated for the convenience of employees and visitors of patients at the hospital 3 including persons from outside the State of South Carolina, such as out-of-state visitors to patients. No inquiry is made of patrons as to their state of origin, or as to whether they are interstate travelers. No attempt is made to purchase only food originating in South Carolina, and a substantial portion of the food and other products sold at the snack bar and at the cafeteria has moved in interstate commerce from other states to South Carolina.

*148 8. The snack bar and cafeteria are held out as serving the same persons as are served by the hospital as a whole. There are signs posted in various parts of the hospital indicating the location of each of these facilities. In the booklet entitled “At Roper Hospital,” which is made available to patients upon arrival as well as to visitors and other persons, the eating facilities are described as follows:

THE SNACK BAR is located on the ground floor as indicated in the diagram on page 4. It is for the use of visitors and personnel as well as those patients who are able to use it.
CAFETERIA. The cafeteria is situated on the ground floor as indicated in the diagram on page 4. This facility is operated seven days a week for the noon meal only. Hours of operation are 11:30 A.M. to 1:15 P.M.

THE HOSPITAL’S PRACTICES VISA-VIS NEGRO PATIENTS

9. Following closing of “Old” Roper Hospital, Negro patients in Charleston have been cared for at Medical College Hospital, St. Francis Xavier Hospital, and Negro-operated McClennan-Banks Hospital. More than 10,000 patients are admitted to bed care at Roper Hospital in an average year; but, with very few exceptions, there have been no Negro inpatients at Roper Hospital.

10. In 1965, following the enactment of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq., prohibiting federal financial assistance to recipients, including hospitals, which fail to comply with federal desegregation requirements, the doctor who was then Chief of Roper’s medical staff brought before the Society a motion to sign a compliance agreement pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Guidelines duly promulgated pursuant thereto. The motion was defeated on the stated ground that the members felt that federal aid would ultimately lead to federal interference with Roper Hospital policy. Roper Hospital also discontinued its participation in all federal programs. The plaintiff contends, but the defendants deny, that the Hospital’s refusal to sign a compliance agreement and to continue participation in federal programs, were predicated, in whole or in part, on the Hospital’s racial policies. The defendants contend that Roper Hospital’s failure to renew contracts for federal programs was due to the federal government’s refusal to make financial arrangements satisfactory to Roper Hospital.

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Bluebook (online)
298 F. Supp. 145, 11 A.L.R. Fed. 734, 71 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2057, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9280, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,002, 1 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 725, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-medical-society-of-south-carolina-scd-1969.