Defendants' First Set of Interrogatories and Requests for Production (Gingles);
Public Court Documents
March 25, 1982

Cite this item
-
Case Files, Thornburg v. Gingles Hardbacks, Briefs, and Trial Transcript. Defendants' First Set of Interrogatories and Requests for Production (Gingles);, 1982. 901d9a3c-d792-ee11-be37-000d3a574715. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/23170a95-e119-4b93-8c0a-bf6b38797006/defendants-first-set-of-interrogatories-and-requests-for-production-gingles. Accessed July 08, 2025.
Copied!
a 3' )t')''- IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTR.ICT OF NORTH CAROLTNA RALEIGH DIVTSION RALPH GINGLES, €t aI., Plaintiffs No. 81-803-CIV-5 V. RUFUS EDMfSTEN, €t aI., Defendants ALAN V. v. JA.I4ES B. *** PUGH, €t d1., Plaintiffs No. 81-1066-CIV-5 HLINT, JR., etc,, et dI., Defendants DEFENDANTS I FTRST SET OF INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FgR PRODUCTTON (GINGLES) COME NOW the Defendants in the above-styled action and, pursuant to Rules 33 and 34 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, propound to all Plaintiffs in the action entitled Ralph Gj-ngles, et al., V. Rufus Edmisten, etc., et a1., No. 81-803-CIV-5 and their attornevs of record the following interrogatories and requests for production, to l:e ansr.rered and responded to, pursuant to stipulation of the parties, v:ith- in (15) days after service hereof. In answering these interrogatoriesr 1lou are required to furnish all information available to you, including informa- tion j-n the possession of your._attorney or any person acting in your behalf, and not merely such information as j-s knor,m of your ovm personal knowledge. ff you cannot ansvrer any particular interrogatory or interrogatories in ful1, after exercising due diligence to secure the information soughtr so state and answer to the extent po.ssible, specifying the reasons for lzour inatlility to ansvrer the remainder. You are reminded that, under the provisions of Rule 26(e) of the Federal Ru1es of Civil Procedure, you are under a duty to supplement seasonaLrly your response rvith respect to any question directly addressed to (a) the identity and locati-on of ?2- persons having knowledge of discoverable matter, and (b) the identity of each person expected to be called as an expert witness at trial, the subject matter on which he is expected to testify and the substance of his testimony. Base your responses on the statistics in vour possession and on which you have kased your allegations. You are under a arity to amend seasonably a prior response if you obtain information upon the hasis of which (a) you know that the response, though correct when made, is no longer true or complete, and the circumstances are such that a failure,to amend the response is, in substance, a knowinq concealment. Any such supplemental response is to be filed and served upon counsel of record for this Defendant rvithin fifteen (15) days after receipt of such information. DEFINTTIONS Unless otherwise indicated, the followj-ng definitions shall be applicable to these interrogatories and requests for production: You and your sha1l mean the Plaintiffs and each of their attorneys, agrentsr or representatives and all other persons acting on their behalf Person shal1 mean any individual, partnership, fi-rm, association, corporation or other business, governmental or 1egal entity Address sha11 mean the post office box number, street number, street, route number, route, town, city, county and state of subject person, business or other entity. 'Document shall mean any r.rritten, recorded, transcribed, punched, taped, drarm, filmed or graphic matter of any kind or description, however produced or reproduced Paragraph, your pgragraph, or paragraph of your Complaint refers to the numbered paragraphs of your Complaint, as supple- mented. -3- Gross deviation is the total figure, Plus or minus, com- from theputed by subtracting the ideal population Cistrict total population rvithin the specific district. census unit shalI refer to tracts ' enumeration districts ' block groups and blocks as these terms are defined hy the United States Bureau of the Census. Ideal population district- or equal population of the State of North Carolina divided by the total number of State House of Representatives or State Senate districts. number of each Senate district refers to those numbers applied to each legislative district for identification purPoses. District refers to districts vrithin the Fouse of Repre- sentatives and/or.Senate of the State of llorth Carolina. Percentage by rvhich a district 4eviates from the ideal population district j-s that percentage which is computed by dividing the gross deviation by the ideal population district and converting that fraction into a Percentage. Overall range of deviations is that term usecl which is identical in meaning to the term used t'V the United States Supreme Court in Mahan v. Hovrell, 410 U.S. at 319, as "maximum percentage variation from that ideal" or "maximum variation or maximum deviationr" 410 U.S. at 323. This overall range of deviations is equal to the sum of the percentage by which the most populous district deviates from the ideal population district and the percentage by which the least PoPulous district deviates from the ideal population district, ignorino the plus and minus signs of these Percentages. Your aevised reapPortionment P_Ian or your revised Plan or ,orrt lilro,rt t".rr="u t.uoootaror,*.ta otont=t' ot ,o" revised proposal or your proposal j-s that plan or ProPosal rvhich emboclies any adjustments, changes, alterations, of amendments to the basic legislative reapportionment plans ernbodied in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Extra Session Laws of 1982 which the Plaintiffs Number of each district, number of each House district or -4- suggest as possible solutions to various alleged deficiencies within the legislative reapportionment plans. Describe this plan or proposal in terms of incremental changes to the plan embodied in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Extra Session Latars of L982. *** 1. State the full name, d9e, date address, place of birth, and place tiff in th-is action. birthr Pr€s€Dt residence employment of each plain- of of 2. State (a) whether each plaintiff has read the introductory paragraphs to these interrogatorj-es and (b) trhether each plain- tiff understands that these interrogatories are to te ansvrerd under oath. -5- 3. fn Paragraph 109 of your Complaint, you alIege that the reapportionment plan for the House of Representatives, Chapter 4 of the Extra Session Laws of 1982, "has the effect of and was enacted vrith the purpose of discriminating against black citizens of the State of North Carolina, and of denying blacl< citizens the ability to use their vote effectively.u !.fith regard to this allegation, set out the follorving: a. The numher of each House district v,here the reappor- tionment plan substantially dilutes or minimizes the voting strength of blacks within that House district. b. Set out specifically the objections vrhich you or any of the plaintiffs have to the specific House district and its composition. c. Set out in detail the effect of the House plan in substantially diluting or minimizing the voting strength of the plaintiffs or memhers of their c1ass. In ansvrering this interrogatory, set out, at a minimum, the foIlor^ring: 1. Flach v.rhole county, tovrnship or census unit which the Legislature included or omitted within each House district with the effect of diluting the plaintiffs' voting strength. 2. Each whole county, township, or census unit which the Legislature included or omitted within each liouse district with the purpose of diluting the plaintiffs' voting strength -5- 4. In Paragraph 115 of your Complaint, you allege that Chapter 5 of the Extra Session Lavrs of L982, "has the effect of and was enacted vrith the purpose of discriminating against h,lack voters and of diluting the vote of plaintiffs and other black citizens of the State of North Carolina and of denying black citizens the right to use their vote effectively." With regard to this allegation, set out the following: a. The number of each Senate district where the reappor- tionment plan substantially dilutes or minimizes the voting strength of blacks wi-thin that Senate district. b. Set out specifically the objections vrhich you or any of the plaintiffs have to the specific Senate district and its composition. c. Set out in detail the effect of the Senate plan in substantially diluting or minimizing the voting strength of the plaintiffs or members of their class in the same manner as in responding to interrogatory number 3 (c) . -7- 5. For each whole countyl township, or census unit which you listed in your answer to interrogatory number 3 (c) (1) , set out the House district wherein you would propose to place that particular whoLe county, township, or eensus unit within the Legisldture's reapportionment plan embodied in Chapter 4 of the Extra Session Laws of 1982. -8- 6. For each whole county, township, or census unit which you listed in your answer to interrogatory number 3 (c) (2), set out the House dlistrict vrherein you would ProPose to place tfrit particular whole county, tovmship, or census unit within the Legislature's reapportionment plan as embodied in Chapter 4 of the Extra Session Laws of 1982. -9- 7. Set out the following: a. A11 House districts wherein you u.rould alter the legislative reapportionment plan to correct the alleged deficienci.Js set out in your answer to interrogatory number 3. b. Within each House district cited in your response to interrogatory number 7(a) set out the following: 1. Each whole county, township, or census unit included rvithin the House district under your proposaL. 2. The total population of the revj-sed House district under your proposal. 3. The total number of whites within the revised House district under your proposal. 4. The total number of blacks rvithin the revise<l House district under your proposal. 5. The percentage of whites within the revised House district under your proposal. 6. The percentage of blacks vrithin the revised House district under your proposal. 7. The gross deviation of each revised llouse district under your proposal. -1 0- 8. rn your revised reapporti.onment proposal as set forth in your answer to interrogatory nurnber 7, have you placed the same whole county, townstrip, or census unit within two House districts or have you omitted to place a whole county, township, or census turit within a House district? 9. Set out the following: a. A11 Senate districts wherein you would alter the legislative reapportionment plan to correct the alreged deficiencies set out in your answer to interrogatory number 4. b. Within each Senate district cited in your answer to interrogatory number 9(a), set out the following: 1. Each whole county, township, or census unit included within the Senate district under your proposal. 2. The total population of the revised Senate district under your proposal. 3. The total nr:rnber of whites within the revised Senate district under yorrr proposal. 4. The total number of blacks within the revised Senate district under your proposal. 5. The percentage of whites within the revised Senate district under your proposal. 5. The percentage of blacks within the revised Senate district under your proposal. 7. The gross deviation of each revj-sed Senate district under your proposal. -II. 10. In your reapportionment proposal as set forth in your answer to interrogatory number 9, have you placed the s:rme whole county, twnship, or census unit within two Senate districts or have you omitted to Place a whole county, town- shipr oE census unit within a Senate district? 1I. With respect to ei.ther Chapter 4 or 5 of the Special Session Laws of Lg82, do you contend that the Federal or State Constitut- ion requires the Legislature to apportion each legislative district so that the overall range of deviations is less than it presently is in the House or Senate Plan? -L2- L2. ff you answered interrogatory number 11 in the affirmati-ve, set out the follovring: a. The Legislaturers duty under the Federal and State Constitutions with regard to maximum permissible overall range of deviations from the ideal population House district. b. Each House district which deviates from this overall range of deviations divided by two. c. The Federal and State Constitutional provisions on which you base your answer to interrogatory number 12 (a) . d. The Legislature's duty under the Federal and State Constitutj-ons with regard to maximum permissible overall range of deviations from the ideal population Senate district. e. Each Senate district which deviates from this overall range of deviations divided b1z two. t. The :Federal and State Constitutional provisions on which you base your answer to interrogatory number 12 (d) . o -13- 13. Set out the following: a. Name each new llouse or Senate district whieh you contencl has imlrerm.issible Iarge variances from population equality. b. For each district described in your answer to interogatory number 13 (a) set out the gross number of residents and the percentage that each distriet departs from the ideal population district or equal population. -14- 14. With respect to your allegatiOns in paragraph 109 and Paragraph 115 that the House and senate reapportionment plans have "the effect of and (were) enacted with the purpose of discriminating against black voters and of diluting the vote of plaintiffs and other black citizens of the state of North Carolinar " (a) define "diluting" in both guantitative and descriptive terms, (b) with regard to this allegation, set out eacl: House and senate district within ilre legislative reappor- tionment plans where you a11ege the Legj.slature intended to dilute the voting strength of black citizens or (c) rvhich had the effect of diluting the voting strength of black citizens. -15- 15. If you identified any House district in your answer to interrogatory nr:mber L4 , set out the f olIor"'ing: a. Each vrhole county, township, or census unit within each House district listed in your ansl+er to interrogatory number 14 which was included within the identified House district for the Purpose of diluting black voting strength' b.Eachwholecounty,tovrnship,orcensusunitrvithin each House district listed in your ansr+er to interrogatory number 14 which was included rvithin ti:e identified House district which had the effect of diluting blacl: voting strength. c.Eachwholecountyrtownshiprorcensusunitvrithin anyHousedistrictwhichwasexcludedfromanyHouse district listed in your answer to interrogatory number 14 for tl:e purpose of diluting black voting strength d. Each whole county, torvnship, or census unit within any House district vrhich rvas excluded from any House district listed in your ansr.rer to interrogatory number 14 which had the effect of diluting or minimizing black voting strength. -16- 16. rf you have identified any llouse district in your answer to j-nterrogatory number 14, set out the follovring: a. A.11 House districts wherein you vrould alter the legislative reapportionment plan to correct to alleged cleficiencies set out in Paragraph 109 of your complaint. b. within each House district set out in your answer to interrogatory number 16 (a) , set out the followine: 1. Each whole county, township, or census unlt vrithin the revised House district under your proposal. 2. The total population of the revised llouse district under your proposal. 3. The total number of whites vrithin the revised House district under your proposal. 4. The total number of blacks rvithin the revised Ilouse district under your proposal. 5. The percentage of whites within the revised House district under your proposal. 6. The percentage of blacl,,s vrithin the revised House district under your proposal. 7. The gross deviation of the revised llouse district under your proposal. -17- L7. In your revised reapportionment proposal as set forth in your ansr.rers to interrogatory number L5, have vou placed the same whole county, tow:nshi.p, or census unit within tvro House districts or omitted to place a whole county, township, or census unit within a House district? 18. If you identified any Senate district in your answer to interrogatory number 14, set out the following: a. Each whole county, tovrnship, or census unit within each Senate district listed in your ans$rer to j-nterroga- tory number 14 which was included within the identified Senate district for the purpose of diluting or minimizing black voting strength. b. Each vrhole county, tor.mship, or census unit within each Senate district listed in your answer to interroga- tory number 14 which was included vrithin the identified Senate district which has the effect of diluting or minimizing black voti-nq strength. c. Pach whole county, township, or census unit vrithin any Senate district which.-was excluded from any Senate district listed in your ans\^rer to interrogatory number 14 for the purpose of diluting or minimizinq black voting strength. d. Each whole county, township, or census unit within any Senate district which was exclude<l from any Senate district listed in your anshrer to interrogatory number 14 which had the effect of diluting or mj-nimizing black voting strength. -18- 19. If you have identified any Senate district in your ansvrer to interrogatory number 14, set out the fo1lowing: a. A1l Senate districts wherein you vrould alter the legislative reapportionment plan to correct the alleged deficiencies set out in Paragraph 115 of your Complaint. b. Within each Senate district set out in your anst.rer to interrogatory number 19(a), set out the following: 1. Each whole county, township, or census unit within the revised Senate district under your proposal. 2. The total population of the revised Senate district under your proposal. 3. The total number of whites r.rithin the revised Senate district under your proposal. 4. The total number of hrlacks v:ithin the revise<1 sendte district of your proposal. 5. The percentage of whites rvithin the revised Senate district under your proposal. 6. The percentage of blacks rvithin the revised Senate district under your proposal. ?. The gross deviation of the revised Senate district under your ProPosal. -19 - 20. Will you attempt to prove that contemporaneous statements of legislators regarding chapter 4 and 5 of the Extra session Laws of 1982 rere made which indicate ttre purpose of discrimin- ating against black voters andr/or of diluting black voting strength on the part of the Legislature or any members thereof? If so, set out the following. a. The name of each Legislator who made such a statement. b. The place he or she made the statement. c. The date of the statement. d. The exact statement he or she made. e. The source through which you learned of the statement. f. The name, address, and telephone number of such source. g. If reported j-n the media, the name, address, and telephone number of each such media outlet. h. The date each media report was made and by whom. i. Please attach a copy of each such media report. -20- 21. Does either the House of Representatives or senate reapportionment plan enacted by the Legislature in 1982 enhance or maintain the opportunity of any black incumbent to continue in offj-ce? rf so, name the incumbent and the manner in which the opportunity was enhanced or maintained. -2L- 22. Does either the House of Representatives or Senate reapportionment plan enacted by the Lecislature in L982 lessen the opportunity of any brack incumbent to continue in office? ff sor name the incumhent and the manner in which the oppor- tunity was lessened. -22- 23. Do you al.lege that any whole counties, townships, or census units in the 1982 legislative reapportionment prans rrere transferred from any district where they would have had a major impact in the election of a bLack Leeislator to one where the electoral impact would be minor in the eLection of a black Legislator? -23- 24. rf yo.ur answer to interrogatory number 23 r.ras in the affirmative, set out the following; a. fdentify the '.rhole county, township or census unit. b. The House or Senate district wherein the whole county, township t ot census unit is now l_ocated. c. The percentage of blacks rvithin the House or senate district as presently constituted in the I9g2 legislative reapportionment plans. d. The number of people within the district as presently constituted. e. The tlouse or Senate district in r^/hich you believe this whole county, township, or census unit should he relocated, its present percentage of blacks and number of people. f. The percentage of blacks within the trvo districts if the svritch you advocated vrere made. g. The total number of residents in the tv:o districts if the whole county, township, or census unit were switched as you advocate. h. The number(s) or name(s) of the vrhole county, tor.vnship, or census unit previously specified in answer to interrogatory number 24(a) in order to satisfy the one-man, one-vote requirement. i. The House or Senate district from which such v:hoIe county, tovrnship, or eensus unit would be removed. j. The gross deviatj-ons of all Ilouse and senate districts by district as a consequence of the foregoing shifts in whole county, township, or census units. -24- 25. rf you have dravrn or have in your possession statewide reapportionment maps for the House of Representatives and the senate which you prefer to be adopted, prease attach the same. 26. If you have no maps referred to in.interrogatory number 25, please attach a drarving of each new district and the districts contiguous to that district if such district vrere dratyn as you advocate in response to interrogatory number 24. -25- 27. In your Paragraph 12I you state that "!he intent and effect of the apportionment of the North Carolina General Assemhly enacted in Chapters { and 5 of the Extra Session Lavrs of 1982 are to...deny plaintiffs ttreir right to use their vote effec- tively. r B. Explain the phrase rright to use their vote effec- tivelyro as you employ it. . b. Identify specifieally each component of the reappor- tionment plans whieh you contend denied the plaintiffs the right to use their vote effecti,veLy and explain hovr the effective use of their vote was so denied. -26- 28. In Paragraph 127 you state that "the State of north Carolina has a history of discrimination against black citizens in its voter registration practices and in other election lawsr regulations and practices rvhich have prevented plaintiffs and other black citizens of this State from voting or from using their votes effectively. " with respect to your Paragraph 127, set forth the follorving: a. All voter registration practices which have occurred hj-storically in this SEate vrhich have prevented plaintiffs and other black citizens of this State from voting or from using their votes effecti-vely. b. A11 voter registration practices in this State which continue to prevent plaintiffs and other black citizens of this State from voting or from using their votes effectively. c. All election laws which have historj-caI1v been employed in this State to prevent plaintiffs and other blacl'. citizens of this State from voting or from using their votes effectively. d. A11 election laws which continue to be enforced v'hich prevent plaintiffs and other black citizens of this State from voting or from using their votes effectively. e. All regulations which have historicalllr been used to prevent plaintiffs and other blacks of this State from voting or from using their votes effectively. f. All regulations which continue to be used to prevent plaintiffs and other black citizens of thj-s State from voting or from using their votes effectively. g. All practices which have historically been used by the State to prevent plaintiffs and other blacl: citiz.ens of this State from voting or from using their votes effectively. h. AII practices which continue to be used to prevent plaintiffs and other black citizens of this State from voting or from us5-ng their votes effectively. 29. Can you state specific instances of the use of voter registration practices or other election lawsr oE regulations, or practices which have been used to prevent plaintiffs and other black citizens of this state from voting or from using their votes effectively? If sor list chronolooical.ly, by date, the occurrence of each incident of preventing plaintiffs and other black citizens of this state from voting or from using their votes effectively. -28- 30. Your Paragraph L28 states "the North carorina General Assembly has historically been unresponsive to the needs of the blac]'- ci-tizens of the state of North carolina." 9et forth the following: a- Exprain the phrase "needs of the black citizens of the State of North Carolinar,, as lrou employ it. b. Give specific examples of occasions on whieh the llorth carolina General Assembly has been unresponsive to the needs of the black citizens of the state of North Carolina and explain your anst{er. -29- 31. Do your statistj.cs indicate that any past lrlorth Carolina House of Representatives or Senate reapportionment p1ans, enacted by the Legislature after any decennial census, provided blacks with a greater opportunity to erect representatives of their choosing than do the current plans embodiect in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Extra session Lar.rs of Lgg2? rf So, identify the plan(s) and explain your ansvrer. 32. Do your statistics indicate that any past North carolina House of Representatives or senate reapportionment prans, enacted by the Legislature after: any decennial censusr pro- vided blacks with a greater opportunity to use their vote effec- tively than do the current plans embodied in chapters 4 and 5 of the Extra session Laws of t9g2? rf so, i-dentify the plan(s) and explain your anshrer. -30- 33. Do your statistics indicate that any past North Carolina House of Representatives or Senate reapportionment plans, enacted by the LegisLature after any decennial census, provided blacks with as great an opportunity to elect representatives of their choosing as do the current plans embodied in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Extra Session Laws of L982? If sor identify the plan(s) and explain your answer. 34. Do your statistics indicate that any past Uorth Carolina House of Representatives or Senate reapportionment p1ans, enacted by the Legislature after any decennial census, provide{ blacks with as great an opportunity to use their vote effec! tively as do the current plans embodied in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Extra Session Laws of L982? If sor ictentify the plan(s) and explain your answer. -31- 35. State the name, address, employment, and telephone number of each Person you t ill or may call as a witness at the trial of this natter (rvith the exception of those experts, if any, referred to in the next interrogatory) and further state the substance of each such personts expected testinony. -32- 36. state the name, address, employm'ent, telephone number, and qualifications of each Person you exPect to call as an expert witness at the trial of this matter and further state the subject matter on vrhich each such expert is expected to testify. -33- 37. As to each expert named in the answer to interrogatory number 36, state the substance of the facts and opinions to which said experts ate expected to testify and give a summary of the grounds for each opinion. -34- 38. Please attach to your answers to these interrogatories true, complete, and correct copies of any and all documents prepared by any such experts 6a €Xpert re}ating to this action. 39. State the name, address, telephone nurnlcer, and qual-ifications of each expert whom you have retained or specifically employed in anticipation of litigation or preparation of trial and who is not expected to be cal1ed as a v'itness of the trial of this action. -35- 40. rndieate each occasion on vrhich each person named in the answers to interrogatories number 35 and 36 has testified in other legal proceedings regarding state legislative reappor- tionment and describe the nature of his or her testimony in each of those proceedingfs. Respectfully submitted this *" 29 day of !,tarch , Lg82. RUFUS L. EDHTSTEN ATTORNEY GENERAL Post Office Box 629 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602Telephone: (9I9) 733-3377 Norma Parrell Tiare Smiley Assistant Attorndy General John Lassiter . Associate Attorney General Jerris Leonard Kathleen KeenanJerris Leonard & Associates, p.e. 900 17th Street, I{.W. Suite L020 $.rashington, D.C. 20006 Telephone: (202) 872-1095 ; { aJ-Iace, .Tr. Attorney Geg6ral Legal ^e.ffair'sey General's Office. Department of Justj.ce -36- CERTTFICATE OF SEFVICE r hereby certify that r have this day served the foregoing InteEogatories and Reguests for Production upon plaintif f :'s Attorneys by placing a copy of same in the united states post Office, postage prepaid, addressed to: ,J. Levonne Chambers Leslie l^Iinner Chambers, Ferguson, Watt, Wallas, Adkins & Fu11er, p.A. 951 South Independence Boulevard Charlotte, North Carolina 29202 Jack Greenbert James I"1. Nabrit, Iff tlapeoleon B. .Wi11iams, Jr. 10 Columbus Circle New York, Ner.r york 10019 Arthur J. Donaldson Burke, Donaldson, Holshouser & Kererly 309 North t'Iain Streeti: -salisbury, North Carolina 2g144 Robert Il. llunter, Jr. Attorney at Law Post Office Box 3245 201 West Market Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27402 This the 4- day of t{arch , lgl2.