Answer to Amended Complaint
Public Court Documents
October 26, 1973
4 pages
Cite this item
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Case Files, Milliken Hardbacks. Answer to Amended Complaint, 1973. 64855ae3-53e9-ef11-a730-7c1e5247dfc0. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/288aa7c2-7ce3-422d-b5cc-fa1e830adac0/answer-to-amended-complaint. Accessed December 05, 2025.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
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)) Civil Action No. 35257
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ANSWER OF- PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO AMENDED
COMPLAINT. ______
I
FIRST DEFENSE
PRIOR PROCEEDINGS
1. These Defendants for lack of information neither
admit nor deny the allegations contained in paragraph one.
2. Answering paragraph two these Defendants deny any
acts, conduct or activities in violation of Federal or State Law
that invokes the jurisdiction of this Court.
3. Answering paragraph three these Defendants for lack
of information neither admit nor deny the allegations contained m
’V
paragraph three.
II
DEFENDANTS
4. Answering paragraphs four, five, six, seven, eight
and nine these Defendants for lack of information neither admit
RONALD BRADLEY, Et Al,
Plaintiffs,
-vs-
WILLIAM G. MILLIKEN, Et Al,
Defendants.
nor deny the allegations as to necessity and leaves Plaintiffs
to their proofs.
Ill
ADDITIONAL ALLEGATIONS
TO CONFORM TO THE EVIDENCE
10. Answering paragraph ten these Defendants neither
admit nor deny the allegations contained therein for lack of
information, and further state that if said additional allegations
are made to confirm to evidence presented in this court, these
Defendants were not a party to said proceedings and have not
been afforded an opportunity of participation in trial, or cross-
examination as to evidence produced at trial in violation of
Plaintiff's rights; further, these Defendants aver that they have
never committed or participated in any acts of de jure segregation
as alleged, and if said de jure segregation has occurred, it is
the result of other factors and conditions that are not the basis
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of any suit against these Defendants.
11. Answering paragraph eleven these Defendants deny
the allegations contained therein.
12. Answering paragraph twelve these Defendants deny
the allegations contained therein.
13. Answering paragraph thirteen these Defendants deny
the allegations contained therein.
14. Answering paragraph fourteen these Defendants deny
the allegations contained therein.
15. Answering paragraph fifteen these Defendants for
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want of information neither admit nor deny the allegations and
leave Plaintiffs to their proofs.
16. Answering paragraph sixteen these Defendants deny
same as being untrue.
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17. Answering paragraph seventeen these Defendants
for lack of information neither admit nor deny said allegations,
and further state that said additional allegations to conform to
evidence were made prior to the joinder of these Defendants as
parties and they have not been afforded an opportunity to defend,
or to examine, as to any findings made as heretofore pleaded in
paragraph ten of this Answer.
SECOND DEFENSE
That Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim upon
which relief can be granted in that they have failed to allege
that any acts of de jure segregration were committed by or are
attributable to these Defendants.
THIRD DEFENSE
That to grant the relief prayed for in the Complaint
and Amended Complaint as to these Defendants would:
A. Be a deprivation of due process of law as
guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States because
these Defendants have not been a party to the
extensive proceedings that have previously
taken place, and have not been guilty of any
of the enumerated acts alleged in Plaintiff's
Complaint; -
\B. Result in unreasonable hardship because of
the time and distance factors involved so as to
either affect the health of the child, or -
significantly impinge on the educational process;
C. Create an unreasonable burden on the pupil
and these Defendants.
FOURTH DEFENSE
That the relief sought by Plaintiff would require a
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restructuring of local government in violation of the right of
electoral choice.
FIFTH DEFENSE
That this Court can grant relief to Plaintiffs
in the absence of these Defendants.
SIXTH DEFENSE
That this Court is without authority to enter a
judgment as to these Defendants as to a desegregation plan
as there is no showing of a plan or purpose.for promoting
segregation by these Defendants and that if, or the action or
intent of, segregation exists, it is not the result of present
or past desegregation by these Defendants.
WHEREFORE, these Defendants pray that said Complaint
be dismissed with costs and attorney fees awarded.
DATED: October 26, 1973 SEMPLINER, THOMAS AND GUTH
Attorneys for Plymouth Community
School District, The Board of
Education, Members of the Board
of Education and Superintendent
UY: WALTER J. rGUTH, JR.
711 West Ann Arbor Trail
Plymouth, Michigan 48170
455-4560
453-6220
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