Abbott v. Veasey Brief in Opposition

    IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABMA 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

JOHN DILLARD, et al., ) 

Plaintiffs, ) 

vs. ) C.A. No. 85-T-1332-N 

CRENSHAW COUNTY, ALABAMA, et al., ) 

Defendants. ) 

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO COMPEL DEFENDANT ETOWAH COUNTY 

TO RESPOND FULLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ FIRST DISCOVERY REQUEST 
  

Plaintiffs John Dillard, et al., through their undersigned 

counsel, pursuant to Rule 37, F.R.C.P., would show unto the Court 

as follows: 

l. Attached to this motion is a copy of interrogatory no.4 

in plaintiffs’ first discovery request, filed on or about 

December 20, 1985. 

2. Attached to this motion is a copy of the response of the 

Etowah County Defendants to interrogatory no.4, filed February 

21, 18886. 

3. The response to sub-interrogatory 4.b. fails to give the 

name, race, sex, date of selection and period of service for each 

person selected by the county commission or individual 

 



  

commissioner to serve on such a body since 1965. 

WHEREFORE, plaintiffs pray that the Court will issue an 

order compelling the Etowah County Defendants to respond fully 

and completely to sub-interrogatory 4.b. by June 30, 1988. 

Respectfully submitted this /3 day of June, 1986. 

BLACKSHER, MENEFEE & STEIN, P.A. 
405 Van Antwerp Bldg. 
P. OD. Box 1051 
Mobile, Alabama 36633 
(205) 433-2000 

  

MES U. BLACKSHER 
WANDA J. COCHRAN 

TERRY G. DAVIS 
Seay & Davis 
732 Carter Hill Road 
P. O. Box 8135 
Montgomery, Alabama 36106 
(205) 834-2000 

DEBORAH FINS 

JULIUS L. CHAMBERS 

NAACP Legal Defense Fund 
99 Hudson Street, 16th Floor 

New York, New York 10013 

(212) 219-1900 

EDWARD STILL 
REEVES & STILL 
714 South 29th Street 

Birmingham, Alabama 35233-2810 
(205) 322-6631 

 



  

REO KIRKLAND, Jr. 
307 Evergreen Avenue 
P. O. Box 6458 
Brewton, Alabama 36427 

(208) 867-5711 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

CERTIFICATE QF SERVICE 
  

I do hereby certify that on this /3 day of June, 1986, a 
copy of the foregoing PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO COMPEL DEFENDANT 
ETOWAH COUNTY TO RESPOND FULLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ FIRST DISCOVERY 
REQUEST was served upon the following counsel of record: 

H. R. Burnham, Esq. 

Burnham, Klinefelter, Halsey, 
Jones &¥ Carter 

P. O. Box 1618 
Anniston, AL 36202 

(CALHOUN COUNTY) 

Jack Floyd, Esq. 
Floyd, Keener & Cusimano 
816 Chestnut Street 
Gadsden, AL 35999 
(ETOWAH COUNTY) 

David R. Boyd, Esq. 
Balch and Bingham 
P. O. Box 78 
Montgomery, AL 36101 

(LAWRENCE COUNTY, SMITH & LIGON) 

¥. O..Rirk, Jr., Esq. 

Curry & Kirk 
P. O. Box A-B 
Carrollton, AL 35447 

(PICKENS COUNTY) 

by depositing same in the United States Mail, postage 

ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS 

Warren Rowe, Esq. 
Rowe & Sawyer 
P.O, Box 150 
Enterprise, AL 36331 

(COFFEE COUNTY) 

D. L. Martin, Esq. 

215 South Main Street 
Moulton, AL 38880 

(LAWRENCE COUNTY, SMITH & LIGON) 

James G. Speake, Esq. 
Speake, Speake & Relch 
P.O. Box 8B 

Moulton, AL 35650 

(PROCTOR OF LAWRENCE COUNTY) 

Barry D. Vaughn, Esq. 
Proctor & Vaughn 
121 North Norton Avenue 
Sylacauga, AL 35150 
(TALLADEGA COUNTY) 

repaid. 

      

  

an 

   



  

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABMA 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

JOHN DILLARD, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs. C.A. No. 85-T7-1332—-N 

CRENSHAW COUNTY, ALABAMA, et al., 

M
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Defendants. 

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO DETERMINE THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE 
ANSWERS OR OBJECTIONS OF THE COFFEE COUNTY AND PICKENS COUNTY 

DEFENDANTS TO PLAINTIFFS® REQUEST FOR ADMISSIONS 
  

Plaintiffs John Dillard, et al., through thelr undersigned 

counsel, pursuant to Rule 37, F.R.C.P., would show unto the Court 

as follows: 

1. Attached to this motion is a copy of plaintiffs’ requests 

for admission dated January 21, 1986. 

2. Attached to this motion are copies of the responses to 

the aforesaid request for admissions filed by Coffee County, 

dated February 18, 1986, and by Pickens County, dated February 

20, 1088, 

3. Coffee County has failed to admit or deny most of 

plaintiffs’ requests for admissions on the ground that the 

 



  

natters "are not within the realm of the Defendants knowledge.” 

According to Rule 36(a), F.R.C.P., an answering party may not 

give lack of information or knowledge as a reason for failure to 

admit or deny unless he states that he has made reasonable 

inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by 

him is insufficient to enable him to admit or deny. Coffee 

County's response is insufficient, as demonstrated by the 

responses of Defendants Etowah County, Lawrence County and 

Talladega County. 

4. The objections of Pickens County to requests 1-11, 13-78, 

and 82-98 are also insufficlent. 

VHEREFORE, plaintiffs pray that the Court will enter an 

order pursuant to Rule 38, F.R.C.P., requiring the Coffee County 

and Pickens County Defendants to serve answers to the plaintiffs’ 

request for admissions by June 30, 1986. 

Respectfully submitted this /3 day Of June, 19886. 

BLACKSHER, MENEFEE & STEIN, P.A. 
405 Van Antwerp Bldg. 
Pp. 0: Box 1051 
Mobile, Alabama 36633 

(205) 433-2000 
7 ) 

/ NL : 

T. MENEFEE 
BY    

AMES U. BLACKSHER 
WANDA J. COCHRAN 

 



TERRY G. DAVIS 
Seay & Davis 
732 Carter Hill Road 
P..0O. Box 8125 
Montgomery, Alabama 36106 
(205) 834-2000 

DEBORAH FINS 
JULIUS L. CHAMBERS 
NAACP Legal Defense Fund 
99 Hudson Street, 16th Floor 

New York, New York 10013 

(212) 219-1900 

EDWARD STILL 
REEVES & STILL 

714 South 29th Street 

Birmingham, Alabama 35233-2810 

(205) 322-6631 

REO KIBKLAND, Jr. 

307 Evergreen Avenue 
P. O. Box 646 
Brewton, Alabama 36427 

(205) 867-5711 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 
  

I do hereby certify that on this {3 day of June, 1986, a 

copy of the foregoing PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO DETERMINE THE 

SUFFICIENCY OF THE ANSWERS OR OBJECTIONS OF THE COFFEE COUNTY AND 

PICKENS COUNTY DEFENDANTS TO PLAINTIFFS’ REQUEST FOR ADMISSIONS 

was served upon the following counsel of record: 

H. R. Burnham, Esq. Warren Rowe, Esq. 
Burnham, Klinefelter, Halsey, Rowe & Sawyer 

Jones & Carter P.O. Box 180 
P. O. Box 1618 Enterprise, AL 36331 
Anniston, AL 38202 (COFFEE COUNTY) 
(CALHOUN COUNTY)  



  

Jack Floyd, Esq. 
Floyd, Keener & Cusimano 

816 Chestnut Street 
Gadsden, AL 35999 

(ETOWAH COUNTY) 

David R. Boyd, Esq. 

Balch and Bingham 
P. O. Box 78 
Montgomery, AL 36101 
(LAWRENCE COUNTY, SMITH & LIGON) 

¥. 0. Rirk, Jr., Esq. 

Curry & Kirk 
P. O. Box A-B 

Carrollton, AL 35447 

(PICKENS COUNTY) 

D. L. Martin, Esq. 

215 South Main Street 

Moulton, AL 35850 

(LAWRENCE COUNTY, SMITH & LIGON) 

James G. Speake, Esq. 
Speake, Speake ¥ Reich 
P. O. Box 5 
Moulton, AL 35650 

(PROCTOR OF LAWRENCE COUNTY) 

Barry D. Vaughn, Esq. 
Proctor & Vaughn 
121 North Norton Avenue 
Sylacauga, AL 35150 
(TALLADEGA COUNTY) 

by depositing same in the United States Mail, postage prepaid. 

  

ATTORNEY? FOR PLAINTIFFS 

  

    
) ~ 

} 

| 
i . / 

y 

 



BLACKSHER, MENEFEE & STEIN, P.A. 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW 

  

405 VAN ANTWERP BUILDING 

P.O. BOX 1051 

MOBILE, ALABAMA 36633 

JAMES U. BLACKSHER TELEPHONE 
LARRY T. MENEFEE (205) 433-2000 
GREGORY B. STEIN June 13, 1986 
WANDA L. COCHRAN 

Mr. Thomas C. Caver, Clerk 
United States District Court 
Middle District of Alabama 
P. 0. Box 711 
Montgomery, Alabama 36101 

Re: Dillard, et al. v. Crenshaw County, Alabama, et al. 
C.A. No. 85-T-1332-N 
  

Dear Mr. Caver: 

Please file the enclosed (1) Plaintiffs' Motion to Determine 
the Sufficiency of the Answers or Objections of the Coffee 
County and Pickens County Defendants to Plaintiffs' Request 
for Admissions, (2) Plaintiffs' Motion to Determine Sufficiency 
of Responses to Requests for Admissions and to Compel Calhoun 
County Defendants to Respond to Discovery Requests, and (3) 
Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel Defendant Etowah County to Respond 
Fully to Plaintiffs' First Discovery Request in the above-styled 
case. 

Thank you and best regards. 

Sincerely, 

BLACKSHER, MENEFEE~& STEIN, P.A. 
2 / 

ames U. Blacksher     
JUB:pfm 

Encls. 

cc: All Counsel 

 



IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABMA 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

JOHN DILLARD, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs. C.A. No. 85-T-1332-N 

CRENSHAW COUNTY, ALABAMA, et al., 

Defendants. 

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO DETERMINE SUFFICIENCY OF RESPONSES TO 
REQUESTS FOR ADMISSIONS AND TO COMPEL CALHOUN COUNTY DEFENDANTS 

TO RESPOND TQ DISCOVERY REQUESTS 
  

Plaintiffs John Dillard, et al., through their undersigned 

counsel, pursuant to Rules 37, F.R.C.P., would show unto the 

Court that the Calhoun County Defendants have failed to respond 

to plaintiffs’ first discovery request, dated December 20, 1985, 

plaintiffs’ request for admissions dated January 21, 1986, and 

plaintiffs’ second discovery request dated February 18, 1986. 

WHEREFORE, plaintiffs pray that the Court will issue an 

order compelling the Calhoun County Defendants to answer fully 

and completely all of the interrogatories and requests for 

admissions set out above by June 30, 1986. 

Pursuant to Rule 15, local rules of the Middle District, 

copies of the above-referenced discovery requests and request for  



admissions are attached to the original of this motion. 

Respectfully submitted this /3 day of June, 1986. 

BLACKSHER, MENEFEE & STEIN, P.A. 
405 Van Antwerp Bldg. 
P.O. Box 10581 
Mobile, Alabama 36633 
(205) 433-2000 

f / / 74 

$A 
ARRY T. MENEFEE 
MES U. BLACKSHER 

WANDA J. COCHRAN 

TERRY G. DAVIS 
Seay & Davis 
732 Carter Hill Road 
2.0. Box 8125 
Montgomery, Alabama 86106 
(205) 834-2000 

DEBORAH FINS 

JULIUS L. CHAMBERS 

NAACP Legal Defense Fund 
98 Hudson Street, 16th Floor 

New York, New York 10013 

(212) 219-1900 

EDWARD STILL 
REEVES & STILL 

714 South 29th Street 
Birmingham, Alabama 35233-2810 

(205) 322-6631 

REO KIRKLAND, Jr. 

307 Evergreen Avenue 
P. O. Box 646 

Brewton, Alabama 36427 

(205) 887-5711 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs  



  

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 
  

I do hereby certify that on this /3 day of June, 1986, a 

copy of the foregoing PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO DETERMINE SUFFICIENCY 

OF RESPONSES TO REQUESTS FOR ADMISSIONS AND TO COMPEL CALHOUN COUNTY 

DEFENDANTS TO RESPOND TO DISCOVERY REQUESTS was served upon the 

following counsel of record: 

H. R. Burnham, Esq. ¥arren Rove, Esq. 
Burnham, Klinefelter, Halsey, Rowe & Sawyer 

Jones & Carter P., O. Box 150 
P.O. Box 1818 Enterprise, AL 36331 
Anniston, AL 36202 (COFFEE COUNTY) 
(CALHOUN COUNTY) 

dack Floyd, Esq. D.:L. Martin, ZEzq. 
Floyd, Keener & Cusimano 215 South Main Street 
816 Chestnut Street Moulton, AL 35650 
Gadsden, AL 35999 (LAWRENCE COUNTY, SMITH & LIGON) 
(ETOWAH COUNTY) 

David R. Boyd, Esq. Janes G. Speake, Esq. 
Balch and Bingham Speake, Speake & Reich 
P,. O. Box 78 P..O. Box B 
Montgomery, AL 36101 Moulton, AL 35650 

(LAWRENCE COUNTY, SMITH & LIGON) (PROCTOR OF LAWRENCE COUNTY) 

¥. 0. Rirk, Jr., Esq. Barry D. Vaughn, Esq. 
Curry & Kirk Proctor & Vaughn 
P. 0. Box A-B 121 North Norton Avenue 
Carrollton, AL 35447 Sylacauga, AL 35150 
(PICKENS COUNTY) (TALLADEGA COUNTY) 

by depositing same in the United States Mail, postage prepaid. 

   



BLACKSHER, MENEFEE & STEIN, P.A. 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW 

P.O. Box 1051 

MoBILE, AL 36633-1051 

Deborah Fins, Esq. 
Julius L. Charbers, Esq. 
NAACP Legal Defense Fund 
99 Hudson Street, 16th Floor 
New York, New York 10013