Defendants' Amended Disclosure of Expert Witnesses
Public Court Documents
July 15, 1992
24 pages
Cite this item
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Case Files, Sheff v. O'Neill Hardbacks. Defendants' Amended Disclosure of Expert Witnesses, 1992. 9bc6777e-a246-f011-877a-002248226c06. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/ba1edf5e-b2cf-40c0-ab53-72ed9b2b745c/defendants-amended-disclosure-of-expert-witnesses. Accessed November 02, 2025.
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NO. CV=-89-0360977 8
MILO SHEFF, ET AL.
Plaintiffs
SUPERIOR COURT
JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF
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e
V. 3 HARTFORD/NEW BRITAIN
: AT HARTFORD
WILLIAM A, O'NEILL, ET AL. : JULY 15, 1992
Defendants
DEFENDANTS' AMENDED DISCLOSURE OF EXPERT WITNESSES
Pursuant to the order of the court establishing a schedule
for disclosure of expert witnesses, employees and consultants
expected to present testimony at trial, the defendants offer the
following amended list and disclosure. This disclosure is
provided in lieu of the defendants' disclosure dated May 15,
1992,
The defendants wish to emphasize that the particular facts
and opinions which will be offered by the witnesses listed below
are not the only facts and opinions which the witnesses may offer
at trial. The defendants expect to supplement their disclosure |
after the plaintiffs have fully and finally answered the
defendants’ first. set of . interrogatories and requests for
product ion and the defendants have had an opportunity to consider
and prepare whatever response may be appropriate to claims made
by the plaintiffs in response to that discovery. Defendants also
expect to supplement this list with additional names and
additional information as work now in progress and work to be
undertaken after the plaintiffs fully and finally answer the
defendants’ interrogatories and requests for production 1s
completed.
X, Christine Rossell, Ph.D. (Expert Witness) Boston
University, 232 Bay State Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02215:
Dr. Rossell is a Professor of Political Science at Boston
University.
Professor Rossell is expected to testify that the State of
Connecticut is responding appropriately to the educational
conditions in the Hartford area by encouraging and funding
voluntary integration and compensating poor school districts for
their poverty.
Professor Rossell will also testify regarding the benefits of the voluntary measures which the state has undertaken versus
mandatory desegregation plans.
| Professor Rossell will base her testimony on her scholarly
research of the following at least:
I 1. the evolution of school desegregation;
2. national school desegregation trends;
3. measuring the effectiveness of school desegregation;
4. the relative merit of voluntary and nandatory school
|i desegregation plans;
5.. white flight as a function of desegregation;
b. the effectiveness of specific approaches to
i desegregation; i.e., freedom of choice, majority-to-minority
transfer, controlled choice, magnet schools, etc.;
|| 7. netropoiitan-based desegregation plans;
8. State of Connecticut policies and programs to encourage
voluntary desegregation including a comparison of those programs
| “and policies to programs and policies in other states.
Among ‘other things, Dr. Rossell. will rely on her ‘work
entitled The Carrot or the Stick for School Desegregation Policy,
Temple University Press, 1990. Dr. Rossell's resume has been
provided to plaintiffs as Exhibit 19(a) of defendants' response
to plaintiffs' fourth request for production.
David Armor, Ph.D. (Expert Witness) 5006 Klingle Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20031:
Dr. Armor 1s currently Visiting Professor, Rutgers
University; Consultant, American Institutes for Research; and
President, National Policy Analysts.
Dr. Armor is principal investigator for a grant to write a
treatise On ;irace, education 38nd the. courts; co-principal
investigator on a naticnal study of magnet schools; and an
associate investigator “on a project that is conducting. case
studies of school?districts with school choice policies.
Dr. Armor 1s expected to testify:
1, that research has demonstrated no significant
and consistent effects of desegregation on Black
achlevement;
2. that most of the differences in performance on
the CMT between Hartford and suburban pupils can
be attributed to differences in family background
characteristics and especially socioeconomic
status;
3. that for most people personal preference, not
private discrimination or governmental actions,
determines where people live.
Dr. Armor may also testify on other topics.
Dr. Armor will base his testimony on his scholarly analysis
of the -esearch literature in each area on which he will focus as
well as his own originalistudies including his study of the CMT
results and the results of a survey of Hartford area
At this time Dr. Armor has not finally completed his analysis of
residents.
the CMT results or the survey results. His conclusions 1n regard
to these aspects of his work are preliminary.
Dr. aArmor's resume has been provided to the plaintiffs as
Exhibit 19(b) to defendants' response to plaintiffs' fourth
request for production.
Gl
3" Dr. Donald Ferree (Expert Witness) Institute for
Sccial Inquiry, Roper Center for Public Opinion, P. O. Box 440,
Storrs, Connecticut. 'Uol268:
Dr. Ferree is the Associate Director of the ‘Institute for
Social Inquiry, University of Connecticut. Dr. Ferree's resume |
has been provided as Exhibit 19(3) to defendants’ response to
plaintiffs' fourth request for production.
Dr. Ferree is expected to testify regarding proper methods
and prccedures for conducting a public opinion poll to ascertain |
the attitudes of Connecticut residents and/or groups of |
Connecticut residents. He is expected to present and explain the
results of a survey conducted by the Institute for Social Inquiry
at the request of the Governor's Commission on Quality and
Integrated Education. The results to that survey are summarized
in the "attachment ‘tc Exhitit 6 in support of the defendants’
motion for summary judgment. In addition he will present the
results of a follow up on tne survey done for the GCQIE designed
to specifically assess the attitudes of African Americans and
Latinos living in Connecticut's urban. centers. The results of
that follcw up survey show the following;
a. Urban minorities do not see a necessary link between
integration and quality of education.
b. Urban minorities do not believe it is impossible to have
quality education without integration.
c. Urban minorities hold values which are in conflict with
the goal of achieving better racial and ethnic balance for
balance sake including the values of "keeping children 1in the
same town they live in", "making sure your children are NOT in a
small racial minority", "children should normally go ‘to the
schools closest to their homes", and "parents should always have
the. final choice of where their children go to, school”,
d. Urban minorities overwhelmingly agree that "it 1s more
innportant’ to improve ithe QUALITY ‘of schools that minority
children 0 to than it 1s to get racial balance in the schools".
e. While urban minorities feel that more should be done to
integrate the schools in their community and schools throughout
the state, they are closely divided on the question of whether
those efforts should be voluntary or mandated by the state.
4, Pr. Douglas Rindone (DOE Consultant) C/O State |
Department ot Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford,
Connecticut 061006:
Dr. Rindone is not expected to offer opinion testimony as an |
expert witness. Instead he may provide testimony regarding the |
development, implementation and analysis of the CMT and CMT |
results. The specific analysis of CMT results which will be |
described by this witness have been provided to the plaintiffs in |
Exhibit 16(f) of defendants' response to. plaintiffs’ first |
request for production, Exhibit 18(d) of defendants' response to |
plaintiffs' second request for production, and Exhibit 10(c) of
defendants' response to plaintiffs' third request for production.
Dr. Rindone is also expected to note questions which have
been raised regarding the effectiveness of the CMT in measuring
the performance of students with limited English proficiency and
how this problem might influence the overall CMT test results for
a school district with high concentrations of LEP students. Dr.
Rindone is also expected to note the variety of viewpoints in the
education profession about the use and misuse of test results
like the CMT results. He will also discuss the variety of
viewpoints in the education profession regarding the use of
testing as a measure of the quality of education being provided |
to children. The various viewpoints which Dr. Rindone will note |
will not necessarily be his own.
Dr. Rindone is also expected to present comparisons between |
Hartford and the 21 towns which have been identified as suburban |
towns for the purpose of this case derived from data in the |
possession of the state department of education. These
comparisons are expected to include, but may not be limited to,
the following areas; various socioeconomic indicators, student
attendance, staff cost per pupil, professional staff per pupil,
classroom teachers per pupil, support staff per pupil, teachers’
salaries, and gross CMT scores.
Finally, Dr. Rindone will discuss and may present copies of
school district profiles being developed by the Department of
Education pursuant to the requirements of Conn. Gen. Stat.
Section 10-220c.
Die Dr. William .Congero (DOE = Consultant) c/o State
Department of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford,
Connecticut 06106:
Dr. Congero is not expected to offer opinion testimony as an
expert witness. Instead he may provide testimony regarding the |
development, implementation and analysis of the CMT and CMT |
results. The specific analysis of CMT results which will be
described by this witness have been provided to the plaintiffs in
Exhibit 16(f) of defendants’ response to plaintiffs’ first |
request for production, Exhibit 18(d) of defendants' response to
plaintiffs' second request for production, and Exhibit 10(c) of
| defendants' response to plaintiffs' third request for production.
Dr. Congero is also expected to note questions which have
| been raised regarding the effectiveness of the CMT in measuring | the performance of students with limited English proficiency and how this problem might influence the overall CMT test results for
a school district with high concentrations of LEP students. pr,’ |
Ccngero is also expected to note the variety of viewpoints in the |
education profession about the use and misuse of test rouilts
like thie CMT results. He will also discuss the variety of |
viewpoints in the education profession regarding the use of
testing as a measure of the quality of education being provided
to children. The various viewpoints which Dr. Congero will note
will not necessarily be his own.
6. Dr. Peter Behuniak (DOE Consultant) c/o State Department
of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106:
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Dr. Behuniak is not expected to offer opinion testimony as
an expert witness. Instead he may provide testimony regarding
the development, implementation and analysis of the CMT and CMT
results. The specific analysis of CMT results which will be
described by this witness have been provided to the plaintiffs in
Exhibit 16(f) of defendants! response. to plaintiffs’ ‘first
request for production, Exhibit 18(d) of defendants’ response to
plaintiffs' second request for production, and Exhibit 10(c) ‘of
defendants’ response to plaintiffs’ third request for production.
Dr. Behuniak is also expected to note questions which have |
been raised regarding the effectiveness of the CMT in measuring |
the performance of students with limited English proficiency and
how this problem might influence the overall CMT test results for
a school district with high concentrations of LEP students. Dr.
Behuniak is also expected to note the variety of viewpoints 1n |
the education profession about the use and misuse of test results |
like the CMT results. He will also discuss the: variety of
viewpoints in the education profession regarding the use of |
testing as a measure of the quality of education being provided
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to children. The various viewpoints which Dr. Behuniak will note
will not necessarily be his own.
7. Dr. Elliot Williams (DOE Consultant) c/o State
Department of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford,
Connecticut 06106:
Dr. Williams is not expected to offer opinion testimony as
an expert witness. Instead Dr. Williams will provide information
regarding existing and planned programs promoting interdistrict
cooperation and improving integration. Specifically Dr. Williams
will describe and verify the accuracy of the information found in
Exhibits 3(x-z) to the defendants' response to plaintiffs’ second
request for production.
8. Dr. Robert Brewer (DOE Consultant) c/o State Department
of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106:
Dr. Brewer is not expected to offer opinion testimony as an
expert wltness. Instead . Dr.» Brewer will: offer testimony
regarding state grants to local school districts generally and
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the State's financial ‘contribution to the school districts 1in
what the plaintiffs have described as the Hartford area in
oi particular. Dr.. Brewer will attest to the accuracy of the intormation found in Exhibits 4(ee) and 7 of defendants' response
toc plaintiffs' second request for production.
I Dr. Brewer is also expected to attest to the accuracy of
1 data showing how Hartford's spending on ‘students in regular
education compares with other districts in the state.
9. Dr. Peter Prowda (DOE Consultant) c/o State Department
of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106:
Dr. Prowda is not expected to offer opinion testimony as an
i expert witness. Instead Dr. Prowda will offer testimony
| regarding the analysis of comparative rates of absenteeism
provided to the plaintiffs as Exhibit 7(a) of the defendants’
response to plaintiffs' first request for production.
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1G, Dr. Theodore Sergi (DOE Consultant) C/O: State
Department of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford,
Connecticut Ool06:
Dr. Sergi is not expected to offer opinion testimony as an
expert witness. Instead Dr. Sergi will offer testimony regarding
the background, implementation and effectiveness of the state's
priority schooli district grant. program, Dr, Sergi's testimony
will include an explanation of the analysis found in Exhibit
4(ff) of defendants' response to plaintiffs' second request for |
production.
12. Dr. Thomas Breen (DOE Consultant) c/o State Department |
of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106.
Dr. Breen is not expected to offer opinion testimony as an
expert witness. Instead Dr. Breen will offer testimony regarding
the racial and ethnic composition of schools and school districts |
throughout the state. He is also expected to focus on the racial |
and ethnic composition of the schools in Hartford and those towns |
which plaintiffs have identified as "suburban" communities for |
the purpose. of this suit. Among other things Dr. Breen 1s
expected tc verify the accuracy of the information contained in
Exhibits 4(a) and 18(a-x) of defendants' response to plaintiffs’
fourth request for production. He will also verify the accuracy
of data used by some of defendants' expert witnesses to analyze
and compare the racial and ethnic composition of the schools 1n
Hartford and the "suburban" communities.
13. Mr. Lloyd Calvert (Expert Witness) c/o Office of the
Attorney General, 110 Sherman Street, Hartford, Connecticut
06105:
Mr. Calvert is the former Superintendent of Schools in West
Hartford, Trumbull and Windsor and former Assistant |
Superintendent of Schools in Hartford. He 1s now serving as |
educational consultant to the Office of the Attorney General in |
regard to the Sheff v., O'Neill case. Mr. Calvert's resume has |
been provided to the plaintiffs as Exhibit 19(c) to defendants’
response to plaintiffs' fourth request for production.
Mr. Calvert is expected to testify regarding the racial and
ethnic composition of the Hartford public schools and certain
trends regarding the racial and ethnic composition of the
Hartford public schools in comparison to the 21 school districts
which plaintiffs have chosen to designate as suburban school
districts. Tables and data which Mr. Calvert will present rely
on will be disclosed to the plaintiffs when they are in final
form.
Mr. Calvert will also testify regarding the state's efforts
I! to address the needs of disadvantaged and urban children since
the 1920's as evidenced in records of the State Board of
Education and his own work and experience.
Mr. Calvert is also expected to testify regarding his
investigation of programs in the Hartford public schools
including his observations regarding the way in which the
programs offered by the Hartford public schools are designed to |
meet the special needs of the population being served, special
approaches being undertaken in the Hartford public schools, and
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the attitudes and concerns of those who are serving children in
the Hartford public schools. He 1s also expected to describe
his involvement in and observation of 1interdistrict initiatives
in the Hartford area.
Finally Mr. Calvert will discuss some of the practical
problems which would be faced if an attempt were made to reassign
pupils to different schools in the Hartford area based upon their
race, national origin, socioeconomic status, or "at risk" status.
His testimony will be based, in part, on his examination of
current enrollment in the Hartford public schools and other
schools in the area.
Mr. Calvert's work and study in the above noted areas has
nct been ccmpleted at this time.
14. Dr, Thomas E. Steahr, (Expert witness) c/0 College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Box |
U-22, Room 318, 1376 Storrs Road, Storrs, CT 06269-4021,
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Dr. Steahr is presently serving as a full professor in the
Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics of the
University of Connecticut. Further details regarding his
background and experience can be found in Exhibit 19(e) to the
defendant's response to plaintiffs’ fourth request for
production.
Dr. Steahr is expected to offer testimony regarding
demographic patterns and trends in Connecticut generally and in
the area which the plaintiffs have defined as the suburban
Hartford area in particular. His testimony is expected to focus
on the following facts and opinions:
1. Based upon an analysis of census data, vital statistics,
and State Department of Education records regarding the racial
and ethnic composition of public schools in the Hartford area, it
appears that the general population and the K-12 pupil
populations of that area which has been defined by the plaintiffs
as "suburban Hartford" are becoming more diverse; l1.e.,
individuals from traditionally recognized minority groups are
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locating and attending school in the suburban towns at an
1nCreasing rate.
= The steady increase in the growth of the minority
population in the towns which have been identified as suburbs of
Hartford ‘runs counter. to the notion that people from these
minority groups are "trapped" in Hartford because of their race
or national origin.
3. There has been a significant change in the composition
of the "minority" population in Hartford. The evidence suggests
a net out migration of African Americans and a significant
increase in the Hispanic or Latino population.
4, Concentrations of people of similar ethnic backgrounds
in particular areas or towns is a natural phenomena which can and
does occur without government promotion or sponsorship.
Bie The concentration of African American and Hispanic or
Latino citizens in Hartford and other urban areas of the state
which is present today was not clearly foreseeable in the early
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1500s given the limited information which was available at that
time and the uncertainties of making these kinds of predictions
even under the best of circumstances. The testimony and opinions which Dr, Steahr is expected to
of fer will be grounded on his many years of study and research in
the area. of demographics “and particularly his study of
demographic patterns in the State of Connecticut. He will also
rely on his analysis of census bureau data, data regarding vital
statistics maintained by the State Department of Health Services |
| and data obtained from the State Department of Education
regarding the racial and ethnic composition of schools in the
Hartford area. Tables and charts which Dr, Steahr is preparing
will be provided to the plaintiffs when they are in final form.
lo. Patricia Downs, Connecticut Department of Housing, 505 |
| Hudson Street, Hartford, CT.
Ms. Downs is the Director of Policy and Planning for the
Department of Housing.
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Ms. Downs is not expected to offer opinion testimony.
Rather, she will provide testimony regarding the mechanism for
State funding of housing for low and moderate income families,
including selection criteria. She is also expected to testify as
to current and future plans and policies of the State of
Connecticut with respect to housing for low and moderate income
families.
FOR THE DEFENDANTS
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL
wy. VW
. V/A - TTS 085112
S Ee Attorney General
0 Sherman Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06105
Tel: 566-7173
CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that a copy of the foregoing was mailed
postage prepaid to the following counsel of record on
pit Mew 15, 1992:
John Brittain, Esq.
University of Connecticut
School of Law
65 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
Wilfred Rodriguez, Esq
Hispanic Advocacy Project
Neighborhood Legal Services
1229 Albany Aveznue
Hartford, CT: 06112
Philip Tegeler, Esq.
Martha Stone, Esq.
Connecticut Civil Liberties Union
32 Grand Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Wesley W. Horton, Esq.
Mollier, Horton & Fineberg, P.C.
90 Gillett Street
Hartford, CT 06105
Ruben Franco, Esq.
Jenny Rivera, Esq.
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street
l4th Floor
New York, NY 10013
Julius L. Chambers, Esq
Marianne Lado, Esq.
Ronald Ellis, Esq.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund and
Educational Fund, Inc.
99 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
John A. Powell, Esq.
Helen Hershkoff, Esq.
Adam S. Cohen, Esq.
American Civil Liberties Union
132 West 43rd Street
ork, RY 10036
Ap ed,
Johh R. Whelan
Asgistant Attorney General
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