United States of America v. Maricopa, County of et al

Filing 63

MOTION to Dismiss Case without prejudice by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Aminfar, Amin)

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Thomas E. Perez
Assistant Attorney General
Dennis K. Burke
United States Attorney
Roy L. Austin, Jr. (IL Bar #6228785)
Matthew Colangelo (NY Bar #4228797)
Jonathan Smith (DC Bar #396578)
Avner Shapiro (DC Bar #452475)
Peter S. Gray (DC Bar #940031)
Laurie A. Gelman (VA Bar #47743)
Amin Aminfar (NC Bar #36589)
Sergio Perez (CA Bar #274798)
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20530
(ph) 202-514-6225 / (fax) 202-514-4883,
(email) [e-mail]

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Michael M. Walker (AZ Bar #20315)
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Two Renaissance Square
40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4408
(ph) 602-514-7500 / (fax) 602-514-7760,
(email) [e-mail]

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Attorneys for the United States

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

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No. 2:10-cv-01878-GMS

United States of America,

MOTION TO DISMISS

Plaintiff,
v.
Maricopa County, Arizona; Maricopa
County Sheriff’s Office; and Joseph M.
Arpaio, in his official capacity as Sheriff of
Maricopa County, Arizona,
Defendants.

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The United States moves to dismiss this action without prejudice pursuant to Fed.
R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2), for the reasons stated below.

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The United States filed this action to compel Defendants to provide access to

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sources of information as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the

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Title VI implementing regulations, and related contractual assurances. On June 2,

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2011, the United States and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office entered into an

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Agreement to resolve this action. The Agreement provides that if the United States

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determines that MCSO is in substantial compliance with its obligations, the United

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States will (1) memorialize that determination in writing after 55 days, and (2) move to

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dismiss this action under Rule 41(a)(2) after 60 days. Agreement ¶¶ 8, 15, 39, 47.

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(Dkt. 58.)

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The United States has determined that MCSO is in substantial compliance with its

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obligations under the Agreement, and notified MCSO of this determination on July 27,

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2011 (Ex. A). 1 Since the United States initiated this lawsuit, MCSO has cooperated

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with the United States’ ongoing investigation into allegations of discriminatory law

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enforcement practices and jail operations. The United States accordingly moves to

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dismiss this action pursuant to Rule 41(a)(2).

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In addition, this Court advised the parties by order dated June 3, 2011, that this

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action would be dismissed without prejudice on August 2, 2011, unless the United

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States filed a motion to postpone dismissal. (Dkt. 62.) The United States advises the

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Court that, in light of MCSO’s substantial compliance with the Agreement, the United

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States will not file a motion to postpone dismissal of this action.

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1

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The Agreement solely addressed the United States’ claims in this action that MCSO
failed to cooperate with the United States’ investigation by refusing to provide access
to relevant documents, facilities, and staff.
The United States’ underlying
investigation into allegations of discriminatory police practices and jail operations is
ongoing.
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Dated: August 1, 2011

Respectfully submitted,
United States Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Thomas E. Perez
Assistant Attorney General
Dennis K. Burke
United States Attorney
/s/ Amin Aminfar
Roy L. Austin, Jr.
Matthew Colangelo
Jonathan Smith
Avner Shapiro
Peter S. Gray
Laurie A. Gelman
Amin Aminfar
Sergio Perez
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20530
(ph) 202-514-6255 / (fax) 202-514-4883
(email) [e-mail]
Michael M. Walker
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Two Renaissance Square
40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4408
(ph) 602-514-7500 / (fax) 602-514-7760
(email) [e-mail]
Attorneys for the United States

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

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I hereby certify that on August 1, 2011, I electronically transmitted the attached

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document to the Clerk’s Office using the CM/ECF System for filing and transmittal of

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a Notice of Electronic Filing to the following CM/ECF registrants:

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Thomas K. Irvine
Polsinelli Shughart PC
3636 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Cynthia Renee Estrella
Polsinelli Shughart PC
1 E. Washington Street, Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85004
William R. Jones, Jr.
Jones Skelton & Hochuli PLC
2901 N. Central Avenue, Suite 800
Phoenix, AZ 85012

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John T. Masterson
Jones Skelton & Hochuli PLC
2901 N. Central Avenue, Suite 800
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Joseph John Popolizio
Jones Skelton & Hochuli PLC
2901 N. Central Avenue, Suite 800
Phoenix, AZ 85012

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Attorneys for Defendants
/s/ Amin Aminfar
Amin Aminfar

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