United States v. MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Court
D. Me.
Docket number
1:25-cv-00173
Filed
Last filing
Assigned judge
Stacey D. Neumann
Referred judge
Karen Frink Wolf
Nature of suit
448 Civil Rights: Education
Cause
42:1981 Sex Discrimination
Jurisdiction
U.S. Government Plaintiff
Jury demand
Plaintiff
Case
United States v. MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Cite
United States v. Me. Dep't of Educ., No. 1:25-cv-00173 (D. Me. filed Apr. 16, 2025)
Source
Docket on CourtListener(opens another site)

The 51 court documents filed in this docket, as listed for its case.

Docket entries

The entries the archive holds for this docket. For the full docket, use the link above.

Docket entries
No.DateDescriptionDocument
1COMPLAINT against MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION with Jury Demand, filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Service of Process Deadline 7/15/2025)(lcb) (Entered: 04/16/2025)Open(opens another site)
2CIVIL COVER SHEET. (lcb) (Entered: 04/16/2025)Open(opens another site)
3Summons Issued as to MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Counsel shall print the embossed summons and effect service in the manner in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P.4. Note-If you are using Version 6 of Adobe Acrobat, be sure the PRINT WHAT field is set to DOCUMENTS AND COMMENTS (Click File, then Print to check this setting). (lcb) (Entered: 04/16/2025)Open(opens another site)
4SERVICE Returned EXECUTED filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA as to MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 04/17/2025)Open(opens another site)
5ORDER OF RECUSAL. MAGISTRATE JUDGE JOHN C. NIVISON recused. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE JOHN C. NIVISON. (mtm) (Entered: 04/18/2025)Open(opens another site)
6NOTICE of Appearance by SARAH A. FORSTER on behalf of MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (FORSTER, SARAH) (Entered: 04/22/2025)Open(opens another site)
7NOTICE of Appearance by KIMBERLY L. PATWARDHAN on behalf of MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (PATWARDHAN, KIMBERLY) (Entered: 04/22/2025)Open(opens another site)
8NOTICE of Appearance by CHRISTOPHER C. TAUB on behalf of MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (TAUB, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 04/22/2025)Open(opens another site)
9NOTICE to Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate and Prosecute, as Necessary, Formal Disciplinary Proceedings Against Matthew J. Donnelly, Esq. for Professional Misconduct and Request for Oral Argument with Certificate of Service by Randy J Creswell Responses due by 5/15/2025. (CRESWELL, RANDY) Modified on 4/24/2025 to update docket text to reflect this is a Notice as construed by Judge Neumann's Order at ECF#10 (mtm). (Entered: 04/24/2025)Open(opens another site)
10ORDER re 9 NOTICE to Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate and Prosecute, as Necessary, Formal Disciplinary Proceedings Against Matthew J. Donnelly, Esq. for Professional Misconduct and Request for Oral Argument filed by RANDY J CRESWELL. I have considered the filing of Randy J. Creswell, Esq., at ECF No. 9, which I construe as a notice in accordance with D. Me. Local R. 83.3(d)(1). I conclude the appointment of special counsel is not warranted, and no further action on this filing is necessary. By JUDGE STACEY D. NEUMANN. (mtm) (Entered: 04/24/2025)Open(opens another site)
11NOTICE of Docket Entry Modification regarding 9 NOTICE to Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate and Prosecute, as Necessary, Formal Disciplinary Proceedings Against Matthew J. Donnelly, Esq. for Professional Misconduct and Request for Oral Argument : This docket entry has been modified in accordance with the Order at ECF#10 to reflect it is a Notice rather than a motion. No response or reply are permitted. (mtm) (Entered: 04/24/2025)Open(opens another site)
12ANSWER to 1 Complaint by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.(FORSTER, SARAH) (Entered: 05/08/2025)Open(opens another site)
13SCHEDULING ORDER: Discovery due by 9/25/2025. Written Notice of Intent to File Summary Judgment Motion and Request for Pre-Filing Conference due by 10/2/2025. Motions due by 10/16/2025. Ready for Trial on 12/3/2025. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (jgd) (Entered: 05/08/2025)Open(opens another site)
14OBJECTION to 13 Scheduling Order, filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Responses due by 6/20/2025. (DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 05/29/2025)Open(opens another site)
15NOTICE of Hearing: Conference of Counsel set for 6/10/2025 09:30 AM in VIDEO HEARING before MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (nrg) (Entered: 06/03/2025)Open(opens another site)
16RESPONSE to 14 OBJECTION to 13 Scheduling Order, filed by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit - A (02/21/2025 Correspondence, # 2 Exhibit - B (03/19/2025 Correspondence), # 3 Exhibit - C (04/11/2025 Correspondence), # 4 Exhibit - D (02/21/2025 Correspondence), # 5 Exhibit - E (02/25/2025 Correspondence), # 6 Exhibit - F (03/28/2025 Correspondence), # 7 Exhibit - G (04/02/2025 Correspondence), # 8 Exhibit - H (02/25/2025 Correspondence))(TAUB, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 06/06/2025)Open(opens another site)
17Minute Entry for proceedings held before MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF: Conference of Counsel held. (Court Reporter: Lori Dunbar) (MGW) (Entered: 06/10/2025)Open(opens another site)
18ORDER granting in part 14 Objection to Scheduling Order. On June 10, 2025, I held a conference with Attorneys Donnelly, Taub, Patwardhan, and Forster to discuss the pretrial deadlines. For the reasons articulated on the record, I granted the Plaintiff's objection to the scheduling order in part and set the following deadlines: initial disclosures due by June 13, 2025; amendment of pleadings/joinder of parties due by September 3, 2025; Plaintiff's expert designation due by September 3, 2025; Defendant's expert designation due by October 27, 2025; Plaintiff's written settlement demand due by December 4, 2025; Defendant's response to written settlement demand due by December 19, 2025; discovery due by December 19, 2025; Local Rule 56(h) notice due by January 30, 2026; dispositive/Daubert/Kumho motions due by February 19, 2026; ready for trial by April 1, 2026. I also expanded the number of depositions permitted to eight per side not including expert depositions. And finally, I ORDERED the parties to meet and confer regarding expert witnesses by July 18, 2025, and, if necessary, file a motion to adjust the expert deadlines by no later than July 25, 2025. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (MGW) (Entered: 06/10/2025)Open(opens another site)
19(Access to document is restricted to case participants only) REQUEST FOR A HEARING REGARDING A DISCOVERY DISPUTE filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Redline showing disputed provision)(DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 07/18/2025)Open(opens another site)
20Joint MOTION to Amend Scheduling Order by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Responses due by 8/15/2025. (TAUB, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 07/25/2025)Open(opens another site)
21ORDER granting 20 Motion to Amend Scheduling Order. The expert designation deadlines are amended as requested. Plaintiff shall designate experts by September 3, 2025. Defendant will designate experts by October 3, 2025. Plaintiff shall designate any experts responding to Defendant's experts' opinions by December 2, 2025. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (WOLF, KAREN) (Entered: 07/25/2025)Open(opens another site)
22NOTICE of Hearing: Discovery Conference set for 8/13/2025 03:30 PM in VIDEO HEARING before MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (nrg) (Entered: 07/31/2025)Open(opens another site)
23(Access to document is restricted to case participants only) REQUEST FOR A HEARING REGARDING A DISCOVERY DISPUTE filed by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Excerpts of Plaintiff's Answers to Interrogatories, # 2 Exhibit Excerpts of Plaintiff's Responses to Document Requests)(TAUB, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 08/11/2025)Open(opens another site)
24Minute Entry for proceedings held before MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF: Discovery Hearing held. (Court Reporter: Lori Dunbar) (MGW) (Entered: 08/13/2025)Open(opens another site)
25ORDER re 19 Request for a Hearing Regarding a Discovery Dispute filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; 23 Request for a Hearing Regarding a Discovery Dispute filed by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. On August 13, 2025, I held a discovery hearing with Attorneys Donnelly, Taub, and Patwardhan. After hearing from the parties, I declined the United States' request to add language to the otherwise agreed-to confidentiality order that would permit each party to unilaterally decide whether to disclose confidential documents for criminal investigation purposes. It seems unlikely that evidence of criminality will be disclosed during discovery in a case such as this that largely turns on differing legal interpretations, and the implicit threat of prosecution may hinder the liberal exchange of information that civil discovery is designed to facilitate. The United States may, of course, challenge confidentiality designations or otherwise seek relief from the confidentiality order if necessary. With regard to the parties' disagreement about the Maine Department of Education's discovery requests relating to the events leading to this lawsuit, I directed the parties to submit letter briefs of no more than five single spaced pages addressing the relevance of the requests. The Department's brief shall be filed by August 22, 2025. The United States' responsive brief shall be filed by September 5, 2025. No reply will be permitted unless otherwise ordered. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (MGW) (Entered: 08/13/2025)Open(opens another site)
26MOTION to Amend 12 Answer to Complaint by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Responses due by 9/10/2025. (TAUB, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 08/20/2025)Open(opens another site)
27(Access to document is restricted to case participants only) DISCOVERY Letter/Brief Per Court Order filed by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION(TAUB, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 08/22/2025)Open(opens another site)
28MOTION to Quash Subpoena by Maine Principals' Association Responses due by 9/19/2025. (Attachments: # 1 *Sealed* Exhibit Subpoena Issued to MPA)(BELLEAU, JAMES) Modified on 9/8/2025 to add "Sealed" text re: Exhibit A (jgd). (Entered: 08/29/2025)Open(opens another site)
29MOTION for Confidentiality Order by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Responses due by 9/19/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Ex. A - Proposed Conf. Order, # 2 Ex. B - Redline Conf. Order)(PATWARDHAN, KIMBERLY) (Entered: 08/29/2025)Open(opens another site)
30(Document sealed from public view) MOTION to Seal Exhibit A to MPA's Motion to Quash by MAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION Responses due by 9/19/2025. (BELLEAU, JAMES) (Entered: 08/29/2025)Open(opens another site)
31Consent MOTION to Continue Briefing on Motion to Quash by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Responses due by 9/19/2025. (DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 08/29/2025)Open(opens another site)
32ORDER granting 30 Motion to Seal. The Plaintiff shall, consistent with F.R.Civ.P. 5.2, file a redacted version of Exhibit A, removing all identifying information, including names, initials, and schools, that is otherwise protected by the rule. If there is any question as to what should or should not be redacted, the parties may request a conference with me. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (WOLF, KAREN) (Entered: 09/02/2025)Open(opens another site)
33ORDER granting 31 Motion to Continue Briefing on Motion to Quash. The opposition to the Motion to Quash will be due September 3, 2025 as requested, and any reply will be due September 5, 2025. If the parties require further time for briefing, they may request that. In the meantime, compliance with the subpoena will be in abeyance until resolution of the Motion to Quash, even though the response date set forth in the subpoena is September 5, 2025. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (WOLF, KAREN) (Entered: 09/02/2025)Open(opens another site)
34RESPONSE in Opposition re 29 MOTION for Confidentiality Order filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Reply due by 9/17/2025. (DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 09/03/2025)Open(opens another site)
35RESPONSE in Opposition re 28 MOTION to Quash Subpoena filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Reply due by 9/17/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit U.S. Letter to MPA)(DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 09/03/2025)Open(opens another site)
36REDACTED Document re 28 MOTION to Quash Subpoena, 30 (Document sealed from public view) MOTION to Seal Exhibit A to MPA's Motion to Quash by MAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION. (BELLEAU, JAMES) (Entered: 09/04/2025)Open(opens another site)
37REPLY to Response to Motion re 28 MOTION to Quash Subpoena filed by MAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION. (BELLEAU, JAMES) (Entered: 09/04/2025)Open(opens another site)
38(Access to document is restricted to case participants only) DISCOVERY Letter/Brief Per Court Order filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Def. Letter to USDOE-OCR, # 2 USDOE-OCR Investigations)(DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 09/05/2025)Open(opens another site)
39RESPONSE in Opposition re 26 MOTION to Amend 12 Answer to Complaint filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Reply due by 9/24/2025. (DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 09/10/2025)Open(opens another site)
40NOTICE of Hearing: Conference of Counsel set for 9/19/2025 10:00 AM via ZOOM before MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. Zoom information emailed to the parties on 9/15/2025.(lcb) (Entered: 09/15/2025)Open(opens another site)
41MOTION for Leave to File AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF MAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION MOTION TO QUASH SUBPOENA by GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders Responses due by 10/7/2025. (BONAUTO, MARY) (Entered: 09/16/2025)Open(opens another site)
42MOTION to Intervene by PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS Responses due by 10/8/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Motion to Quash)(HEWEY, MELISSA) (Entered: 09/17/2025)Open(opens another site)
43ORDER granting 29 Motion for Confidentiality Order By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (BRF) (Entered: 09/17/2025)Open(opens another site)
44REPLY to Response to Motion re 26 MOTION to Amend 12 Answer to Complaint filed by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (TAUB, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 09/18/2025)Open(opens another site)
45RESPONSE in Opposition re 42 MOTION to Intervene of Portland Public Schools filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Reply due by 10/8/2025. (DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 09/24/2025)Open(opens another site)
46RESPONSE in Opposition re 41 MOTION for Leave to File AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF MAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION MOTION TO QUASH SUBPOENA by GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Reply due by 10/8/2025. (DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 09/24/2025)Open(opens another site)
47RESPONSE to Motion re 41 MOTION for Leave to File AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF MAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION MOTION TO QUASH SUBPOENA, 28 MOTION to Quash Subpoena filed by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Reply due by 10/9/2025. (PATWARDHAN, KIMBERLY) (Entered: 09/25/2025)Open(opens another site)
48RESPONSE to Motion re 42 MOTION to Intervene, 28 MOTION to Quash Subpoena filed by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Reply due by 10/9/2025. (PATWARDHAN, KIMBERLY) (Entered: 09/25/2025)Open(opens another site)
49MOTION to Stay Case During Appropriations Lapse by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Responses due by 10/22/2025. (DONNELLY, MATTHEW) (Entered: 10/01/2025)Open(opens another site)
50Unopposed MOTION to Amend Scheduling Order by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Responses due by 10/23/2025. (TAUB, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 10/02/2025)Open(opens another site)