Independent School District 112
a/k/a Eastern Carver County Schools

The students, who are both Black, brought this case in 2019, alleging that the racially hostile environment and discrimination they experienced at the school district violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution pursuant to Section 1983. They alleged that the school district allowed racism to permeate its schools for years, with students of color being attacked by their peers with slurs, including the N-word, “monkey,” and “Fat Albert.” They saw their faces imposed on a social media image titled “Negro Hill.” Swastikas were drawn on school property, and students repeatedly engaged in blackface, an incident that even made it into the school yearbook. Throughout it all, the students allege the district failed to take any meaningful action in response to parents’ and students’ repeated complaints and exhibited clear bias in favor of white students. Both students suffered emotional trauma and substantial disruption to their education and ultimately left the district.

But now, after nearly three years of litigation, the district’s attempt to avoid trial on these issues has been defeated. “Our clients have displayed incredible bravery in sharing their painful and deeply personal stories to seek accountability,” said the students’ attorney Anna P. Prakash of Nichols Kaster, PLLP. “This case continues to demonstrate how students have a powerful voice in seeking change and advocating for public schools to be a place where all students can safely learn and thrive.”

The Plaintiffs are represented by Matthew H. Morgan, Anna P. Prakash, Laura A. Baures, and Melanie A. Johnson of Nichols Kaster, PLLP, and Joshua A. Newville of Madia Newville LLC. The case is T.B., et al. v. Independent School District 112, a/k/a Eastern Carver County Schools, 0:19-cv-02414, and is filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

August 3, 2022

Plaintiffs Defeat School District’s Motion for Summary Judgment

On August 1, 2022, Judge Michael J. Davis of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota denied the school district’s motion for summary judgment and ruled that there was sufficient evidence for Plaintiffs’ claims of race discrimination to proceed to trial.

You can view the summary judgment order here.

September 3, 2019

Chaska Families Represented by Nichols Kaster, PLLP and Madia Law LLC File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Eastern Carver County School District for Rampant Race Discrimination

On September 3, 2019, six African-American students, through their parents, filed a civil rights lawsuit against Independent School District 112 a/k/a Eastern Carver County Schools, alleging severe and pervasive racism at the district’s Chaska, Minnesota schools. The lawsuit alleges that the district allowed racism to permeate its schools for years with African-American students having been called “monkey,” told they “don’t belong,” physically assaulted, racially profiled, called the “N word,” and even threatened to be killed. The lawsuit walks through each of the six student’s experiences in the district, cataloguing horrific acts of racism by white students and the district’s deliberate indifference to the same. The lawsuit alleges that the district failed to take any meaningful action in response to parents’ and students’ repeated complaints and exhibited clear bias in favor of white students. As a result, the students have suffered emotional trauma and substantial disruption to their education, and several have left the district out of fear for their physical, personal, and educational well-being. Seeking change, the students brought this suit under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution pursuant to Section 1983.

"Our public schools are supposed to respect and keep children safe while creating an educational environment in which they can thrive. That didn’t happen for African-American students in Chaska,” said Plaintiffs’ attorney Anna P. Prakash of Nichols Kaster, PLLP. “Our clients tried and continue to try to get help from the administration,” said Prakash, “But, with all they have experienced and because meaningful change has not happened, they filed this lawsuit. Given the racial tensions in the district, these students and their parents are incredibly brave. We are honored to represent them.”

The Plaintiffs are represented by Matthew H. Morgan, Anna P. Prakash, and Laura A. Baures of Nichols Kaster, PLLP, and Joshua A. Newville of Madia Law LLC. The case is T.B., et al. v. Independent School District 112, a/k/a Eastern Carver County Schools, 0:19-cv-02414, and is filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.