Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-1_12-cv-00020/USCOURTS-ared-1_12-cv-00020-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

GENIE HARRELL 

v. No. 1:12-cv-20-DPM 

PLAINTIFF 

INDEPENDENCE COUNTY, ARKANSAS and 

ODUS FULMER, Tax Assessor for Independence 

County, Arkansas, in his Individual Capacity DEFENDANTS 

ORDER 

There's some murkiness in the Court's last merits Order, N2 60, the 

parties' 2014 trial briefs, and Harrell's proposed jury instructions about what 

defendants and claims remain in this case for trial. Everyone agrees that 

there's a Title VII wrongful-termination claim against Independence County. 

Because there's no adequate proof of a custom or policy, no § 1983 claim 

remains against the County. Davison v. City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, 490 

F.3d 648,659-661 (8th Cir. 2007). But there is a§ 1983 equal protection claim 

against Fulmer and Potts individually.* Qualified immunity remains possible; 

and the Court will rule on that defense at the end of the proof or after trial. 

But the immunity and merits issues are inextricably intertwined. Twiggs v. 

Selig, 679 F.3d 990, 995 (8th Cir. 2012); see N2 49 at 3. And the Court having 

*The Court directs the Clerk to update the docket sheet. 

Case 1:12-cv-00020-DPM Document 79 Filed 03/27/15 Page 1 of 2
ruled that there are jury questions on why Harrell was fired, NQ 60, the § 1983 

claim against Fulmer and Potts, as individuals, necessarily survives. The 

draft jury instructions and verdicts will cover all this ground. 

So Ordered. 

D.P. Marshall Jr. 

United States District Judge 

-2-

Case 1:12-cv-00020-DPM Document 79 Filed 03/27/15 Page 2 of 2