SLF Statement

Phil Kent, President, Valle Dutcher, General Counsel

Federal district court Judge Willis B. Hunt today entered a judgment ordering the City of Atlanta to pay damages and attorney's fees in Lee General Contractors, Inc., et al v. City of Atlanta, et al, Civil Action File No. 1:99-CV-2194-WBH. Southeastern Legal Foundation, along with our co-counsel Mason Barge and Lee Parks, are delighted with the court's order, which resolves the matter in favor of the plaintiffs. In December 2000, the City of Atlanta stipulated in an order from Judge Hunt that it would not defend the constitutionality of its contracting program, which set aside 34 percent of all contracts for minority- and female-owned businesses. With today's order, this matter is concluded, the City's former contracting program no longer necessary to end racially divisive government programs. Instead, the legacy of these plaintiffs is that the City of Atlanta and every government entity must seek legal, fair, race-neutral programs that truly benefit those who seek to enter the commercial mainstream.

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