Brentwood Academy v. Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Assn PDF

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Summary

Constitutional Law II 2020 case brief for Brentwood Academy v TN Secondary School Athletic Assn...

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BRENTWOOD ACADEMY v. TENNESSEE SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSN 531 U.S. 288 (2001) FACTS: Parties: Appellant: Brentwood Academy (Π) Appellee: Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Assn (Δ) Procedural History: 

District Court granted SJ in favor of Π

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Circuit Court reversed

Relevant Facts: 

Δ is a not for profit athletic association that regulates interscholastic sport among TN public schools

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84% of the membership are state’s public high schools

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Δ’s governing council is made up of school officials

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Δ staff may join state retirement system

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TN BOE acknowledged Δ’s role in regulating interscholastic competition in public schools

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Δ penalized Π for violating a recruiting rule and sued under §1983

ISSUE: 

Whether a private entity can be considered a state actor under any circumstances

PARTIES’ ARGUMENTS: Appellant: 

The rule’s enforcement was state action that violated the 1st and 14th Amendments

Appellee:  DISPOSITION OF THE COURT: 

RULE OF LAW: 

A private entity will be considered a state actor when it is so “entwined” with the state as to be considered acting as the state itself

HOLDING: 

Δ’s actions are state actions and thus a claim can be brought under §1983

COURT’S REASONING:  

The entwinement of state school officials within the Δ makes the Δ’s action a state action 84% of the membership is from public schools...