(The Center Square) – A lawsuit challenging diversity scholarships offered by a Michigan law firm has been dismissed after the parties reached an agreement clarifying the scholarships are open to all applicants.
In November, the advocacy groups Do No Harm and the American Alliance for Equal Rights sued Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., alleging the firm’s diversity scholarships were not equally open to all participants and were “racially discriminatory.”
Buckfire denied the allegations, maintaining the scholarships were available to students regardless of race or ethnicity.
At the end of February, the parties agreed to resolve the litigation and filed a joint stipulation of dismissal.
As part of the resolution, Buckfire will remove references to race as eligibility or selection criteria in the scholarship programs. The firm will also clarify that it does not limit “diversity” to any one experience, characteristic or circumstance and that the scholarships do not give preference based on race or ethnicity.
“We’re grateful to Buckfire for working with us to resolve this matter without the need for further litigation,” said Edward Blum, president of the American Alliance for Equal Rights.
Buckfire said the firm remains committed to supporting students through its scholarship programs.
“Helping students achieve their educational dreams is a core mission of our law firm,” said Lawrence Buckfire, president of The Buckfire Law Firm. “We look forward to providing scholarships that fulfill our commitment to diversity for many years to come.”
The lawsuit was originally filed on behalf of three students who alleged Buckfire’s Medical Diversity Scholarship and Law School Diversity Scholarship violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits racial discrimination in contracts, including scholarships.
Both scholarships required applicants to be “a member of an ethnic, racial, or other minority” or demonstrate a “defined commitment to issues of diversity within their community,” according to the complaint.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, Do No Harm argued race should not be used as a factor in awarding scholarships.
“Merit, not race, should serve as the legitimate basis for awarding scholarships,” Dr. Kurt Miceli, medical director at Do No Harm, previously told The Center Square.
Buckfire strongly disputed the claims when contacted by The Center Square during initial reporting in November.
“It was filed by two nasty, divisive organizations that intentionally target businesses and institutions that promote diversity,” Buckfire previously told The Center Square, calling the lawsuit “completely frivolous legally and factually.”
The scholarships, operated by the firm since 2014, award $2,000 annually to one recipient.
Buckfire previously said applicants of any race could apply and that selection decisions were not based on race.
“All people, regardless of race and ethnicity, were eligible to apply for the scholarships,” Buckfire told The Center Square in November. “The fact that the losers were not awarded scholarships had nothing to do with their race.”
Do No Harm said the lawsuit’s resolution reflects that position.
“Do No Harm believes scholarships should be equally open to all races and is thankful that Buckfire agrees,” said Stanley Goldfarb, MD, chairman of Do No Harm.
