Pretrial conference set for Molly Dennis' lawsuit

ROCHESTER — A May 1 pretrial conference has been set of Molly Dennis’ lawsuit against the city of Rochester .

U.S. Federal Court Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko ordered the conference Tuesday, calling for the former Rochester City Council member and the city’s attorneys to meet prior to May 1 to discuss the potential for settling or otherwise resolving the case, as well as what information is expected to be sought as discovery in the case.

“In addition, each party shall email to chambers at least one week before the pretrial conference a confidential settlement letter addressing what settlement discussions have taken place, whether the party believes an early settlement conference would be productive, and what discovery each party believes is necessary before an early settlement conference can take place,” Micko wrote in his order.

The judge said failure to update him and provide the information sought could result in a delay of the conference and potential sanctions.

Dennis, who has been representing herself in the case, filed the lawsuit in early 2024, claiming the city, Rochester Mayor Kim Norton and council member Patrick Keane denied her access to public services based on her needs connected to her attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis. She also alleges she faced retaliation after seeking accommodations for her disability.

Dennis claims her March 6, 2023, censure , as well as following actions, violated several state and federal protections against discrimination. The city sought to have the lawsuit dismissed.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Court of Minnesota Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz supported Micko’s recommendation to dismiss six of the nine discrimination complaints filed by Dennis, allowing the remaining three to move forward for added review .

The remaining three claims do not include Keane, and Norton is only a defendant in the claim citing alleged retaliation.

The pretrial conference set by Micko will be held at 3 p.m. May 1 in courtroom 6B of the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 316 N. Robert St., in St. Paul.