The legal battle over racial discrimination in scholarship programs has taken a new turn as a lawsuit was filed against a Michigan law firm accused of excluding white applicants from its diversity scholarships. On November 13, 2025, the American Alliance for Equal Rights and Do No Harm filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., alleging that the firm’s scholarship programs violate federal anti-discrimination laws.
The plaintiffs argue that Buckfire & Buckfire’s “Medical Diversity” and “Law School Diversity” scholarships unlawfully discriminate based on race, as they are only open to members of ethnic or racial minority groups unless white applicants can demonstrate a defined commitment to diversity issues. The complaint cites 42 U.S.C. §1981, which prohibits racial discrimination in contracting by both public and private entities. The plaintiffs claim that since its inception, none of the 25 scholarships awarded by Buckfire have gone to non-Hispanic white students.
According to the lawsuit, members of both plaintiff organizations have been directly harmed by these practices. For instance, Member A and Member B from the American Alliance for Equal Rights were denied scholarships despite meeting all eligibility criteria and submitting compelling applications. Similarly, Member 1 from Do No Harm faced rejection for the medical scholarship under similar circumstances. These individuals assert that their exclusion was solely based on their race, violating their rights under federal law.
The plaintiffs seek several forms of relief from the court. They request a declaratory judgment stating that Buckfire’s scholarship programs violate §1981 and an injunction prohibiting the firm from considering race when administering these programs. Additionally, they seek nominal damages and reimbursement for legal costs incurred during this action.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Thomas R. McCarthy, Cameron T. Norris, and R. Gabriel Anderson from Consovoy McCarthy PLLC, along with local counsel John A. Di Giacomo from Revision Legal PLLC. The case is presided over by Judge Terrence G. Berg with Case ID 2:25-cv-13617-TGB-APP.
Source: 225cv13617_American_Alliance_v_Buckfire_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan..pdf
