Case: Williams v. Ford Motor Co.

2:95-cv-71203 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: March 27, 1995

Closed Date: 1999

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In 1989, the plaintiffs filed suit against the Ford Motor Company in the Northern District of Ohio, alleging that the company refused to hire them on the basis of race, in violation of state law prohibiting discrimination in employment (Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 4112.02(A)). Plaintiffs further alleged that other less qualified applicants, and/or others who applied after them but were white, were hired; that they were given no explanation for Ford's failure to hire them and others similarly situated …

In 1989, the plaintiffs filed suit against the Ford Motor Company in the Northern District of Ohio, alleging that the company refused to hire them on the basis of race, in violation of state law prohibiting discrimination in employment (Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 4112.02(A)). Plaintiffs further alleged that other less qualified applicants, and/or others who applied after them but were white, were hired; that they were given no explanation for Ford's failure to hire them and others similarly situated in the same manner; and that Ford had engaged in a pattern, practice and course of conduct of not hiring individuals who are black or African-American, and in giving preferential treatment to white applicants. After the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification on October 30, 1995, additional applicants filed a tag-along action alleging that Ford discriminates on the basis of race in violation of Ohio Revised Code § 4112.02 through the use of its pre-employment test, which they argue had a disparate impact on African-Americans. On September 9, 1997, the District Court (Judge Bernard A. Friedman) granted defendant's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the action.

Plaintiffs appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on September 30, 1997. On August 9, 1999, the Circuit Court (Alice M. Batchelder) held that Ford demonstrated through empirical data that its pre-employment test had content validity as well as criterion validity, in that ''the selection procedure is predictive of or significantly correlated with important elements of job performance.'' The court found that although it may have had a disparate impact on African American test-takers, the test did not violate Ohio Rev.Code § 4112.02. The court further held that the evidence did not support the claim that Ford discriminated on the basis of race in choosing who would take the pre-employment test, as plaintiffs failed to show any discrepancy between the composition of the pool of actual test-takers and the composition of the pool of candidates for testing in the relevant labor market. The decision of the District Court was therefore affirmed.

Summary Authors

Rebecca Eisenbrey (4/12/2015)

People


Judge(s)

Friedman, Bernard A. (Michigan)

Martin, Boyce Ficklen Jr. (Kentucky)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Murray, W. Patrick (Ohio)

Attorney for Defendant

Forbes, George L. (Ohio)

Judge(s)

Friedman, Bernard A. (Michigan)

Martin, Boyce Ficklen Jr. (Kentucky)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:95-cv-71203

Docket

Williams v. Ford Mtr. Co.

May 2, 2005

May 2, 2005

Docket

97-02049

Sixth Circuit Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Aug. 9, 1999

Aug. 9, 1999

Order/Opinion

187 F.3d 187

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:01 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

RECORD received from Northern District of Ohio. One volume of pleadings consisting of documents 1 − 26. Ohio 94 − cv − 1989. MICHIGAN CASE # 95 CV 71203. (ep) (Entered: 03/29/1995)

March 27, 1995

March 27, 1995

1

COMPLAINT (as filed in Ohio) (ep) (Entered: 03/29/1995)

March 27, 1995

March 27, 1995

1

ANSWER by Ford Mtr Co to complaint [1 − 1] (filed in Ohio) (ep) (Entered: 03/29/1995)

March 27, 1995

March 27, 1995

2

NOTICE by plaintiffs of filing responses to Ford Motor Company's first request for production of documents and answers to first set of interrogatories with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 08/16/1995)

Aug. 16, 1995

Aug. 16, 1995

3

NOTICE by plaintiff of taking deposition of Mary Carter on 9/18/95 with certificate of service (ep) (Entered: 09/05/1995)

Sept. 5, 1995

Sept. 5, 1995

4

NOTICE by plaintiffs of withdrawal of specified experts and acceptance of defendants' offer of withdrawal of specified experts for class motion purposes with exhibits and certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 09/22/1995)

Sept. 22, 1995

Sept. 22, 1995

5

MOTION by plaintiffs for class certification with proof of service. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

6

MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs in support of motion for class certification [5 − 1] with exhibits 1 through 13. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

7

NOTICE of service by plaintiffs on Gerrol Townsend's responses to defendant Ford Motor Company's first request for production, with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

8

NOTICE by plaintiffs of filing deposition of Mark Murdock with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

9

DEPOSITION of Mark Robert Murdock taken on 6/26/95 (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

10

AFFIDAVIT of CHARLES CRANNY in support of motion for class certification [5 − 1] with attachments, proof of service and notice of filing. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

Text not available. (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

11

AFFIDAVIT by Keith Arnett Harris in support of motion for class certification [5 − 1], with certificate of service and notice of filing. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

12

AFFIDAVIT by Gerrol Gerard Townsend in support of motion for class certification with certificate of service, and notice of filing. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

13

AFFIDAVIT of Rhonda J. Rice in support of motion for class certification with certificate of service and notice of filing. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

14

AFFIDAVIT of Alan Dale in support of motion for class certification with attachments, proof of service and notice of filing [5 − 1] (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

15

AFFIDAVIT of Bryan Thomas in support of motion for class certification with certificate of service and notice of filing. [5 − 1] (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

16

STIPULATION by plaintiff Williams, et al and defendant Ford Motor for class certification , with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 11/01/1995)

Oct. 30, 1995

Oct. 30, 1995

17

NOTICE by Ford Mtr Co of taking deposition of Dr. Charles Cranny with request for production of documents commencing at 10:00 a.m. on November 21, 1995, with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 11/16/1995)

Nov. 16, 1995

Nov. 16, 1995

18

RESPONSE in opposition by Ford Mtr Co to plaintiffs' motion for class certification. [5 − 1] (placed in vault) (ep) (Entered: 12/20/1995)

Dec. 19, 1995

Dec. 19, 1995

20

NOTICE by plaintiffs of taking deposition of JOAN HAWORTH 1/15/96 at 2:00 p.m. , with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 01/16/1996)

Jan. 16, 1996

Jan. 16, 1996

21

MEMORANDUM opinion and order by Judge Bernard A. Friedman granting motion for class certification [5 − 1]. It is further ordered that plantiffs' motion to consolidate this action with the Jones/Glinton/Rose cases is denied and it is further ordered that plaintiffs shall submit to the court their proposal for giving notice to the class members within 60 days of the date of this order, with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 08/01/1996)

July 31, 1996

July 31, 1996

22

MOTION by plaintiffs to approve notice and notification procedure of claims with copy of proposed notice. (sealed and placed in vault) (ep) (Entered: 09/13/1996)

Sept. 13, 1996

Sept. 13, 1996

23

PROOF of mailing by plaintiffs on request for production of documents and Ohio Plaintiffs' Interrogatories. (ep) (Entered: 09/13/1996)

Sept. 13, 1996

Sept. 13, 1996

24

RESPONSE by Ford Mtr Co to motion to approve notice and notification procedure of claims [22 − 1] with attachments A through F. (sealed and placed in vault) (ep) (Entered: 09/25/1996)

Sept. 24, 1996

Sept. 24, 1996

25

CERTIFICATE of service on Plaintiff in 95 − cv − 76125 Byron Thomas and Alan Dale's responses to request for production of documents and interrogatories, with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 10/01/1996)

Sept. 27, 1996

Sept. 27, 1996

26

CERTIFICATE of service of Ohio Plaintiffs' supplemental interrogatories upon the defendant. (ep) (Entered: 10/01/1996)

Sept. 27, 1996

Sept. 27, 1996

27

OBJECTIONS (filed as a reply memorandum) by Ford Mtr Co to plaintiffs' proposed notice to class members, with proof of service and attached notice of class action. [22 − 1] (sealed and placed in vault) (ep) (Entered: 10/09/1996)

Oct. 9, 1996

Oct. 9, 1996

28

CERTIFICATE of service on Ohio Plaintiffs' Supplemental Interrogatories upon defendant by serving attorney Piell (ep) (Entered: 10/28/1996)

Oct. 23, 1996

Oct. 23, 1996

29

ORDER by Judge Bernard A. Friedman granting plaintiffs' motion to approve notice with amendment. [22 − 1] see order for details) (ep) (Entered: 11/22/1996)

Nov. 18, 1996

Nov. 18, 1996

30

PROOF of mailing by plaintiffs on supplemental interrogatories to defendants from Ohio Plaintiffs. (ep) (Entered: 11/22/1996)

Nov. 22, 1996

Nov. 22, 1996

31

NOTICE of class action , with instructions for opting out. (ep) (Entered: 12/13/1996)

Dec. 9, 1996

Dec. 9, 1996

32

PROOF of mailing by Ohio plaintiffs of supplemental interrogatories upon the defendant. (ep) (Entered: 01/09/1997)

Jan. 6, 1997

Jan. 6, 1997

33

NOTICE by plaintiffs of taking stenographic deposition (duces tecum) of Dr. Lorenzo 1/16/97 at 9:30 a.m. , with proof of service. (ep) (Entered: 01/14/1997)

Jan. 14, 1997

Jan. 14, 1997

34

PROOF of mailing by plaintiffs on supplemental interrogatories. (ep) (Entered: 01/14/1997)

Jan. 14, 1997

Jan. 14, 1997

35

PROOF of mailing by Ohio Plaintiffs of Supplemental Interrogatories upon the defendant by sending the original to attorney of record Jeffrey Piell. (ep) (Entered: 02/14/1997)

Feb. 14, 1997

Feb. 14, 1997

36

PROOF of mailing by Ohio plaintiffs on supplemental interrogatories. (ep) (Entered: 03/20/1997)

March 17, 1997

March 17, 1997

37

CERTIFICATE of service by Ohio Plaintiffs of supplemental interrogatories upon the defendant. (ep) (Entered: 04/03/1997)

April 3, 1997

April 3, 1997

38

PROOF of mailing by Ohio Plaintiffs on supplemental interrogatories. (ep) (Entered: 05/02/1997)

May 2, 1997

May 2, 1997

39

MOTION by Ford Mtr Co for summary judgment with two volumes of exhibits and certificate of service. (SEALED and placed in vault) (ep) Modified on 05/23/1997 (Entered: 05/23/1997)

May 23, 1997

May 23, 1997

SCHEDULE: by Judge Bernard A. Friedman hearing on motion for summary judgment by Ford Mtr Co [39 − 1] set for 2:00 8/7/97 (cd) (Entered: 06/06/1997)

May 29, 1997

May 29, 1997

41

JOINT MOTION by both sides to stay briefing schedule with certificate of service. (proposed order attached) (ep) (Entered: 06/24/1997)

June 24, 1997

June 24, 1997

42

ORDER by Judge Bernard A. Friedman granting motion to stay briefing schedule by Gerrol Gerard Townsend and Ford Mtr Co [41 − 1] (LB) (Entered: 07/07/1997)

July 2, 1997

July 2, 1997

43

NOTICE of rescheduled hearing on Defendant Ford Motor Company's motion for summary judgment [39 − 1] set for August 28,, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. (ep) (Entered: 07/15/1997)

July 14, 1997

July 14, 1997

44

MEMORANDUM by plaintiffs in opposition to defendant Fords' motion for summary judgment [39 − 1] with certificate of service. (SEALED &PLACED IN VAULT) (ep) Modified on 07/23/1997 (Entered: 07/23/1997)

July 23, 1997

July 23, 1997

45

EXHIBITS 1 through 30 filed by plaintiffs' in support of their memorandum in opposition to defendant's motion for summary judgment. (SEALED AND PLACED IN VAULT) (ep) (Entered: 07/23/1997)

July 23, 1997

July 23, 1997

46

REPLY memorandum by Ford Mtr Co to response to motion for summary judgment [39 − 1] with attachments A, 1 and B. (sealed and placed in vault) (ep) (Entered: 08/12/1997)

Aug. 11, 1997

Aug. 11, 1997

47

NOTICE by court of scheduling conference (kg) (Entered: 08/13/1997)

Aug. 12, 1997

Aug. 12, 1997

48

NOTICE by the Court of scheduling conference (LB) (Entered: 08/19/1997)

Aug. 18, 1997

Aug. 18, 1997

SCHEDULE: by Judge Bernard A. Friedman scheduling conference set for 2:00 9/30/97 (cd) (Entered: 08/19/1997)

Aug. 18, 1997

Aug. 18, 1997

49

AFFIDAVIT by plaintiffs Attorney Charles Cranny dated 8/26/97 regarding defendant's motion for summary judgment, with notice of filing and certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 08/27/1997)

Aug. 27, 1997

Aug. 27, 1997

50

MOTION by Ford Mtr Co to strike affidavit of CHARLES CRANNY dated August 26, 1997 [49 − 1] (NO BRIEF), with certificate of service. (ep) (Entered: 09/02/1997)

Sept. 2, 1997

Sept. 2, 1997

51

MEMORANDUM opinion and order by Judge Bernard A. Friedman granting motion for summary judgment by Ford Mtr Co [39 − 1] with proof of mailing (kg) (Entered: 09/11/1997)

Sept. 9, 1997

Sept. 9, 1997

52

JUDGMENT entered by Judge Bernard A. Friedman that deendant's motion for summary judgment is granted, and this action is dismissed. (kg) Modified on 09/15/1997 (Entered: 09/11/1997)

Sept. 9, 1997

Sept. 9, 1997

53

MOTION by plaintiffs to strike affidavit of Wayne F. Cascio, with brief and certificate of service. [49 − 1] (ep) Modified on 09/25/1998 (Entered: 09/19/1997)

Sept. 19, 1997

Sept. 19, 1997

54

APPEAL by all plaintiffs of order granting judgment in favor of the defendant Ford Motor Co. [52 − 1] to Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals − FEE: paid − Receipt #: 0022734 (ep) (Entered: 10/01/1997)

Sept. 30, 1997

Sept. 30, 1997

56

DESIGNATION the complete file by plaintiffs [54 − 1], with certificate of service. (filed as a precipe) (ep) (Entered: 10/01/1997)

Sept. 30, 1997

Sept. 30, 1997

55

CERTIFIED copy of appeal notice by all plaintiffs [54 − 1] and docket transmitted to Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (ep) (Entered: 10/01/1997)

Oct. 1, 1997

Oct. 1, 1997

57

PROOF of service on notice of appeal (ep) (Entered: 10/01/1997)

Oct. 1, 1997

Oct. 1, 1997

58

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT from USCA of receipt of appeal notice of appeal &docket [55 − 1] − appeal case # 97 − 2049 (ep) (Entered: 10/10/1997)

Oct. 10, 1997

Oct. 10, 1997

59

TRANSCRIPT order form by plaintiffs (NO HEARING) − appeal case # 97 − 2049 (ep) (Entered: 10/22/1997)

Oct. 22, 1997

Oct. 22, 1997

61

JUDGMENT from USCA affirming the decision of the District Court − appeal case # 97 − 2049 and # 98 − 1256 (cm) (Entered: 08/17/1999)

Aug. 13, 1999

Aug. 13, 1999

62

MANDATE from USCA affirming the decision of the District Court − appeal case # 98 − 1256 with proof of mailing (nh) (Entered: 09/09/1999)

Sept. 8, 1999

Sept. 8, 1999

63

NOTICE of LR 5.3 re sealed matters (DOpa, ) . (Entered: 05/02/2005)

May 2, 2005

May 2, 2005

Case Details

State / Territory: Michigan

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 27, 1995

Closing Date: 1999

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are African-American applicants for unskilled hourly employment at Ford Motor Company's Lorain County facility in Ohio. They serve as representatives of a class consisting of all African-American applicants at Ford's Ohio facilities who, from 1989 to the time of the lawsuit, scored low on the unskilled pre-employment test and were thereby excluded from unskilled employment with Ford.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Wayne), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Impact

Hiring

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black