On February 6, 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, against the City of Garland under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. DOJ sought injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant had maintained a pattern or practice of discriminating against Blacks and Hispanics in the hiring of entry-level police and firefighter positions for the city. It was also alleged that these minorities experienced terms, conditions or privileges of employment less favorable than those provided to white employees.

The employment practices at issue in this case all relate to the use of three different cognitive skill tests used by the City to hire entry-level police officers and firefighters: the ALERT entry-level police officer examination; the International Personnel Management Association ("IPMA") B-4 entry-level firefighter examination; and the ALARM entry-level firefighter examination.

In a Memorandum Opinion and Order issued by the district court (Judge Sam A. Lindsay) on March 31, 2004, the Court ruled in favor of the City of Garland after a two-week bench trial conducted from August 13, 2001 to August 24, 2001. Based on testimony and evidence presented, it was determined that the ALERT and ALARM examinations were job-related and consistent with business necessity.

We have no further information on this case.

Jane Wu - 12/02/2007


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