On December 16, 1980, an individual employee filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against his employer, Trinity Industries. The plaintiff, represented by private counsel, asked the court for compensation, back-pay, and injunctive relief because of alleged racial discrimination in placement, promotion, and hiring practices. Specifically, the plaintiff alleged that foremen positions were denied to qualified African-Americans. The employee sought to represent a class of similarly situated employees, and class certification was granted. The plaintiffs prevailed and the court awarded attorney's fees and costs. Shipes v. Trinity Industries, Inc., 685 F. Supp. 612 (E. D. Tex. 1987).

According to the PACER docket, on October 1, 1990, the court (Judge Justice) ordered that the defendant's liability for discrimination in promotions included liability for discrimination in promotions and in hiring. Injunctive relief was granted, and Trinity Industries created new standards for hiring and promoting African Americans. Additionally, back pay was rewarded. The parties continued to squabble about the payments of fees, and the case was finally closed February 6, 2002.

No further information on this case is available, as no court documents were accessible.

Emily Kuznick - 04/08/2008


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