On September 19, 1988, black employees of the City of Dallas Fire Department filed a class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against the City of Dallas. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for back pay and injunctive relief based upon allegations that the City of Dallas had discriminated on the basis of race regarding hiring and promotional practices.

According to the PACER docket, on October 13, 1988, the court issued an order granting a preliminary injunction enjoining the defendant from promoting any uniformed employees to the ranks of lieutenant, captain, or any higher rank for ninety days. On April 21, 1989, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification, which was granted on July 11, 1990. The class consisted of African-American firefighters working in the City of Dallas. Further details of the class are unknown.

On August 19, 1992, the parties filed a compromise settlement. The settlement called for $572,000 in back pay and $250,000 in attorneys' fees. It also called for the defendant to promote 28 qualified African-Americans. Black Fire Fighters Ass'n of Dallas v. City of Dallas, 805 F. Supp. 428 (N.D. Tex. 1992). On November 5, 1992 the court held that the proposed back pay settlement compensated plaintiffs for discrimination and that the "skip promotions" contemplated by the settlement were not warranted. Black Fire Fighters Ass'n of Dallas v. City of Dallas, 805 F. Supp. 426 (N.D. Tex. 1992).

According to the PACER docket, on September 1, 1994, the plaintiffs issued an amended proposed notice of class action settlement as well as an amended notice of back pay allocation, which received preliminary court approval. On October 21, 1994, the court ordered, adjudged, and decreed that all claims that remained and dismissed the case with prejudice.

Emily Kuznick - 04/03/2008


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