Anderson v. Bessemer City Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Public Court Documents
January 1, 1984
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Brief Collection, LDF Court Filings. Anderson v. Bessemer City Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1984. 69d00639-ac9a-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/40457f9c-766c-453b-8860-bcb3f9544741/anderson-v-bessemer-city-petition-for-writ-of-certiorari-to-the-us-court-of-appeals-for-the-fourth-circuit. Accessed April 06, 2025.
Copied!
No.
I n th e
j5>imrnti£ (Emirt of tfir Unitni States
Octobes T eem , 1983
P h y l l is A. A ndeeso n ,
Petitioner,
■City of B essem ee C ity , etc.
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
J. L evonne Ch am bees
J onathan W ahlas
J ohn N ockleby
Chambers. Fer°ruson. Watt,
Wallas, Adkins & Fuller, P.A.
Suite 730
951 S. Independence Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 2S202
(704) 375-8461
J ack. Geeenbeeg
0 . P e t e s S heewood
E eic S ch n a ppee '
16th Floor
99 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10013
(212) 219-1900
Counsel for Petitioner
Counsel of Record
I
!
QUESTION PRESENTED
1. Did the c o u r t o f a p p e a l s e r r in
h o l d i n g t h a t a pr i rra f a c i e c a s e o f employ
ment d i s c r i m i n a t i o n on the b a s i s o f s ex may
be r e b u t t e d by p r o o f t h a t the r e s p o n s i b l e
p e r s o n n e l o f f i c i a l s p e r m i t t e d t h e i r w i v e s
t o work?
2 . * D o e s R u l e 5 2 ( a ) , F . R . C . P . ,
f o r b i d t he c o u r t s o f a p p e a l s from r e v i e w i n g
the c r e d i b i l i t y f i n d i n g s o f a t r i a l j u d g e ?
3 . * * Did t he c o u r t o f a p p e a l s e xc e ed
* / The same q u e s t i o n i s a l s o r a i s e d by
the pending p e t i t i o n f o r w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i
in M i l l e r v . Mercy H o s p i t a l , No. 8 3- _____.
* * / The Four th C i r c u i t has found " c l e a r
e l r r o r " in e v e r y T i t l e V I I a p p e a l s i n c e
P u l l m a n - S t a n d a r d v . S w i n t , 456 U . S . 273
" H 982) in which the d i s t r i c t c o u r t r u l e d in
f a v o r o f t h e p l a i n t i f f . T h r e e o f t h o s e
c a s e s a r e a l r e a d y p e n d i n g b e f o r e t h i s
C o u r t . M ejr _ v_. Me r e v Ho s p i t a l , No .
» 3 - ; C o o p e r v . Fe d e r a l R e s e r v e Dank,
N o . SIT1 18 5 ; C u t h b e r t s o n v . R i g g e r s B r o
t h e r s , I n c . , s e e n . 1 2 , i n f r a .
l
i t s a u t h o r i t y under Rul e 5 2 , F . R . C . P . , in
h o l d i n g t h a t t h e r e was i n s u f f i c i e n t e v i
d en ce t o s u p p o r t t he t r i a l c o u r t ' s f i n d i n g
o f h i r i n g d i s c r i m i n a t i o n on the b a s i s o f
s e x , where the r e c o r d showed and t he t r i a l
c o u r t found t h a t :
( i ) a member o f t he h i r i n g commit tee
s t a t e d t h a t he had v o t e d not t o
h i r e p e t i t i o n e r b e c a u s e he
b e l i e v e d i t would be " r e a l h a r d "
f o r " a l a d y " t o do the j o b ;
( i i ) the c h a i r o f the h i r i n g commit
t e e t e s t i f i e d t h a t p e t i t i o n e r
was " t h e b e t t e r a p p l i c a n t " ;
( i i i ) a member o f t he h i r i n g commit
t e e d e l i b e r a t e l y s o l i c i t e d
a p p l i c a t i o n s o n l y from men.
i i
PARTIES
The p a r t i e s t o t h i s p r o c e e d i n g a r e
P h y l l i s A. Anderson and the C i t y o f B e s s e
mer C i t y , North C a r o l i n a .
1 1 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Q u e s t i o n s P r e s e n t e d ......................................... i
P a r t i e s ........................................................................ i i i
T a b l e o f A u t h o r i t i e s ....................................... v i
O p i n i o n s Below ...................................................... 2
J u r i s d i c t i o n ........................................................... 2
S t a t u t e and Rule I n v o l v e d .......................... 3
S t a t e m e n t o f t h e C a s e .................................... 4
R e a s o n s f o r G r a n t i n g t h e Writ ................ 12
(1) C e r t i o r a r i S hou l d Be Gr a n t ed
t o Review the F o u r t h C i r c u i t
P r a c t i c e in T i t l e VI I C a s e o f
F i n d i n g " C l e a r E r r o r " in A l l
Lower C o ur t F i n d i n g s o f
Employment D i s c r i m i n a
t i o n ...................................................... 12
(2) C e r t i o r a r i S ho ul d Be G ra n t e d
To Review The "Working Wife"
D e f e n s e E s t a b l i s h e d by t he
Cour t o f A p p e a l s ....................... 29
(3) C e r t i o r a r i Shou l d Be G ra n t e d
t o R e s o l v e A C o n f l i c t Among
The C i r c u i t s R e g a r d i n g Whether
Rule 5 2 ( a ) , F . R . C . P . , F o r b i d s
A p p e l l a t e Review o f T r i a l
Cour t C r e d i b i l i t y D e c i
s i o n s ................................................... 38
C o n c l u s i o n ................................................................ 40
i v
Page
APPENDIX
D i s t r i c t Cour t Memorandum o f
D e c i s i o n , Sep tember 16,
1982 ................................................................. 1a
D i s t r i c t C our t F i n d i n g s o f F a c t and
C o n c l u s i o n s o f Law, F e br u a r y
16, 1983 ................................................... 6a
J u d g me nt , F e b r u a r y 16, 1983 . . . . 33a
Opinion o f the Cour t o f A p p e a l s ,
September 19 , 1983 ........................ 35a
Order o f the Cour t o f A p p e a l s
Denying R e h e a r i n g and R e h e a r
ing En Ba nc , November
4, 1 9 l 3 ~ 777................................................ 66a
v
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
I
i
Page
C a s e s
Brady v . T h u r s t o n Motor L i n e s ,
33 FEP C a s e s 1367 ( 4 t h C i r .
1983) ................................................................ 14
C a s t a n e d a v . P a r t i d a , 430 U . S .
482 ( 1977) ................................................... 3 7 , 3 8
C l i n e v . Roadway E x p r e s s , I n c . ,
689 F .2d 481 ( 4 t h C i r . 1982) . . . 16
Cooper v . F e d e r a l R e s e r v e Bank,
No. 83-185 ................................................... 1
C u t h b e r t s o n v . B i g g e r s B r o t h e r s ,
702 F .3d 454 ( 4 t h C i r . 1983) . . . 8 , 1 5 , 2 6
EEOC v . F e d e r a l R e s e r v e Bank, 698
F . 2 d 633 ( 4 t h C i r . 1983) ................ 14 , 15
F ink v . Western E l e c t r i c C o . , 708
F .2d 909 ( 4 t h C i r . 1983) .............. 16
Guzman v . P i c h i r i l o , 369 U . S . 698
( 1962) ............................................................. 23
Lewi s v . C e n t r a l Piedmont Community
C o l l e g e , 689 F . 2 d 1207 ( 4 t h
C i r . 1982) .............................................. 1 4 , 1 5 , 2 5
L i l l y v . H a r r i s - T e e t e r S u p e r m a r k e t ,
720 F .2d 326 ( 4 t h C i r . 1983) . . . 14
v i
Pa^e
L i n d s a y v . M i s s i s s i p p i R e s e a r c h , e t c . ,
C e n t e r , 652 F .2d 488 (5 t h C i r .
1981) 28
Los A n ge l e s Department o f Water &
Power v . Manhart , 435 U . S . 702
( 1978) 35
L o v e l a c e v . Sherwin W i l l i a m s C o . ,
681 F .3d 230 ( 4 t h C i r . 1982) . . . 16
M i l l e r v . Mercy H o s p i t a l , 720 F .2d
356 ( 4 th C i r . 1983) ............................ X, 14 ,26
P a t t e r s o n v . Greenwood S c h o o l D i s t r i c t
No. 50, 696 F .2d 293 ( 4 t h C i r .
1982) '
Payne v . McLemore ' s W h o l e s a l e &
R e t a i l S t o r e s , 654 F .2d 1130
( 5 t h C i r . 1981) ......................................
P u l l m a n - S t a n d a r d v . S w i n t , 456 U . S .
273 (1982) ........................................... 1 , 1 3 , 1 4 , 1 / ,
2 7 , 2 8 , 2 9
Rohde v . K.O. S t e e l C a s t i n g s , 649
F . 2d 317 (5 t h C i r . 1981 ) ................ 20
Smal lwood v. Uhi ted A i r l i n e s , ( 4 t h
C i r . , F e b r u a r y 28, 1984) ................
Uni t ed S t a t e s v. Yel low Cab C o . ,
338 U . S . 338 ( 1949) ............................
- v i i -
Pagie
S t a t u t e s and R u l e s
28 U . S . C . S 1 254 ( 1 ) ........................................... 3
29 U . S . C . S 621 ..................................................... 15
42 U . S . C . S 2000e .............................................. i , 1 5
42 U . S . C , S 2 0 0 0 e - 2 ( a) ................................... 3
Rule 52 , F e d e r a l R u l e s o f C i v i l
P r o c e d u r e ......................................... i , i i , 4 , 1 2 ,
1 3 , 1 6 , 2 3 , 2 5 ,
2 7 , 2 8 , 2 9 , 3 9
Other A u t h o r i t i e s
S . C a s t e r a s , The S u b s t a n c e o r The
Shadow Images o f V i c t o r i a n
Womanhood ( 1 9 8 ? ) .................................... 34
E. F l e x n e r , C e n tu r y o f S t r u g g l e
( 1982) ............................................................. 34
Wright and M i l l e r , F e d e r a l P r a c t i c e
and P r o c e d u r e ( 1971) .......................... 16
S t a t i s t i c a l A b s t r a c t o f The Un i t e d
S t a t e s , 1982-83 ....................................... 35
v i i i
IN THE
No.
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
Oc t obe r Term, 1983
PHYLLIS A. ANDERSON,
Pet i t i o n e r ,
v .
CITY OF BESSEMER CITY, e t c .
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
P e t i t i o n e r P h y l l i s Anderson r e s p e c t
f u l l y p r a y s t h a t a W r i t o f C e r t i o r a r i
i s s u e t o r ev i e w t he judyment and o p i n i o n o f
t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A p p e a l s f o r
the Four th C i r c u i t e n t e r e d in t h i s p r o c e e d
ing on Sep tember 19, 1983.
2
OPINIONS BELOW
The d e c i s i o n o f the c o u r t o f a p p e a l s
i s r e p o r t e d a t 717 F . 2 d 149, and i s s e t o ut
a t pp . 3 5 a - 6 5 a o f t he A pp en d i x . The o r d e r
d e n y in g r e h e a r i n g , which i s not r e p o r t e d ,
i s s e t out a t p . 6 6 a . The d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s
Memorandum o f D e c i s i o n o f S e p t e m b e r 16 ,
1 9 0 2 , w hi ch i s n o t r e p o r t e d , i s s e t o u t
a t pp . 1 a- 5a o f the A pp en d i x . The d i s t r i c t
c o u r t ' s F i n d i n g s o f F a c t and C o n c l u s i o n s
o f Law, which a r e r e p o r t e d a t 557 F . Supp.
4 1 2 , a r e s e t o u t a t p p . 6 a - 3 2 a o f t h e
A p p e n d i x .
JURISDICTION
The judgment o f the c o u r t o f a p p e a l s
w a s e n t e r e d on S e p t e m b e r 1 9 , 1 9 8 3 . A
t i m e l y p e t i t i o n f o r r e h e a r i n g was f i l e d ,
which was d e n i e d on November 4, 1983. On
J a n u a r y 2 5 , 1 9 8 4 , t h e C h i e f J u s t i c e
g r a n t e d an o r d e r e x t e n d i n g t h e d a t e on
l
- 3 -
which the p e t i t i o n f o r w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i
was due u n t i l A p r i l 2, 1984. J u r i s d i c t i o n
o f t h i s Cour t i s invoked under 28 U . S . C .
§ 1 2 5 4 ( 1 ) .
STATUTE AND RULE INVOLVED
S e c t i o n 7 8 3 ( a ) o f T i t l e V I I o f t h e
1964 C i v i l R i g h t s A c t , 42 U . S . C . 5 2 00 0e -
2 ( a ) p r o v i d e s :
I t s h a l l be an u n l a w f u l employ
ment p r a c t i c e f o r an employer - -
(1) t o f a i l o r r e f u s e t o h i r e o r
t o d i s c h a r g e any i n d i v i d u a l ,
o r o t h e r w i s e t o d i s c r i m i n a t e
a g a i n s t any i n d i v i d u a l wi th
r e s p e c t t o h i s c o m p e n s a t i o n ,
t e r m s , c o n d i t i o n s , or
p r i v i l e g e s o f employment ,
b e c a u s e o f such i n d i v i d u a l ' s
r a c e , c o l o r , r e l i g i o n , s e x ,
o r n a t i o n a l o r i g i n ; or
(2) t o l i m i t , s e g r e g a t e , o r
c l a s s i f y h i s empl oyees or
a p p l i c a n t s f o r employment in
any way which would d e p r i v e
or tend t o d e p r i v e any
i n d i v i d u a l o f employment
o p p o r t u n i t i e s o r o t h e r w i s e
a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t h i s s t a t u s
1
4
a s an e mpl oy ee , b e c a u s e o f
such i n d i v i d u a l ' s r a c e ,
c o l o r , s e x , or n a t i o n a l
o r i g i n .
R u l e 5 2 ( a ) , F e d e r a l R u l e s o f C i v i l
P r o c e d u r e , p r o v i d e s in p e r t i n e n t p a r t :
I n a l l a c t i o n s t r i e d u p o n
t he f a c t s w i t h ou t a j u r y o r with
an a d i s o r y j u r y , t he c o u r t s h a l l
f i n d t h e f a c t s s p e c i a l l y and
s t a t e s e p a r a t e l y i t s c o n c l u s i o n s
o f l a w t h e r e o n , a n d j u d g m e n t
s h a l l be e n t e r e d p u r s u a n t t o Rule
58 ; and in g r a n t i n g o r r e f u s i n g
i n t e r l o c u t o r y i n j u n c t i o n s t h e
c o u r t s h a l l s i m i l a r l y s e t f o r t h
the f i n d i n g s o f f a c t and c o n c l u
s i o n s o f law which c o n s t i t u t e the
g r o u n d s o f i t s a c t i o n . R e q u e s t s
f o r f i n d i n g s a r e n o t n e c e s s a r y
f o r p u r p o s e s o f r e v i e w . F i n d i n g s
o f f a c t s h a l l n o t be s e t a s i d e
u n l e s s c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s ,
and due r e g a r d s h a l l be g i v e n t o
t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f t h e t r i a l
c o u r t t o j u d g e o f the c r e d i b i l i t y
o f the w i t n e s s e s . . . .
STATEMENT OF THb‘ CASE
On May 18, 1981, p e t i t i o n e r commenced
t h i s a c t i o n in the Uni ted S t a t e s D i s t r i c t
C o u r t f o r t h e W e s t e r n D i s t r i c t o f N o r t h
, Her c o m p l a i n t a l l e g e d t h a t theC a r o l i n a
5
d e f e n d a n t C i t y o f Be s s eme r C i t y had r e f u s e d
t o h i r e her a s the c i t y R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r
b e c a u s e o f her s e x , in v i o l a t i o n o f T i t l e
V I I o f t h e C i v i l R i g h t s Act o f 1 9 6 4 , 42
U . S . C . §§ 2 0 0 0 e e . s e q . P e t i t i o n e r
had p r e v i o u s l y f i l e d a c h a r g e o f d i s c r i m i
n a t i o n with the Equa l Employment Oppor tun
i t y Commiss ion, which had i s s u e d a D e t e r m i
n a t i o n f i n d i n g r e a s o n a b l e c a u s e t o b e l i e v e
t h a t the d e f e n d a n t had enga ged in d i s c r i m i
n a t i o n on the b a s i s o f s e x .
The c a s e was heard a t a n o n - j u r y t r i a l
in S e p t e m b e r , 1902. C e r t a i n b a s i c f a c t s
were not d i s p u t e d . In the s p r i n g o f iy75
t h e mayor o f B e s s e m e r a p p o i n t e d a f i v e
member commit tee t o s e l e c t a new r e c r e a t i o n
d i r e c t o r f o r the c i t y . One o f the commit tee
members, J o s i a h B u t l e r , p e r s o n a l l y s o l i
c i t e d a p p l i c a t i o n s from f o u r male a p p l i
c a n t s , i n c l u d i n g both o f the men who were
e v e n t u a l l y o f f e r e d the p o s i t i o n . B u t l e r
i
6
d i d n o t , however , s o l i c i t a p p l i c a t i o n s from
any women, a l t h o u g h he acknowledged knowing
a t l e a s t two women who were b e t t e r q u a l i
f i e d then the f o u r men whom he p e r s u a d e d t o
a p p l y . The c o m m i t t e e a l s o p l a c e d an
a d v e r t i s e m e n t f o r t he p o s i t i o n in t h e l o c a l
n e w s p a p e r . P e t i t i o n e r was the o n l y woman
who s u b m i t t e d an a p p l i c a t i o n f o r t he j o b .
The h i r i n g c ommi t t ee d i d not e s t a b l i s h
p r i o r t o i t s s e l e c t i o n d e c i s i o n s a n y
s t a n d a r d s or g u i d e l i n e s , w r i t t e n or o t h e r
w i s e , f o r c h o o s i n g t h e R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r ,
o t h e r than t h a t the D i r e c t o r would have t o
l i v e w i t h i n the C i t y o f B e s s e m e r . E i g h t
i n d i v i d u a l s a p p l i e d f o r the p o s i t i o n , and
a l l e i g h t were i n t e r v i e w e d by t he commi t tee
on the same d a y . The commit tee c o nc l u d e d
t h a t o n l y t h r e e o f t h e a p p l i c a n t s we re
q u a l i f i e d f o r the p o s i t i o n — p e t i t i o n e r ,
D o n a l d K i n c a i d , and B u r t B r o a d w a y . The
7
c o m m i t t e e i n i t i a l l y p r e f e r r e d B r o a d w a y ,
but d e c i d e d not t o o f f e r him the p o s i t i o n
when he d e c l i n e d t o move t o B e s s e m e r . A
m a j o r i t y o f t he c o m m i t t e e t h e n v o t e d t o
o f f e r the j o b t o K i n c a i d , who a c c e p t e d the
p o s i t i o n .
The t r i a l p r e s e n t e d c o n f l i c t i n g
e v i d e n c e on t h r e e c r i t i c a l i s s u e s . F i r s t ,
p e t i t i o n e r c l a i m e d t h a t s h e was b e t t e r
q u a l i f i e d t h a n K i n c a i d f o r t h e p o s t o f
R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r . One c o m m i t t e e
member t e s t i f i e d t h a t p e t i t i o n e r was b e t t e r
q u a l i f i e d ; o t h e r m e m b e r s s t a t e d t h e y
p r e f e r r e d K i n c a i d , in p a r t b e c a u s e one
b e l i e v e d i t would be " r e a l h a r d " f o r " a
l a d y " t o do the j o b . ( S e e p. 30, i n f r a ) .
S econd , p e t i t i o n e r was a s ke d i f her husband
would approve o f her s e e k i n g and t a k i n g the
j o b . The commit tee members d i s a g r e e d a s t o
whether male a p p l i c a n t s were a s k ed i f t h e i r
w i v e s a p p r o v e d o f t h e j o b . ( S e e p . 2 2 ,
8
i n f r a . ) T h i r d , p e t i t i o n e r a s s e r t e d t h a t
t he commi t tee had m a n i p u l a t e d i t s h i r i n g
s t a n d a r d , f i r s t e m p h a s i z i n g e x p e r i e n c e o v e r
e d u c a t i o n , and t h e n d o i n g p r e c i s e l y t h e
o p p o s i t e , in o r d e r t o a s s u r e the s e l e c t i o n
o f a man.
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t r e s o l v e d e a c h o f
t h e s e f a c t u a l d i s p u t e s in f a v o r o f p l a i n
t i f f s . In a Memorandum D e c i s i o n o f Septem
b e r 16, 1982, f o l l o w e d by l e n g t h i e r F i n d i n g s
o f F a c t a n d C o n c l u s i o n s o f Law f i l e d
F e b r u a r y 16 , 1 9 8 3 , t h e t r i a l j u d g e h e l d
t h a t p e t i t i o n e r was b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d than
K i n c a i d , - t h a t o n l y p e t i t i o n e r was a sked
q u e s t i o n s ab out whether her s p o u s e approved
2/
o f her t a k i n g the j o b , - and t h a t t he com
m i t t e e had i nde ed m a n i p u l a t e d i t s s t a n d a r d s
1 / 4 a , 15a, 19a , 2 6 a , 29a
2 / 4 a , 12a, 2 1 a , 2 5 a , 26a
9
t o p r e v e n t t h e s e l e c t i o n o f a woman—
The d i s t r i c t c o u r t e mphas ized t h a t p e t i
t i o n e r ha d e x t e n s i v e p r i o r e x p e r i e n c e
w o r k i n g a s a r e c r e a t i o n d i r e c t o r , a
mus ic d i r e c t o r , and an e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l
t e a c h e r , a s w e l l a s e x p e r i e n c e in b o okke ep
i n g , r e c r u i t i n g and s u p e r v i s i n g o f s u b o r
d i n a t e s , p u b l i c s p e a k i n g and f u n d r a i s -
4 /
t n g . K i n c a i d h a d n o n e o f t h i s w or k
e x p e r i e n c e ; he had g r a d u a t e d from c o l l e g e
o n l y nine months b e f o r e the i n t e r v i e w , and
had worked i n t h e i n t e r i m f o r a f i n a n c e
5 /c o m p a n y . — The o s t e n s i b l e r e a s o n t o r
h i r i n g K i n c a i d was t h a t , a l t h o u g h both he
and p e t i t i o n e r p o s s e s s e d c o l l e g e d e g r e e s ,
and b o t h ha d t a k e n p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n
3 / 3a .
4 / 4 a , 1 6 a , - 1 8 a .
5 / 18a.
10
c o u r s e s , h i s d e g r e e was in p h y s i c a l e d u c a
t i o n , wherea s p e t i t i o n e r ' s d e g r e e was in
e l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n . - ^ T h e d i s t r i c t
j u d g e c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h i s was a p r e t e x t ,
a n d t h a t p e t i t i o n e r h a d b e e n r e j e c t e d
b e c a u s e o f her s e x . - ^
On a p p e a l the Four th C i r c u i t r e v e r s e d
a s " c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s " each o f t he c o n t r o
v e r t e d f a c t u a l f i n d i n g s o f t h e d i s t r i c t
c o u r t . The l o w e r c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n t h a t
p e t i t i o n e r w a s b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d t h a n
K i n c a i d , t h a t p e t i t i o n e r a l o n e was a sked
q u e s t i o n s a b o u t h e r f a m i l y , t h a t t h e
c ommi t t ee m a n i p u l a t e d t he h i r i n g s t a n d a r d s ,
t h a t the r e a s o n s f o r h i r i n g K i n c a i d were
p r e t e x t u a l , a l l were he l d t o be " c l e a r l y
e r r o n e o u s " , a s was t h e d i s t r i c t j u d g e ' s
u l t i m a t e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t p e t i t i o n e r was
6/
7 /
3 a , 15a .
2 a , 7 a , 2 3 a , 2 6 a , 2 7 a .
- 1 1 -
d e n i ed the p o s i t i o n o f R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r
8/
b e c a u s e o f her s e x . — The d i s t r i c t c o u r t
had a l s o r e l i e d on u n c o n t r o v e r t e d e v i d e n c e
t h a t one member o f the commit tee had s o l i
c i t e d a p p l i c a t i o n s o n l y from men, and t h a t
a n o t h e r member had acknowledged t h a t h i s
p r e f e r e n c e f o r K i n c a i d was b a s e d on a con
v i c t i o n t h a t i t would be d i f f i c u l t f o r a
l a d y " t o do the j o b . ( S e e p. 30, i n f r a ) .
The c o u r t o f a p p e a l s he l d t h a t , a s a m a t t e r
o f l aw, t h a t e v i d e n c e had been r e b u t t e d by
p r o o f t h a t the male commit tee members were
ma rr i ed to women who had he l d j o b s o u t s i d e
tne home. ( 6 1 a ) .
A t i m e l y p e t i t i o n f o r r e h e a r i n g and
s u g g e s t i o n f o r r e h e a r i n g en banc was d e n i e d
on November 4, 1983.
8 / 47a , 5 1 a , 5 5 a - 5 6 a , 59a .
12
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT
(1) C e r t i o r a r i S ho ul d Be G r a n te d t o
Review t he F o u r th C i r c u i t
P r a c t i c e in T i t l e VII C a s e s o f
F i n d i n g " C l e a r E r r o r " in A l l
Lower C o u r t F i n d i n g s o f Employ
ment D i s c r i m i n a t i o n
The c o u r t o f a p p e a l s ' d e c i s i o n in t h i s
c a s e i s an o b j e c t l e s s o n in the p ro b l ems
t h a t a r i s e when an a p p e l l a t e c o u r t i g n o r e s
the l i m i t e d s c o p e o f r e v i e w e s t a b l i s h e d by
R u l e 52 o f t h e F e d e r a l R u l e s o f C i v i l
P r o c e d u r e . T h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t b e l o w
" e d i t e d " t he t r i a l t r a n s c r i p t t o d e l e t e the
c r i t i c a l t e s t i m o n y r e l i e d on by the d i s -
9 /
t r i c t c o u r t , — d i s r e g a r d e d t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s
c r e d i b i l i t y f i nci i n g s ^ a n d h a v i n g d on e
s o c o n c l u d e d t h a t the lower c o u r t ' s f i n d i n g
o f i n t e n t i o n a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , a s w e l l as
9 / S ee pp . 1 9 - 2 0 , i n f r a .
10/ S ee p . 3 9 , i n f r a .
13
e v e r y o n e o f i t s c r i t i c a l s u b s i d i a r y
f i n d i n g s , were " c l e a r e r r o r " . T h i s d i s
r e g a r d o f R u l e 52 woul d w a r r a n t summary
r e v e r s a l e v e n i f i t w e r e an i s o l a t e d
i n c i d e n t . T r o ut v . Lehman, ___ U . S . ___
(No. 8 3 - 7 0 6 ) .
But the de novo re v i ew a p p a r e n t on the
f a c e o f the p a n e l ' s o p i n i o n i s no a b b e r a -
t i o n ; in the Four th C i r c u i t such a p p e l l a t e
t r i a l s dc? novo a r e the normal p r a c t i c e in
T i t l e VI I c a s e s . T h i s C o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n in
P u l l m a n - S t a n d a r d v . S w i n t , 456 U . S . 273
( 1 9 8 2 ) , r e e m p h a s i z e d Rule 5 2 ' s r e q u i r e m e n t
t h a t f a c t u a l f i n d i n g s be r e v e r s e d on a p p e a l
o n l y i f c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s , and d i r e c t e d
t h a t t h a t s t a n d a r d be a p p l i e d in p a r t i c u l a r
t o f i n d i n g s o f f a c t r e g a r d i n g the p r e s e n c e
o f d i s c r i m i n a t o r y m o t i v a t i o n . But a p p e l l a t e
f i n d i n g s o f " c l e a r e r r o r , " which S w i n t
c o nt emp la te d would be the e x c e p t i o n , a r e in
the Fourtl i C i r c u i t r u l e . S i n c e A p r i l 27,
14
1982, t h e d a t e on which S wi n t was d e c i d e d ,
t h e F ou r t h C i r c u i t h a s found c l e a r e r r o r in
e v e r y c a s e in which a d i s t r i c t c o u r t had
found i n t e n t i o n a l employment d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
on the b a s i s o f r a c e o r s e x . In most o f
t h o s e c a s e s a l l f i n d i n g s o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n ,
b o t h a s t o i n d i v i d u a l s a n d a s t o t h e
p l a i n t i f f c l a s s , were r e v e r s e d a s " c l e a r
e r r o r " . - i n e v e r y o t h e r T i t l e V I I
c a s e a t l e a s t one or more o f the f i n d i n g s
o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n was h e l d on a p p e a l t o be
1 2/" c l e a r e r r o r " . — One t h r e e j u d g e p a n e l .
11/ EEOC v . F e d e r a l R e s e r v e Dank, 698 F .2d
633 ( 4 t h C i r . 1983) c e r t , g r a n t e d _____ U . S .
( 1 9 8 3 ) ; H i l l e r v . Mercy H o s p i t a l , 720
F723 356 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 3 ) , c e r t , p e n d i n g .
No. 8 3 - ____ ; L e w i s v . C e n t r a l P i e d m o n t
Community C o l l e g e , 689 F .2d 1207 ( 4 t h C i r .
1 9 8 2 ) , c e r t . d e n l e d , ___ U . S . ___ ; P a t t e r
s o n v . Greenwood S c h o o l D i s t r i c t No. 5 0 ,
6 9 6 F . 2 d 2 9 3 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 2 ) ; a n d t h e
i n s t a n t c a s e .
12/ L i l l y v . H a r r i s - T e e t e r S u p e r m a r k e t ,
720 F . 2 d 326 , 338 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 3 ) ; Brady v .
T h u r s t o n Motor L i n e s , 33 FLP C a s e s 1367,
15
which r e v i e w e d f o u r u n r e l a t e d T i t l e V I I
c a s e s i n v o l v i n g two lower c o u r t f i n d i n g s
o f c l a s s w i d e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n and s e v e n lower
c o u r t f i n d i n g s o f i n d i v i d u a l i n s t a n c e s o f
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , he ld t h a t e v e r y s i n g l e one
± 3 /o f t h e s e f i n d i n g s was " c l e a r e r r o r " .
11/The t r e a t m e n t o f age d i s c r i m i n a t i o n c a s e s
i s e s s e n t i a l l y s i m i l a r . S i n c e Swint the
F o u r t h C i r c u i t h a s c o n s i d e r e d f i v e s u c h
c a s e s i n v o l v i n g 21 d i f f e r e n t f i n d i n g s o f
12/ c o nt i n u e d
1378 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 98 3 ) ; C u t h b e r t s o n v . B i g -
q e r s B r o t h e r s , 702 F . 2 d 4 5 4 , 4 6 2 , 4 6 3 ,
464 ( 4th C i r . 1 9 8 3 ) , c e r t , p e n d i n g . The
p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i i n
Cu_t h b e r t s o n , w h i c h h a s n o t y e t b e e n
d o c k e t e d , i s in the c us tody o f the C h i e f
Deputy C l e r k , Mr. L o r s o n .
13/ EEOC v . F ed e r a l R e s e r v e B a nk , Cuth
b e r t s o n v . B i g g e r s B r o t h e r s , L e w i s v .
C e n t r a l Piedmont Commun i t y C o l l e g e , and the
i n s t a n t c a s e .
14/ See 29 U . S . C . b 621 e t . s e q .
16
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . Two o f t h e s e i n v o l v e d
j u r y v e r d i c t s , w h i c h a r e s u b j e c t t o a
s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w even more s t r i n g e n t than
Rule 5 2 . — ^ The Four th C i r c u i t r e v e r s e d a s
" c l e a r e r r o r " 20 o f t h e 21 f i n d i n g s o f
a g e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . O v e r a l l , o u t o f 13
a p p e a l s s i n c e Swi nt in which the p l a i n t i f f s
1 5 / S m a l l w o o d v . U n i t e d A i r l i n e s , N o s .
82-2115 and 8 2 - 2 1 1 6 , s l i p o p i n i o n F e b r u a r y
28 , 1984 ( f i n d i n g f o r i n d i v i d u a l p l a i n t i f f
" c l e a r e r r o r " ) ; EEOC v . Western E l e c t r i c
C o . , I n c . , 713 F . 2d 1011, 1016, 1019 ( 4 t h
C i r . 1983) ( f i n d i n g o f p a t t e r n and p r a c t i c e
and o f 16 i n s t a n c e s o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a l l
" c l e a r e r r o r " ) ; F ink v . Western E l e c t r i c
C o . , 708 F . 2 d 909 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 3) ( j u r y
v e r d i c t f o r i n d i v i d u a l p l a i n t i f f o v e r
t u r n e d ) ; L o v e l a c e v . S h e r w i n W i l l i a ms
Co . , 681 F . 2 d 230 ( 4 t h CIF. 1982) ( j u r y
v e r d i c t f o r i n d i v i d u a l p l a i n t i f f o v e r
t u r n e d ) ; C l i n e v . Roadway E x p r e s s , I n c . ,
689 F .2d 481 ( 4 t h C i r . 1982) ( f i n d i n g f o r
i n d i v i d u a l p l a i n t i f f n o t c l e a r l y e r r o
neous ) .
16/ 9 Wright and M i l l e r , F e d e r a l P r a c t i c e
a n d P r o c e d u r e , 5 2 5 8 5 , p . 7 3 0 ( 1 9 7 1 ) .
- 17 -
p r e v a i l e d below in an employment d i s c r i m i
n a t i o n c a s e , t he Four th C i r c u i t ha s found
" c l e a r e r r o r " in 12 . T h e r e i s , on t h e
o t h e r h a n d , no r e p o r t e d F o u r t h C i r c u i t
o p i n i o n s i n c e Swint f i n d i n g c l e a r e r r o r in
a t r i a l c o u r t e m pl o ym e nt d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
d e c i s i o n f a v o r a b l e t o a d e f e n d a n t .
The p a r t i c u l a r c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e
i n s t a n t a p p e a l c o n f i r m t he a p p a r e n t F our th
C i r c u i t d i s r e g a r d o f Rule 52 s u g g e s t e d by
t h i s p a t t e r n o f r e v e r s a l s . The d i s t r i c t
c o u r t in the i n s t a n t c a s e found t h a t the
Bes semer C i t y o f f i c i a l s had i n t e n t i o n a l l y
1 7 /r e j e c t e d p e t i t i o n e r b e c a u s e o f her s e x , —
and based t h a t c o n c l u s i o n , i n t e r a l i a , on
e x p r e s s s u b s i d i a r y f i n d i n g s t h a t p e t i t i o n e r
was b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d than the man who was
17/ 2 a , 7 a , 2 3 a , 2 6 a , 27a .
18
. i ^ 18/
h i r e d , t h a t p e t i t i o n e r was a sked q u e s
t i o n s a b o u t h e r p e r s o n a l l i f e t h a t were
1 9 /n o t a s k e d o f t h e m a l e a p p l i c a n t s , — and
t h a t t h e c i t y o f f i c i a l s m a n i p u l a t e d
the j o b r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the p o s i t i o n f o r
w h i c h p e t i t i o n e r a p p l i e d i n o r d e r t o
2 0 /
j u s t i f y t h e s e l e c t i o n o f a m an . —- The
c o u r t o f a p p e a l s he l d a s t o e ac h o f t h e s e
- 21 /f i n d i n g s t h a t i t was " c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s "
o r t h a t t h e r e was " n o t h i n g in the r e c o r d t o
22/
s u p p o r t " i t . —
A f t e r a d e t a i l e d r e v i e w o f t h e e v i
dence adduced a t t r i a l , t he d i s t r i c t j u d g e
1 8 / 4 a , 15a , 19a , 2 6 a , 2 9 a .
1 9 / 4 a , 12a , 13a , 2 1 a , 2 5 a , 2 6 a .
2 0 / 12a; s e e a l s o 3 a , 2 2 a , 2 7 a .
2 1 / 4 7 a , 55a- 5 6 a , 59.
2 2 / 5 1a .
19
e x p r e s s l y c o nc l u d e d t h a t p e t i t i o n e r was
the b e s t q u a l i f i e d c a n d i d a t e " ( 4 a ) . The
c o u r t o f a p p e a l s r e a c h e d t h e o p p o s i t e
c o n c u s i o n , h o l d i n g t h a t the e v i d e n c e showed
t h a t p e t i t i o n e r was n o t b e t t e r q a l i f i e d
t h a n t h e man who was h i r e d . ( 5 5 a - 5 6 a ) .
The c o u r t o f a p p e a l s e x p r e s s l y q u o t e d and
r e l i e d on the t r i a l t e s t i m o n y o f the c h a i r
o f t h e h i r i n g c o m m i t t e e . The p e r t i n e n t
p o r t i o n o f B o o n e ' s t e s t i m o n y , a s " e d i t e d "
ana quoted by the Four th C i r c u i t , r e a d s :
q Flow about a r t , do you b e l i e v e
e i t h e r o f them had q u a l i f i c a
t i o n s s u p e r i o r t o the o t h e r
. . . ? As t o the s u b j e c t o f a r t
s p e c i f i c a l l y ?
A. No.
( 5 4 a ) . The F o u r t h C i r c u i t e m p h a s i z e d ,
" ( I i j v e n Boone s p e c i f i c a l l y d e n i e d t h a t
Anderson was b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d . " ( Is l * ) The
a c t u a l t r a n s c r i p t , on which the t r i a l j u d g e
r e l i e d , h o w e v e r , c o n t a i n s p r e c i s e l y t h e
20
t e s t i m o n y w h i c h t h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s
c o mp l a i n e d was l a c k i n g :
Q. How ab out a r t , do you b e l i e v e
e i t h e r one o f them had q u a l i f i c a
t i o n s s u p e r i o r t o t h e o t h e r ?
A. That w a s n ' t the b a s i s o f the
h i r i n g o f a r e c r e a t i o n [ d i r e c t o r ]
• • •
Q. What you were l o o k i n g f o r in
q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a s a member o f the
c o m m i t t e e . . .
A. As an a l l around D i r e c t o r , I f e l t
l i k e P h y l l i s was t h e b e t t e r a p p l i
c a n t
(j. As t o t h e s u b j e c t o f a r t s p e c i
f i c a l l y ?
2 3 / J o i n t A p p e n d i x , N o . 8 3 - 1 2 7 8 ( 4 t h
C l r . ) , p . 149 (E mp ha s i s added) ( h e r e i n a f t e r
c i t e d a s J . A . ) . S ee a l s o Ja l . a t 138-39 : #
"Q. Who was b e s t q u a l i f i e d f o r the
p o s i t i o n o f R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r
in your o p i n i o n ?
"A. In my p e r s o n a l o p i n i o n , I f e l t
P h y l l i s Anderson was t he b e s t
q u a l i f i e d , and t h a t ' s a l l - a r o u n d
q u a l i f i e d .
"Q. Would you e x p l a i n what t h a t was
b a s e d on?
21
The t r a n s c r i p t was - e d i t e d " by t he c o u r t o f
a p p a l s i t s e l f to omi t the c r i t i c a l t e s t i
mony; the d e f e n d a n t n ever o f f e r e d in i t s
a p p e l l a t e b r i e f s any such " e d i t e d " v e r s i o n
o f the p r o c e e d i n g s .
The d i s t r i c t j u d g e a l s o h e l d t h a t
p l a i n t i f f had been a s ke d q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d
ing her p e r s o n a l l i f e , p a r t i c u l a r l y about
whether her husband would appr ove o f her
s e e k i n g or t a k i n g the j o b f o r which she was
a p p l y i n g , t h a t w e r e n o t a s k e d o f m a l e
a p p l i c a n t s . 1 1 7 The d i s t r i c t c o u r t c o n
c l u d e d t h a t t h i s q u e s t i o n i n g " s u g g e s t e d
t h a t a woman ought to be a t home i n s t e a d
23/ con t i n u e d
"A. Her p a s t e x p e r i e n c e , her educa
t i o n a l b a ck gr ou n d .
24/ See n . 2 , s u p r a .
22
2 5 /o f w o r k i n g . ” ( 4 a ) . — The c o u r t o f
a p p e a l s acknowledged t h a t t h e r e was con
f l i c t i n g t e s t i m o n y " on t h i s i s s u e ( 4 4 a ) ;
n e v e r t h e l e s s , i t o v e r r u l e d a s " c l e a r l y
e r r o n e o u s " t h e l o w e r c o u r t f i n d i n g t h a t
p e t i t i o n e r was s u b j e c t t o i n q u i r i e s n ot
made o f male a p p l i c a n t s . ( 5 9 a ) . The i s s u e
o f whether o r not q u e s t i o n s ab out s p o u s a l
a p p r o v a l were a s k e d o f m a l e a p p l i c a n t s
i n v o l v e d a d i r e c t c o n f l i c t in the t e s t i
mony. The commit tee c h a i r i n s i s t e d t h a t no
such q u e s t i o n s had been a s k e d o f the male
a p p l i c a n t s . — 7̂ Another commit tee member,
on t he o t h e r hand, t e s t i f i e d t h a t the same
2 5 / In a d d i t i o n , the d i s t r i c t c o u r t he ld
t h a t p e t i t i o n e r , bu t not the male app l
c a n t s , w a s a s k e d i f s h e r e a l i z e d t h e
p o s i t i o n i n v o l v e d w o r k i n g a t n i g h t and
t r a v e l i n g t h r o u g h o u t the c o u n t y . ( 4 a , 12a ,
1 3 a , 2 1 a ) . The F o u r t h C i r c u i t a l s o r e
v e r s e d t h i s f i n d i n g a s " c l e a r l y e r r o n e
o u s . " ( 5 9 a ) .
2 6 / J . A. 136 -3 7 , 154-55 .
23
q u e s t i o n was " i n a s e n s e " a s k ed o f Donald
K i n c a i d , a l t h o u g h a p p a r e n t l y n o t o f
2 7 /
t h e o t h e r ma l e a p p l i c a n t s . S uc h con
f l i c t s in t he t r i a l t e s t i m o n y must o r d i n a r
i l y be r e s o l v e d by the t r i a l j u d g e , s i n c e
R u l e 52 a d m o n i s h e s t h a t " d u e r e g a r d
s h a l l be g i v e n t o the o p p o r t u n i t y o f the
t r i a l c o u r t t o j u d g e o f the c r e d i b i l i t y o f
the w i t n e s s e s " . T h i s Cour t e mphas ized in
r.n7man v. P i c h i r i l o , 369 U . S . 698 ( 1 9 6 2 ) ,
t h a t "under t h i s r u l e . . . (a) r e f u s a l to
c r e d i t the u n c o r r o b o r a t e d t e s t i m o n y o f | a
w i t n e s s ) , who o b v i o u s l y was not d i s i n t e r
e s t e d in t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e l i t i g a t i o n ,
would not be c o n s i d e r e d c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s . "
269 U .S . a t 702.
The d i s t r i c t c o u r t in the i n s t a n t c a s e
a l s o h e l d t h a t t h e h i r i n g c o m m i t t e e had
m a n i p u l a t e d t h e s e l e c t i o n c r i t e r i a t o
2 7 / J . A. 190.
a B s u r e t he s e l e c t i o n o f a man. In j u s t i f y
i n g t h e i r i n i t i a l p r e f r e n c e f o r B e t t
B r o a d w a y o v e r p e t i t i o n e r , t h e o f f i c i a l s
e x p l a i n e d t h a t , a l t h o u g h Broadway, u n l i k e
P e t i t i o n e r , had no c o l l e g e d e g r e e , he had
e x t e n s i v e t e a c h i n g e x p e r i e n c e ; t h e s u b s e
q u e n t s e l e c t i o n o f K i n c a i d r a t h e r t h a n
p e t i t i o n e r was d e f e n d e d on the ground t h a t
a l t h o u g h , u n l i k e p e t i t i o n e r , K i n c a i d had no
t e a c h i n g e x p e r i e n c e , he h a d a c o l l e g e
d e g r e e in p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n . The d i s t r i c t
j u d g e c o n c l u d e d :
t he c ommi t t ee e mpha s iz ed e i t h e r
e x p e r i e n c e o r e d u c a t i o n , depeno-
ing on which c r i t e r i a j u s t i f i e d
t h e c h o i c e o f a p a r t i c u l a r male
c a n d i d a t e . ( 2 7 a ; s e e a l s o 2 2 a ) .
The c o u r t o f a p p e a l s i n s i s t e d t h e r e was
" s i m p l y n o t h i n g in the r e c o r d t o s u p p o r t "
t h i s c o n c l u s i o n . ( 5 1 a ) . In r e a l i t y
t he d e f e n d a n t ' s s h i f t i n g a c c o u n t s o f i t s
h i r i n g s t a n d a r d s p r o v i d e d s u p p o r t both f o r
t he t r i a l c o u r t ' s f i n d i n g t h a t the e x p l a n a
25
t i o n s were " p r e t e x t u a l " ( 2 6 a ) , and f o r the
a p p e l l a t e c o u r t ' s c o n t r a r y c o n c l u s i o n . In
such c a s e s Rule 52 r q u i r e d t h a t c o n s i d e i a
t i o n be g i v e n t o the a b i l i t y o f the t r i a l
c o u r t t o a s s e s s the c r e d i b i l i t y o f the c i t y
o f f i c i a l s . " F i n d i n g s a s t o t h e d e s i g n ,
mot ive and i n t e n t wi th which men a c t depend
p e c u l i a r l y upon the c r e d i t g i v e n t o w i t
n e s s e s by t h o s e who s e e and h e a r them.
Uni ted S t a t e s v . Y e l l ow Cab C o . , 338 U . S .
338 , 341 ( 1 9 4 9 ) .
The d e c i s i o n o f the c o u r t o f a p p e a l s
in t h i s c a s e t o d i s r e g a r d the f i n d i n g s o f
the t r i a l c o u r t were c o n s i s t e n t wi th the
g e n e r a l p r a c t i c e o f t h e F o u r t h C i r c u i t
s i n c e S w i n t . In Lewi s v . C e n t r a l Peidmont
Community C o l l e g e , 689 F .2d 1207 ( 4 t h C i r .
1 9 8 2 ) , t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t h e l d t h a t t h e
b l a c k p l a i n t i f f , who had b o t h a c o l l e g e
d e g r e e and r e l e v a n t p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e ,
was more q u a l i f i e d t h a n t h e w h i t e who,
26
though l a c k i n g b o t h , was h i r e d . 689 F . 2 d
a t 1 2 1 0 . T h e r e , a s h e r e , t h e F o u r t h
C i r c u i t h e l d t he d i s t r i c t c o u r t f i n d i n g was
" c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s " . JLc). In M i l l e r v .
Mercy H o s p i t a l , 720 F. 2d 356 ( 4 t h C i r .
1 9 8 3 ) , c e r t i o r a r i p e n d i n g , t h e d i s t r i c t
c o u r t w h i c h s u s t a i n e d t h e p l a i n t i f f s
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n c l a i m s found the t e s t i m o n y
o f the key d e f e n s e w i t n e s s e s v a c i l l a t i n g ,
v a g u e , and u n d e s e r v i n g o f b e l i e f . 720 F .2d
a t 367 . T h e r e , a s h e r e , t he F our th C i r c u t
found the lower c o u r t ' s c r e d i b i l i t y d e t e r m
i n a t i o n s t o be " c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s . 702
p . 2 d a t 3 7 5 - 6 8 . In C u t h b e r t s o n v . B i g g e r s
B r o t h e r s , I n c . , 702 F . 2 d 454 ( 4 t h C i r .
1 9 8 3 ) , c e r t i o r a r i p e n d i n g , t h e d i s t r i c t
c o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t had
m a n i p u l a t e d i t s h i r i n g c r i t e r i a t o a s s u r e
t he s e l e c t i o n o f w h i t e s a s s a l e s m e n . 702
F . 2d a t 457 . The r e c o r d showed t h a t the
- 2 7 -
d e f en da nt had n ever h i r e d a b l a c k s a l e s m a n
p r i o r t o 1976, t h a t the f i r m ' s o f f i c i a l s
had announced " t h e t ime was not r i g h t " t o
h i r e b l a c k s a l e s m e n , and t h a t the f i r m ' s
p r e s i d e n t had s t a t e d he " w o u l d n * t l e t a
2 8 /
b l a c k man s e l l a dog f o r h im" . T h e r e ,
a s h e r e , the f o u r t h C i r c u i t c o nc l u d e d t h a t
was i n s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t a
f i n d i n g o f r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . 702 F .2 d
a t 461.
T h i s c o u r t r e c o g n i z e d in P u l l m a n - S t a n d
ard v . Swint t h a t the e x t e n t o f c o m p l i an c e
with Rule 52 must be a s c e r t a i n e d by examin-
i ng t h e a c t u a l d e c i s i o n o f a c o u r t o f
a ppe a l s , n o t by r e 1 i a nee on a p r o f or ma
r e c i t a t i o n o f t: h e " c l e a i r l y e r r o n e o u s "
s t a n d a r d . 456 U• S . a t 29 1-93 . The F i f t h
2 8 / P e t i t i o n f o r Writ o f Cer t i o r a r i , pp.
7 - 8 . ( Se e n . 1 2 , s u p r a . )
28
C i r c u i t " u l t i m a t e f a c t " d o c t r i n e condemned
in Swi nt was a r e l a t i v e l y minor d e v i a t i o n
from Rul e 52 compared wi t h t he p r a c t i c e o f
the F o u r th C i r c u i t d e s c r i b e d a b o v e . In the
F i f t h C i r c u i t p r i o r t o S w i n t , d i s t r i c t
c o u r t d e c i s i o n s in employment d i s c r i m i n a -
_29/
t i o n c a s e s were f r e q u e n t l y u p h e l d . In
the F our th C i r c u i t s i n c e S w i n t , a t l e a s t
in c a s e s in which t he p l a i n t i f f p r e v a i l e d
be lo w, t h a t v i r t u a l l y n ev er o c c u r s . Today
in Ma ry l a n d , V i r g i n i a , West V i r g i n i a and
t he C a r o l i n a s t he r o l e o f f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t
j u d g e s in many employment d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
c a s e s i s me r e l y t o c o m p i l e the r e c o r d on
which F ou r t h C i r c u i t w i l l b a s e i t s de novo
d e t e r m i n a t i o n . In any c a s e i n which a
2 9 / S e e , e . g . , Payne_v^_McI^m o r e ’ s Who l e
s a l e & R e n t a l S t o r e s , 654 F . 2 d 1130 ( 5 t h
C i r T 19 8 1 ) ; L i n d s a y v . M 1 s s i s -s- j ^ r ^ r r f i.
s e a r c h . e t c . . C e n t e r , 652 F . 2 d 488 ( 5 t h
C i r . 1 9 8 1 ) ; Rohde v . K.O. S t e e l C a s t i n g s ,
649 F .2d 317 ( 5 t h c i r . 1 9 8 1 ) .
29
d i s t r i c t j u d g e d e c i d e s t o r u l e f o r t h e
p l a i n t i f f s , t he d r a f t i n g o f the f i n d i n g s o f
f a c t and c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w r e q u i r e d
by Rule 5 2 ( a ) i s g e n e r a l l y p o i n t l e s s , s i n c e
such f i n d i n g s o r d i n a r i l y c a r r y no we ig ht on
a p p e a l . In the Four th C i r c u i t t o d a y , a s in
t he F i f t h C i r c u i t p r i o r t o S w i n t , the £ r o
forma a p p e l l a t e r e f e r e n c e s t o the c l e a r l y
e r r o n e o u s " r u l e c a n n o t o b s c u r e t h e v e r y
d i f f e r e n t s t a n d a r d o f r ev i ew which i s in
f a c t be ing a p p l i e d .
(2) C e r t i o r a r i S h o u l d Be Gr a n t ed t o
Review the "Working Wife" D e f e n s e
E s t a b l i s h e d by the Cour t o f
A p p e a l s
The d i s t r i c t c o u r t f i n d i n g o f i n t e n
t i o n a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n was b a s e d on s e v e r a l
s u b s i d i a r y f i n d i n g s the a c c u r a c y o f which
were n ot q u e s t i o n e d by t h e c o u r t o f a p
p e a l s . F i r s t , F r a n k N i c h o l s , o n e o f
the h i r i n g committee members , t e s t i f i e d a t
t r i a l t h a t one o f the r e a s o n s he opposed
30
h i r i n g p e t i t i o n e r was t h a t he b e l i e v e d Mi t
would have been r e a l h a r d " f o r " a l a d y " t o
d o t h e j o b f o r w h i c h s h e h a d a p p l i e d .
( 2 1 a a ) — ^ S e c o n d , N i c h o l s t e s t i f i e d , with
r e g a r d t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e p o s i t i o n
r e q u i r e d e v e n i n g work, t h a t he t h o ug ht "my
30/ The f u l l c o l l o q u y was a s f o l l o w s :
"Q. Mr. N i c h o l s , i f you remember,
why d i d you p e r s o n a l l y p r e f e r
Donald K i n c a i d o v e r P h y l l i s
Anderson a s your s e l e c t i o n f o r
t h i s p o s i t i o n ?
"A. I f i g u r e d he was b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d .
"Q. In what s e n s e ?
"A. He had a PE d e g r e e .
"Q. Any t h i n g e l s e ?
"A. At t he t ime we were t a l k i n g
ab out g e t t i n g t h i s r e c r e a t i o n
program s t a r t e d a t Bes semer
C i t y , a l a d y c o u l d have run
the j o b , I 'm n ot s a y i n g she
c o u l d n ' t , but i t would have been
r e a l h a r d . "
J . A . 209 .
- 31 -
w i f e s hou l d be a t home a t n i g h t . " — '/ T h i r d ,
a n o th e r commit tee member, J o s i a h B u t l e r ,
e x p r e s s l y s o l i c i t e d a p p l i c a t i o n s from f o u r
m a l e c a n d i d a t e s , i n c l u d i n g K i n c a i d , b u t
d e l i b e r a t e l y r e f u s e d to s o l i c i t a p p l i c a
t i o n s from women, a l t h o u g h he p e r s o n a l l y
knew s e v e r a l women who were q u a l i f i e d f o r
t h e j o b . --- K i n c a i d w a s known t o and
3 1 / The f u l l q u e s t i o n s and a n s we r s were a s
f o l l o w s :
"U. You w o u l d n ' t want your w i f e t o
have t h a t j o b t ho ug h, would
you?
"A. No, s i r , I w o u l d n ' t .
" q . And you w o u l d n ' t want t o put a
l a d y through l i n i n g [ s i c ]
b a l l f i e l d s and b e i n g a t the gym
a t n i g h t ?
"A. I 'm s p e a k i n g p e r s o n a l l y f o r
m y s e l f . I have t h r e e c h i l d r e n
a t home, and I t h i n k my w i f e
s hou l d be home a t n i g h t . "
J . A . 214.
3 2 / 1 l a , 2 1 a , 2 5 a , 2 6a .
32
r e c r u i t e d by B u t l e r b e c a u s e both b e l o n g e d
t o a c l u b which e x c l u d e d women from member
s h i p .
3 3 /
A l t h o u g h t h i s e v i d e n c e s t r e n g t h e n e d
c o n s i d e r a b l y p e t i t i o n e r ' s p r i ma f a c i e c a s e ,
t he c o u r t o f a p p e a l s he ld t h a t such d i r e c t
p r o o f o f d i s c r i m i n a t o r y a t t i t u d e s w a s
c o m p l e t e l y r e b u t t e d by e v i d e n c e r e g a r d i n g
t h e p e r s o n a l l i v e s o f t h e m a l e members
o f t h e c o mm i t t e e :
T h i s e v i d e n c e . . . i s d i s p e l l e d by
o t h e r p o r t i o n s o f t h e r e c o r d . F o r
e x a m p l e , t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o show
t h e mal e commi t tee members had a b i a s
a g a i n s t w o r k i n g women. A l l f o u r
t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e i r w i v e s had worked
and were a cc u s to me d t o b e i n g away from
home d u r i n g e v e n i n g h o u r s . ( 6 1 a ) .
T h i s p a s s a g e e m b r a c e d t h e a r g u m e n t e x
p r e s s l y a d v a n c e d by r e s p o n d e n t b e l o w
t h a t t h e f a m i l y l i v e s o f the male commit tee
members was c o n c l u s i v e o f t he a l l e g a t i o n s
3 3 / 2 1a; J . A. 196.
33
3 4 /
r e g a r d i n g t h e i r m o t i v e s . —
In the view o f the c o u r t o f a p p e a l s ,
m a r r i a g e t o w o r k i n g women e f f e c t i v e l y
immunized the male commit tee members from
any c h ar ge o f employment d i s c r i m i n a t i o n on
the b a s i s o f s e x . The F our th C i r c u i t r u l e
a p p a r e n t l y e x t e n d s t o male o f f i c i a l s whose
wives had e ver worked a t any t ime d u r i n g
t h e i r m a r r i a g e ; in t h i s c a s e o n l y one o f
the f o u r wives was a c t u a l l y employed a t the
35/
t ime o f t r i a l , - * and two o f the f o u r had
n o t worked f o r y e a r s . — ^ T h i s " w o r k i n g
w i f e " d e f e n s e i s i n c o n s i s t e n t both wi th the
34 / B r i e f f o r A p p e l l a n t , No. 8 3 - 1 2 7 8 , p.
35. ( " l l j t i s a p p a r e n t from t he p e r s o n a l
c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f e a c h o f t h e f o u r m a l e
s e l e c t i o n committee members t h a t none was
p r e j u d i c e d a g a i n s t f ema l e employment , or
a g a i n s t f e m a l e s w o r k i n g a t n i g h t . . . . " )
( Emphas i s in or
35 / J • A • 202.
36/ J .A. 192, 2 2 2 .
34
p u r p o s e s o f T i t l e V I I a n d w i t h s i m p l e
common s e n s e .
The F o u r t h C i r c u i t ' s " w o r k i n g w i f e "
d e f e n s e i s i t s e l f b a s e d on the v e r y t ype o f
s e x u a l s t e r e o t y p i n g which T i t l e VII con
demns. In e a r l y n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y A m er i ca ,
m a r r i a g e t o a w o r k i n g woman m i g h t h a v e
been the mark o f an e x c e p t i o n a l l y l i b e r a t e d
man. Not o n l y was i t t h e n uncommon f o r
w i v e s t o work o u t s i d e t he home, but in many
s t a t e s a m a r r i e d woman c o u l d n e i t h e r s i g n
an employment c o n t r a c t nor keep her e a r n
i n g s w i t h o u t t h e p e r m i s s i o n o f h e r h u s -
3 7 /
ba nd . But the l e g a l s t a t u s o f m a r r i e d
women in the Uni ted S t a t e s no l o n g e r r e
s e m b l e s t h a t o f minor c h i l d r e n . The Four th
C i r c u i t ' s a s s e r t i o n t h a t the a c t i o n s o f the
37/ S ee F . F l e x n e r , Centur y o f S t r u g g l e ,
8 ( 1 9 5 9 ) ; S . C a s t e r a s , The S u b s t a n c e o r
t h e Shadow - - I m a g e s o f V i c t o r i a n Woman-
h o o u , 10-11 ( 1 9 8 2 ) .
*
- 35 -
wives in t h i s c a s e was a c o n c l u s i v e i n d i c a
t o r o f t h e m o t i v e s o f t h e i r h u s b a n d s
n e c e s s a r i l y , i f t a c i t l y , a s sumes t h a t the
wives of the male commit tee members would
not or cou l d not have worked o u t s i d e t h e i r
home s u n l e s s t h e i r h u s b a n d s a p p r o v e d .
T i t l e VII condemns p r e c i s e l y such "myths
and p ur e l y h a b i t u a l a s s u m p t i o n s ab out . . .
worn [ e ] n ____ " L o s A n g e l e s D e p a r t m e n t o f
Water & Power v . M an h a r t , 435 U . S . 702, 707
( 1978) .
The " w o r k i n g w i f e " d e f e n s e w o u l d
v i r t u a l l y n u l l i f y T i t l e V I I ' s p r o h i b i t i o n
a g a i n s t employment d i s c r i m i n a t i o n on the
b a s i s o f s e x . T o d a y o v e r h a l f o f a l l
m a r r i e d women a r e w o r k i n g o u t s i d e t h e
3 8 /home;— 7 the v a s t m a j o r i t y o f a l l m a r r i e d
women ha v e h e l d s u c h j o b s a t some p o i n t
3 8 / S t a t i s t i c a l A b s t r a c t o f t h e U n i t e d
S t a t e s 1 9 8 2 - 8 3 , p . 3 8 2 , t a b l e no . 6 3 8 .
36
a f t e r t h e i r w e d d i n g s . T h u s v i r t u a l l y
e v e r y m a r r i e d male p e r s o n n e l o f f i c i a l w i l l
q u a l i f y f o r the " work ing w i f e " d e f e n s e now
r e c o g n i z e d in t he f o u r t h C i r c u i t .
The c o u r t s o f a p p e a l s ' "working w i f e "
d e f e n s e i s a l s o a t odds wi th t h i s C o u r t ' s
d e c i s i o n in C a s t a n e d a v . P a r t i d a , 430 U . S .
4B2 ( 1 9 7 7 ) . In C a s t a n e d a t h e d i s t r i c t
c o u r t had h e l d t h a t a pr ima f a c i e c a s e o f
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t H i s p a n i c s in t h e
s e l e c t i o n o f g r an d j u r i e s c o u l d be r e b u t t e d
by e v i d e n c e t h a t a m a j o r i t y o f t h e j u r y
c o m m i s s i o n e r s w e r e t h e m s e l v e s M e x i c a n -
Ame r i ca n . T h i s C o ur t r e v e r s e d , h o l d i n g t h a t
" ( b l e c a u s e o f t h e many f a c e t s o f human
m o t i v a t i o n , i t would be unwise t o presume
a s a m a t t e r o f law t h a t human b e i n g s o f one
d e f i n a b l e g r o u p w i l l n o t d i s c r i m i n a t e
a g a i n s t o t h e r members o f t h e i r g r o u p . " 430
U . S . a t 499 . In l i g h t o f the d e c i s i o n in
C a s t a n e a a , t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h i s c a s e
37
could not have been r e b u t t e d by e v i d e n c e
t h a t f o u r members o f the h i r i n g commit tee
were t h e m s e l v e s w o r k i n g women; t h e mere
f a c t t h a t the male meinners o f the commit tee
were mar r i ed t o working women i s o f c o n
s i d e r a b l y l e s s p r o b a t i v e v a l u e t h a n t h e
e v i d e n c e r e j e c t e d in C a s t a n e d a i t s e l f .
J u s t i c e B l a c k m u n ' s a d m o n i t i o n i n
C a s t a ned a r e g ;ard i ng t he many f a c e t s o f
human mot i v a t i on a p p l i ies wi th p a r t i c u l a r
f o r c e t o t he F o u r t h C i r c u i t ' s " w o r k i n g
w i f e " d e f e n s e . Th e h insband o f a working
woman may have p r o t e s t ed , i n d i g n a n t l y but
in va i n , her d e c i s i o n t o s e e k employment ,
o r m <ay h a ve a c q u i e s c e d i n a d e c i s i o n
t h a t o f f e n d e d h i s pe r s o rial v i e w s a b o u t
ma r r i ag e o n l y b e c a u s e t he c o u p l e was in
f inam:rial d i f f i c u l t y . Ttre a c t u a l e x p e r -
i ence of be ing ma rr i ed to a working woman
might hav e agg r a v a t e d a fr u s b a n d ' s r e s i s t -
a nee to s uch employmen t , or c r e a t e d p r e j -
38
u o i c e 6 where none e x i s t e d b e f o r e . In t he
i n s t a n t c a s e two o f t h e w i v e s had h e l d
. , 3 9 /t r a d i t i o n a l women's j o b s , s c h o o l t e a c h e r
4 0 /
and n u r s e ; a husband who d i d not o b j e c t
t o such employment might n o n e t h e l e s s r e s i s t
h i r i n g a woman f o r a p o s i t i o n t h a t had in
t he p a s t o r d i n a r i l y been h e l d by men. In
s h o r t , t he f a c t t h a t a p e r s o n n e l o f f i c i a l ' s
m a r r i a g e t o a working w i f e , a l t h o u g h now a
v i r t u a l l y c o n c l u s i v e d e f e n s e in the F our th
C i r c u i t t o p r o o f o f employment d i s c r i m i n a
t i o n on the b a s i s o f s e x , i s i n r e a l i t y en
t i r e l y d e v o i d o f e v i d e n t i a r y s i g n i f i c a n c e .
(3 ) C e r t i o r a r i S ho ul d Be Gr a n t ed To
R e s o l v e A C o n f l i c t in The C i r
c u i t s R e g a r d i n g Whether Rule
5 2 ( a ) , f I r . C . P , F o r b i d s A p p e l l a t e
Review o f T r i a l C o ur t C r e d i b i l i t y
D e t e r m i n a t i o n s
The d i s t r i c t j u d g e e x p r e s s l y r e l i e d on
the c r e d i b i l i t y o f the w i t n e s s e s in r e s o l v -
3 9 / J . A. 192.
4U/ J . A . 222 .
39
i n g t h e c o n f l i c t i n g t e s t i m o n y o f c i t y
o f f i c i a l s r e g a r d i n g w h e t h e r p e t i t i o n e r
was a sked p e r s o n a l q u e s t i o n s not a sked o f
the male a p p l i c a n t s . ( 1 2 a - 1 3 a ) . The t r i a l
j ud g e a l s o e x p r e s s l y r e l i e d on c r e d i b i l i t y
i n r e a c h i n g h i s o v e r a l l c o n c l u s i o n t h a t
p e t i t i o n e r was d e n i e d employment b e c a u s e o f
h e r s e x . ( 7 a ) . T h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s
r e v e r s e d both c r e d i b i l i t y d e t e r m i n a t i o n s .
The c o u r t s o f a p p e a l s a r e s h a r p l y
d i v i d e d r e g a r d i n g w h e t h e r t r i a l c o u r t
c r e d i b i l i t y d e t e r m i n a t i o n s can be rev i ewed
on a p p e a l , or must be a c c e p t e d a s b i n d i n g
on the a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s . Seven c i r c u i t s
have he l d t h a t no such a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w i s
p e r m i t t e d by Rule 5 2 ( a ) . Four c i r c u i t s ,
i n c l u d i n g the F o u r t h , p e r m i t such r e v i e w ,
a l t h o ug h a p p l y i n g w i d e l y d i v e r g e n t s t a n
d a r d s .
The c o n f l i c t among t h e c i r c u i t s on
t h i s impor t an t i s s u e i s d e s c r i b e d in d e t a i l
40
in the Petition for Writ of Certiorari
i n M i l l e r v. Mercy H o s p i t a l , No. 83------- .
C e r t i o r a r i s h o u l d b e g r a n t e d t o r e s o l v e
t h a t q u e s t i o n .
CONCLUSION
F o r t h e a b o v e r e a s o n s a w r i t o f
c e r t i o r a r i s h o u l d i s s u e t o r e v i e w t h e
j udgment and o p i n i o n o f the F our th C i r c u i t .
R e s p e c t f u l l y s u b m i t t e d ,
J . LEVONNE CHAMBERS
JONATHAN WALLAS
JOHN NOCKLEBY
Chamber s , F e r g u s o n , Wat t ,
W a l l a s , Ad k ins & F u l l e r , P .A.
S u i t e 730
951 S . Indepen dence B l v a .
C h a r l o t t e , Nor th C a r o l i n a
28202
(704) 375-8461
JACK GREENBERG
O. PETER SHERWOOD
ERIC SCHNAPPER *
16th F l o o r
99 Hudson S t r e e t
New York , New York 10013
(212) 219 -1 90 0
C o u n s e l f o r Petitioner
* C o un s e l o f Record
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
C h a r l o t t e D i v i s i o n
C-C-81-204-M
PHYLLIS A. ANDERSON, )
)
P l a i n t i f f , )
) MEMORANDUM
- v s - ) OF DECISION
)
CITY OF BESSEMER CITY, )
NORTH CAROLINA, )
)
D e f e n d a n t . )
J o n a t h a n W a l l a s and Ronald L. G i b s o n ,
Chambers , F e r g u s o n , Wat t , W a l l a s , Adkins &
F u l l e r , P . A . , 9 5 1 S o u t h I n d e p e n d e n c e
B o u l e v a r d , C h a r l o t t e , North C a r o l i n a 28202 ,
c o u n s e l f o r p l a i n t i f f .
P h i l i p M. Van Hoy, 400 S o u t h T r yo n
S t r e e t , S u i t e 3 0 2 2 , C n a r l o t t e , N o r t h
C a r o l i n a 28285 , and Ar t hur C. B l u e , I I I ,
W h i t e s i d e s , Robinson and B l u e , P . A . , 246
West Main Avenue, G a s t o n i a , North C a r o l i n a
28052 , c o u n s e l f o r d e f e n d a n t .
B e f o r e J a me s B. McM i 1l an , D i s t r i c t J u d g e
Th i s c a s e wa s t r i e d wi t h o u t a j u r y on
Mo no a y a n d Tuc? s d a y , S e p t embe r 13 and
14 , 19 t12 . The d e c i s i o n wa s t a k e n u n d e r
ao vi ser r len t f o r a more d e l i t e r a t e r e v iew
o f the ev i denc e and f i l e . I have rea ched
the f o l l o w i n g c o n c l u s i o n s :
- 2 a
1. The p l a i n t i f f w as denied e q u a l
opportunity to compete for t h e j o b o f
Recreation Director f o r t h e defendant
m u n i c i p a l c o r p o r a t i o n , and was denied the
j o b b e c a u s e o f her s e x .
2. The d e f e n d a n t ' s e x p l a n a t i o n s f o r
t he c h o i c e , though v a l i d on t h e i r f a c e , a r e
p r e t e x t u a l .
3 . p l a i n t i f f h a s c a r r i e d the burden
t h r o u g h o u t o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t h e r
r e j e c t i o n f o r t h e j o b was b e c a u s e o f her
s e x .
4 . P l a i n t i f f i s e n t i t l e d t o compensa
t i o n f o r l o s s o f income t o t h e d a t e o f the
t r i a l , b u t i s not e n t i t l e d t o a d e c l a r a t o r y
judgment and d o e s n o t s e e k r e i n s t a t e m e n t .
! n a v e g r e a t d o u b t s t h a t r e i n s t a t e m e n t
would be an a p p r o p r i a t e remedy under the
c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
3a
In a r r i v i n g a t the above c o n c l u s i o n s ,
1 h a v e c o n s i d e r e d a number o f p e r t i n e n t
f a c t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g w hi ch I
h a v e n o t a t t e m p t e d t o l i s t in o r d e r o f
r e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e , a n d w h i c h d o n o t
c o n s t i t u t e any e x c l u s i v e s t a t e m e n t o f the
r e a s o n s f o r the d e c i s i o n :
( a ) T h e r e w e r e no o b j e c t i v e
p r e d e t e r m i n e d s t a n d a r d s f o t t h e
s e l e c t i o n .
(b) Each member o f the s e l e c t i o n
c o m m i s s i o n f o l l o w e d h i s o r h e r own
nose in making t he d e c i s i o n .
( c ) F o r m a l e d u c a t i o n i n t h e
s p e c i f i c f i e l d o f p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n ,
w h i c h i s t h e w i n n i n g c a n d i d a t e ' s
p r i n c i p a l a d v a n t a g e o v e r the p l a i n t i f f ,
had n ever been a p r e s c r i b e d nor a g r e e d
r e q u i r e d q u a l i f i c a t i o n ; in f a c t , the
c a n d i d a t e (not s e l e c t e d ) whom most o f
t h e c o m m i s s i o n s a i d had b e e n t h e i r
o r i g i n a l number one c h o i c e d i d n ot
h a v e f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n in p h y s i c a l
e d u c a t i o n .
( d ) The r a t i o n a l e o f t h e f o u r
m a l e members o f the c o m m i t t e e f o r
t h e i r s e l e c t i o n was b a s e d p r e d o m i n a n t
ly upon the winning c a n d i d a t e ' s f o r ma l
d e g r e e and h i s p e r c e i v e d e x p e r i e n c e in
4a
t a k i n g p a r t i n a n d t r a i n i n g f o r
c o m p e t i t i v e a t h l e t i c s . C o m p e t i t i v e
s p o r t s i s o n l y one o f f i v e ma j or g o a l s
l i s t e d in t h e l a t e r - d e v e l o p e d program
( p l a i n t i f f ' s e x h i b i t s 8 and 15) which
i s t he o n l y w r i t t e n d e s c r i p t i o n o f the
d u t i e s o f t he j o b . ( T h i s d e s c r i p t i o n
was a p p a r e n t l y p r e p a r e d a f t e r t h e
s e l e c t i o n had been m ad e . )
( e ) I n t h e i n t e r v i e w s w i t h
a p p l i c a n t s , p l a i n t i f f wa s a s k e d
q u e s t i o n s w h i c h i m p l i e d s u b s t a n t i a l
d oubt t h a t a woman o u g h t t o have a pob
wh i c h r e q u i r e d n i g h t work and which
s u g g e s t e d t h a t a woman o ught t o be a t
home i n s t e a d o f w o r k i n g . Men were not
a s k ed s i m i l a r q u e s t i o n s .
( f ) p l a i n t i f f had a l r e a d y o b
t a i n e d a s t a t e c e r t i f i c a t e a s a c e r t
i f i e d R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r ; t he s u c c e s s
f u l c a n d i d a t e o b t a i n e d h i s c e r t i f i c a t e
a f t e r and by v i r t u e o f h i s s e l e c t i o n
by t he commit tee t o be t he D i r e c t o r o f
the Be s s eme r C i t y R e c r e a t i o n Commis
s i o n .
( g ) N e i t h e r t h e p l a i n t i f f nor
the s u c c e s s f u l c a n d i d a t e p a r t i c i p a t e d
in v a r s i t y c o l l e g e a t h l e t i c s . P l a i n
t i f f had e x t e n s i v e e x p e r i e n c e in p o s i
t i o n s o f l e a d e r s h i p and a t h l e t i c s in
h igh s c h o o l , and in community a c t i v i
t i e s o f a l l k i n d s f o l l o w i n g c o l l e g e ,
a nd h a d h a d t w o y e a r s o f a c t i v e
e x p e r i e n c e in r u n n i n g a r e c r e a t i o n
p r o g r a m . S he i s s k i l l e d i n m u s i c ,
d a n c e , d i r e c t i n g and p l a y i n g s p o r t s ,
band a c t i v i t y , s p e a k i n g , g u i d a n c e
l e a d e r s h i p , community a f f a i r s , f m « n
c i a l ma n ag eme nt and e d u c a t i o n . She
was t h e b e s t q u a l i f i e d c a n d i d a t e .
5a
N o t h i n g i n t h e a b o v e r e c i t a l i s
i n t e n d e d t o b e u n c o m p l i m e n t a r y t o t h e
c h a r a c t e r and c a p a c i t y o f Mr. K i n c a i d , the
s u c c e s s f u l c a n d i d a t e , nor in d e r o g a t i o n o f
h i s a p p a r e n t s u c c e s s t o d a t e in h i s work a s
R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r .
I t t h e p a r t i e s c a n a g r e e u p o n a
s o l u t i o n o f t h e c a s e b a s e o u p o n t h e s e
f i n d i n g s , t h e y a r e r e q u e s t e d t o l e t t h e
c o u r t know by O c t o b e r 4 , 1 9 8 2 . I f t h e y
have not r e ac he d an ag r eement by t h a t t i m e ,
p l a i n t i t f f ' s c o u n s e l w i l l be r e q u e s t e d to
d r a f t a n d s u b m i t a s o m e w h a t e n l a r g e d
v e r s i o n o f t h i s memorandum in the form o f
p r o p o s e d f i n d i n g s o f f a c t , c o n c l u s i o n s o f
l aw, and an a p p r o p r i a t e j udgmen t .
T h i s 16 d a y o f S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 8 2 .
J a me s h. McMil lan
U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t J u d g e
6a
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE WESTERN p iSTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
C h a r l o t t e D i v i s i o n
£-C- 81- ?Q4- M
PHYLLIS A. ANDERSON, )
p l a i n t i f f , ) FINDINGS OF FACT
) A N D
v8_ ) CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
)
CITY OF BESSEMER CITY, )
NORTH CAROLINA, )
D e f e n d a n t . )
J o n a t h a n W a l l i s and Ronald L - G ib s o n ,
Chambers , F e r g u s o n , Wa t t , W a l l a s , Adkins 6
F u l l e r , P . A ? , 9 5 1 S o u t h I n d e p e n a e n c e
B o u l e v a r d , C h a r l o t t e , Nor th C a r o l i n a 28202,
c o u n s e l f o r p l a i n t i f f .
P h i l i p M. Van Hoy, S i e g e l , «° ' (T0n
K a i n e n , P . C . , 400 S o u t h Tyron S t r e e t , S u i t e
3 0 2 2 , C h a r l o t t e , n o r t h c « ° l i n a
H e n r y W h i t e s i o e s a n d A r t h u r C , B i u e '
H I , W h i t e s i d e s , R ob i n s on and B l u e , P . A . ,
2 4 6 W e s t M a i n A v e n u e , G a s t o n i '
C a r o l i n a 2 8 0 5 2 , c o u n s e l f o r d e f e n d a n t .
B e f o r e J a me s B. M cMi l l a n , D i s t r i c t J u d g e
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
This case was tried without a jury on
September 13 and 14, 1982 . On September
16 , 1982 , this court tiled a memorandum of
decision finding t h a t "plaintiff was denied
7a
R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r f o r t he d e f e n d a n t muni
c i p a l c o r p o r a t i o n , and was d e n i e d the j o b
b e c a u s e o f her s e x . " The c o u r t s u p p o r t e d
t h i s f i n d i n g w i t h a r e v i e w o t t h e k e y
e v i d e n c e and a r e s o l u t i o n o f the c e n t r a l
i s s u e s o f c r e d i b i l i t y , and r e q u e s t e d t h a t
p l a i n t i f f ' s c o u n s e l d r a f t " an e n l a r g e d
v e r s i o n c f t h i s memorandum in t he form o f
p r o p o s e d f i n d i n g s o f f a c t , c o n c l u s i o n s o f
l aw, and an a p p r o p r i a t e j u d g m e n t . "
On N o v e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 8 2 , t h e c o u r t
r e c e i v e d p l a i n t i f f ' s p r o po se d f i n d i n g s ano
c o n c l u s i o n s . On November 1 8 , 1 9 8 2 , t h e
c o u r t i n v i t e d d e f e n d a n t t o r e s p o n d by
p o i n t i n g t o the p o r t i o n s o f the p r o p o s e d
f i n d i n g s not s u p p o r t e d by the r e c o r d , by
p r o v i d i n g r e f e r e n c e s t o the t r a n s c r i p t and
e x h i b i t s which s u p p o r t t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s
p o s i t i o n , and by s u g g e s t i n g l a n g u a g e which
s h o u l d be s u b s t i t u t e d f o r t h a t used by the
8a
p l a i n t i f f . On December 10 , 1982 , d e f e n d a n t
f i l e d a 1 ^ - p a g e r e s p o n s e to the p r o pos e d
f i n d i n g s , i n q l u d i n g h e l p f u l r e f e r e n c e s t o
t h e t r a n s c r i p t .
Haviny r e v ie we d the t r i a l t r a n s c r i p t
and e x h i b i t s and h a v i n g c o n s i d e r e d a l l o f
t he e v i d e n c e , and t h e p r o p o s a l s and a r g u
m e n t s o f c o u n s e l f o r b o t h p a r t i e s , t h e
c o u r t m a k e s t h e f o l l o w i n g f i n d i n g s o f
f a c t and c o n c l u s i o n s o f l aw:
FINDINGS of fact
t. On May 1 8 , 1 9 8 1 , p l a i n t i f f P h y l l i s
A. Anderson f i l e d t h i s s u i t a g a i n s t d e f e n d
a n t , B e s s em er C i t y , a l l e g i n g v i o l a t i o n s o f
T i t l e VI I o f t he C i v i l R i g h t s Act o f 1964 ,
a s amended, 42 U . S . C . §2000e e t s e ^ . f o r
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n on t h e b a s i s o f s e x .
2. P l a i n t i f f i s a f e m a l e c i t i z e n and
r e s i d e n t o f Be s s eme r C i t y , North C a r o l i n a .
The d e f e n d a n t , C i t y o f B e s s eme r C i t y , i s a
N o r t h C a r o l i n a m u n i c i p a l c o r p o r a t i o n .
9a
3 . D u r i n g F e b r u a r y o r e a r l y M a r c h ,
1975, the p o s i t i o n o f R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r
f o r Be s s eme r C i t y became v a c a n t . De fend
a n t a d v e r t i s e d t h e p o s i t i o n t h r o u g h t h e
l o c a l n e w s p a p e r , t h e G a s t o n i a G a z e t t e ,
and by word o f mouth.
4 . The Mayor o f B e s s e m e r C i t y a p
p o i n t e d a commit tee to s e l e c t a new R e c r e a
t i o n D i r e c t o r . The commit tee c o n s i s t e d o f
A u d u i e B o o n e , J o s i a h B u t l e r , W i l l i a m
M c C l e l l a n , F r a n k N i c h o l s , a n d T i m o t h y
H e l m s . Ms . B o o n e , t h e o n l y woman on
the c o mm i t t e e , was c h a i r p e r s o n .
5 . E i g h t p e r s o n s a p p l i e d f o r t h e
p o s i t i o n ; p l a i n t i f f A n d e r s o n was t h e
o n l y woman a p p l i c a n t . She s u b m i t t e d a
l e t t e r o f a p p l i c a t i o n and a resume t o the
C i t y M a n a g e r , W i l l i a m M e t c a l f , on March
16, 1975.
- 1 0 a -
6 . Some t i m e b e f o r e a p p l y i n g f o r
t he j o b , p l a i n t i f f t a l k e d t o N e i l B a r n e s ,
who was then the S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f Water
W o r k s f o r t h e c i t y , who t o l d h e r t h a t
the p o s i t i o n was "wrapped up" by a n o t h e r
c a n d i d a t e . In r e s p o n s e t o t h a t c o n v e r s a
t i o n , p l a i n t i f f i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g
p a r a g r a p h i n h e r a p p l i c a t i o n l e t t e r :
I r e a l i z e you w i l l p r o b a b l y be g i v i n g
s t r o n g e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r a m a l e
t o f i l l t h i s p o s i t i o n . I n t h i s
l i g h t , I would r e q u e s t you r e v i e w a l l
q u a l i f i c a t i o n s e q u a l l y , r e a l i z i n g
women a r e a s s u m i n g p o s i t i o n s o f
l e a d e r s h i p and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i
i n d u s t r y and government e q u a l t o t h o s e
h e l d by men.
B e f o r e s u b m i t t i n g her a p p l i c a t i o n , Anderson
a l s o t a l k e d t o Boone who t o l d h e r t h a t
a n y o n e c o u l d a p p l y f o r t h e j o b (TT 5 ) .
7 . Of the r e m ai n i n g s e v e n a p p l i c a n t s ,
one man, B e r t Broadway, was a s k e d by B u t l e r
t o a p p l y . Another a p p l i c a n t , Donald Kin-
- 1 1 a -
c a i d , w a s n o t i f i e d by B u t l e r t h a t t h e
p o s i t i o n was v a c a n t (TT 8 2 ) . B u t l e r a s k ed
t wo o t h e r m a l e s , who he b e l i e v e d w e r e
q u a l i f i e d , t o a p p l y , but they d e c l i n e d ( TT
1 0 6 ) . B u t l e r d i d not c o n t a c t e i t h e r o f two
women whom he b e l i e v e d to be q u a l i f i e d t o
a s k them t o a p p l y ( TT1 0 6) .
8 . The c o m m i t t e e i n t e r v i e w e d a l l
e i g h t a p p l i c a n t s on March 25 , 1975 . Each
member o f the commit tee had a c c e s s t o the
a p p l i c a t i o n o f each c a n d i d a t e . The commit
t e e r e c e i v e d no w r i t t e n g u i d e l i n e s from the
d e f e n d a n t f o r s e l e c t i n g t h e R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r . No d e s c r i p t i o n o f j o b d u t i e s was
p r o v i d e d e i t h e r the commit tee o r the c a n d i
d a t e s . The commit tee never f o r m u l a t e d i t s
own s e l e c t i o n c r i t e r i a e x c e p t t o a g r e e
i n f o r m a l l y t h a t the p e r s o n s e l e c t e d must
l i v e w i t h i n t h e c i t y o r be w i l l i n g t o
r e l o c a t e t h e r e . Each commit tee member had
one v o t e .
- 1 2 a -
9 . Dur ing p l a i n t i f f ' s i n t e r v i e w with
t h e c o m m i t t e e , s h e was a s k e d a b o u t t h e
program s he would implement a s R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r . She was a l s o a s k ed ( a ) i f she
r e a l i z e d t h e r e woul d be n i g h t work i n
v o l v e d ; ( b ) i f s h e r e a l i z e d t h e r e c o u l d
be t r a v e l t h r o u g h o u t the c o unt y and meet
i n g s wi th o t h e r d i r e c t o r s ; and ( c ) how her
h u s b a n d f e l t a b o u t h e r a p p l y i n g f o r
t h e j o b (TT 8 ) . No o t h e r c a n d i d a t e was
s e r i o u s l y a s k e d a s i m i l a r q u e s t i o n ( TT
4 8 , 6 5 ) . A f t e r b e c o m i n g a n n o y e d f r o m
h e a r i n g t h e s e q u e s t i o n s a s k e d o n l y o f
A n d e r s o n , Boone f a c e t i o u s l y r e m a r k e d t o
K i n c a i d "and your new b r i d e w o n ' t mind?"
(TT 66) .
The c o u r t h a s c a r e f u l l y c o n s i d e r e d
t he c o n f l i c t i n g t e s t i m o n y o f N i c h o l s t h a t
a l l c a n d i d a t e s were a s k ed about n i g h t work
(TT 1 1 9 ) . K i n c a i d c o u l d n ot remember b e i n g
a s k e d a q u e s t i o n ab out n i g h t work, a l t h o u g h
he remembered commenting on the s u b j e c t (TT
- 1 3 a -
7 7 ) ; B u t l e r remembered the q u e s t i o n b e in g
a s ke d o f Anderson and o f K i n c a i d " in a way"
(TT 1 0 1 ) . A f t e r h e a r i n g l i v e t e s t i m o n y and
c o n s i d e r i n g t he c r e d i b i l i t y o f t he d i f f e r -
ent w i t n e s s e s , t h i s c o u r t c o n c l u d e s as
f a c t t h a t no s e r i o u s q u e s t ion about nigh
work or r e a c t i o n of s p o u s e s iwas a sked o
any c a n d i d a t e b e s i d e s t h e p l a i n t i f f
F u r t h e r , the p l a i n t i f f d i d not b e g i n
the i n t e r v i e w by s t a t i n g t h a t the commi t tee
w o u l d n o t s e l e c t h e r b e c a u s e s h e i s a
woman. No commit tee member b e s i d e s Helms
remembered such a s t a t e m e n t and p l a i n t i f f
e x p l i c i t l y d e n i e d makinq the s t a t e m e n t (TT
28) .
10. A f t e r r e v i e w i n g the a p p l i c a t i o n s
and c o m p l e t i n g the i n t e r v i e w s , t he commit tee
g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d B e r t Broadway t o be the
m o s t q u a l i f i e d a p p l i c a n t • B r o a d w a y
was a R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r i n C r a m e r t o n
and had t a k e n f i v e e l e c t i v e s in p h y s i c a l
- H a -
e d u c a t i o n d u r i n g c o l l e g e (TT 93 , e x h i b i t
1 9 ) . However, Broadway wag e l i m i n a t e d from
c o n s i d e r a t i o n d u r i n g the i n t e r v i e w b e c a u s e
he s a i d t h a t he w o u l d n o t r e l o c a t e t o
B e s s e me r C i t y (TT 9 4 ) .
1 1 . A f t e r B r o a d w a y was e l i m i n a t e d ,
t h e o n l y two c a n d i d a t e s c o n s i d e r d by
t he commi t tee t o be q u a l i f i e d were Anderson
and K i n c a i d (TT 1 00 , 120 , 131 , 6 1 ) . The
r e m a i n i n g c a n d i d a t e s were men who l i v e d in
t he community, b u t had o n l y p a r t i c i p a t e d in
a t h l e t i c s - - t h e y h a d no e d u c a t i o n a l
t r a i n i n g o r e x p e r i e n c e t o p r e p a r e them f o r
t he p o s i t i o n (TT 100 , 1 3 1 ) . The v o t e was
4-1 f o r K i n c a i d ; t he f o u r male members o f
t he commi t tee v o t e d f o r K i n c a i d ; Ms. Boone
v o t e d f o r t h e p l a i n t i f f . K i n c a i d w a s
o f f e r e d and a c c e p t e d the j o b .
1 2 . S h o r t l y a f t e r K i n c a i d ' s s e l e c
t i o n , Boone t o l d t h e p l a i n t i f f t h a t s h e
- H a -
thought plaintiff was the best qualified
candidate and that the committee members
had chosen Kincaia because he was male.
Plaintiff then filed a charge of discrimi
nation with the Equal Employment Opportun
ity Commission on March 31, 1975. A notice
of right-to-sue was issued February 1 9 ,
1981 , and plaintiff initiated this proceed
ing within ninety days of her receipt of
that notice.
13. At t r i a l , t h e m a l e c o m m i t t e e
members s a i d t h a t they c hos e K i n c a i d o v e r
A n d e r s o n b e c a u s e he was more q u a l i f i e d
b e c a u s e o f h i s e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d .
T h i s c o u r t f i n d s a s a f a c t t h a t p l a i n t i f f
was more q u a l i f i e d f o r the j o b o f R e c r e a
t i o n D i r e c t o r b a s e d on the t o t a l i t y o f her
e d u c a t i o n a l , e m p l o y m e n t , and r e c r e a t i o n
e x p e r i e n c e .
(a) While no job requirements
were provided to the committee for
making their selection of Recreation
Director, t|iis court finds from
- 1 6 a -
t he t e s t i m o n y o f the commi t tee members
a t t r i a l t h a t t h e j o b o f R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r was t o c r e a t e and implement
a w e l l - r o u n d e d r e c r e a t i o n p r o g r a m
f o r a l l c i t i z e n s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y .
T h i s j o b i n c l u d e d a w i d e r a n g e o f
d u t i e s such a s o r g a n i z i n g and d i r e c t
ing p r ogr a ms in a t h l e t i c s , a r t , m u s i c ,
d a n c e , drama , and c r a f t s ; t e a c h i n g and
communica t ing wi th p e r s o n s o f a l l a g e s ,
b a c k g r o u n d s , and i n t e r e s t s ; managing
community f a c i l i t i e s ; r e c r u i t i n g and
s e l e c t i n g p e r s o n n e l ; d e v e l o p i n g
b u d g e t s and h a n d l i n g f u n d s ; a n d
p l a n n i n g and i m p l e m e n t i n g f u t u r e
p r o g r a m s ( TT 4 9 , 7 9 ; e x h i b i t 8 ) .
There was no e d u c a t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t
f o r the j o b ; r a t h e r , t h e commi t tee was
s e a r c h i n g f o r t h e p e r s o n wi th the b e s t
b a c k g r o u n d t o p e r f o r m t h e v a r i e d
d u t i e s o f t h e p o s i t i o n ( TT 5 3 , 1 1 5 ) .
( b ) In M a r c h , 1 9 7 5 , when t h e
s e l e c t i o n was m a d e , p l a i n t i f f was a
3 9 - y e a r - o l d woman, i n g o o d h e a l t h ,
w i t h a 1973 B . A . d e g r e e f rom S a c r e d
H ea r t C o l l e g e in e l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n ,
and n e a r l y twenty y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e
in v a r i o u s j o b s , c i v i c a c t i v i t i e s and
r e c r e a t i o n . In 1 9 7 3 - 7 4 , p l a i n t i f f was
a t h i r d g r a d e t e a c h e r i n t h e C a r r
S c h o o l i n D a l l a s ; s h e a l s o had t e n
y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e in s u b s t i t u t e
t e a c h i n g in a l l g r a d e s in the Ga s ton
County p u D l i c s c h o o l s . As p a r t o f tier
d u t i e s a s a t e a c h e r s he t a u g h t her own
p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s , p l a n n e d
a c t i v i t i e s and t r i p s , c o l l e c t e d and
b u d ge t ed money, and communicated with
s t u d e n t s , p a r e n t s , and o t h e r t e a c h e r s
(TT 1 8 - 2 0 ) .
- H a -
P l a i n t i f f was an e x p e r i e n c e d pub
l i c s p e a k e r t hrough her a c t i v i t i e s in
PTA and a s P r e s i d e n t o f the Exchang-
e t t e C l u b , an o r g a n i z a t i o n w h i c h
r a i s e s money t o h e l p c r i p p l e d c h i l d r e n
(TT 17 , 4 1 ) . She f r e q u e n t l y p l anned
and o r g a n i z e d a c t i v i t i e s , r e c r u i t e d
p e o p l e t o c a r r y o u t p r o j e c t s , and
ha n d l ed and b u dge te d money t hrough her
i n v o l ve me nt in the E x c h a n g e t t e s , t he
J a y c e t t e C l u b , and t h e O r d e r o f t h e
E a s t e r n S t a r ( TT 18 , 4 2 ) .
B e s i d e s her e x p e r i e n c e t e a c h i n g ,
p l a i n t i f f had d i r e c t e x p e r i e n c e in
r e c r e a t i o n a s a member o f the Br oughton
H o s p i t a l r e c r e a t i o n d e p ar t me n t in 1956
a nd 1 9 5 7 . T h e r e s h e p l a n n e d a n d
d i r e c t e d b a l l g a m e s , d a n c e s and c r a f t s
and s u p e r v i s e d o t h e r e m p l o y e e s who
h e l p e d i m p l e m e n t t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s
(TT 1 5 ) . For t h i s work, she r e c e i v e d
a N o r t h C a r o l i n a S t a t e R e c r e a t i o n a l
D i r e c t o r C e r t i f i c a t e 1957. P l a i n t i f f
p e r s o n a l l y h a s p l a y e d s o f t b a l l ,
b a s k e t b a l l , and s o c c e r ( TT 19) and
f o l l o w e d h e r s o n s t h r o u g h s p o r t s ,
i n c l u d i n g a t t e n d i n g many p r a c t i c e s
( TT 2 0 - 2 1 ) . She has a b a s i c knowledge
o f and e n j o y s a l l s p o r t s ( e x h i b i t
1 0 ) . To r e c e i v e her e l e m e n t a r y e d u c a
t i o n d e g r e e , p l a i n t i f f was r e q u i r e d t o
t a k e c o u r s e s in p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n t o
l e a r n how t o s e t up a c t i v i t i e s and how
t o s u p e r v i s e them ( TT 2 2 ) . P l a i n t i f f
a l s o h a s t r a i n i n g i n d e c o u p a g e ,
p l a y s t h e p i a n o , and h a s b e e n a
mu s i c d i r e c t o r ( e x h i b i t 1 0 ) .
18a-
P l a i n t i f f ' s o t h e r e d u c a t i o n
i n c l u d e s an a s s o c i a t e d e g r e e f rom
S a c r e d H e a r t C o l l e g e in 1963 o r 1964 ;
g o v e r n m e n t and h i s t o r y c o u r s e s a t
G a s t o n C o l l e g e in 1973 and 1974 ; l o g i c
and g u i d a n c e c o u r s e s a t Belmont Abbey
C o l l e g e in 1974 ; and a Da l e C a r n e g i e
c o u r s e in p u b l i c s p e a k i n g . P l a i n t i f f
a l s o h a s b o o k k e e p i n g e x p e r i e n c e
t h r o u g h h e r j o b a s a r e c e p t i o n i s t
f o r t h r e e d o c t o r s in 1959 and e x p e r i
e n c e wi t h t he p u b l i c a s a s a l e s c l e r k
a t B e l k S t o r e s d u r i n g 1 9 6 1 - 1 9 6 3 (TT
1 5 - 1 6 ) .
( c ) I n M a r c h 1 9 7 5 , D o n a l d
K i n c a i d was t w e n t y - f o u r y e a r s o l d ,
h a v i n g g r a d u a t e d t he p r e v i o u s s p r i n g
f rom A p p a l a c h i a n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y
w i t h a B . S . d e g r e e i n h e a l t h and
p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n . He d i d h i s
s t u d e n t t e a c h i n g a t M o u n t a i n C i t y
H ig h S c h o o l i n T e n n e s s e e ( e x h i b i t
1 1 ) . From a p p r o x i m a t e l y J u n e 1974 t o
March 1 9 7 5 he w or ke d i n t h e f i n a n c e
d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e C o m m e r c i a l C r e d i t
C o r p o r a t i o n . He a l s o s o l a l i f e
i n s u r a n c e f o r a c o u p l e o f m o n t h s
i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g c o m p l e t i o n
o f h i s d e g r e e r e q u i r e m e n t s a t s c h o o l ,
K i n c a i d p l a y e d f o o t b a l l , b a s e b a l l , and
b a s k e t b a l l in h ig h s c h o o l ; he p a r t i c i
p a t e d in i n t r a m u r a l s d u r i n g c o l l e g e
(TT 74 , 8 5 ) . He had e x p e r i e n c e c o a c h
ing l i t t l e l e a g u e b a s k e t b a l l in B e s s e
mer C i t y (TT 7 5 ) . He ment ioned on h i s
resume t h a t he e n j o y e d c o a c h i n g , r e a d
ing and m u s i c ( e x h i b i t 1 1 ) .
At t h e t i m e o f t h e i n t e r v i e w ,
K i n c a i d had no e x p e r i e n c e s u p e r v i s i n g
- H a -
o t h e r e m p l o y e e s , no e x p e r i e n c e i n
p u b l i c s p e a k i n g , and no e x p e r i e n c e
in p l a n n i n g or d i r e c t i n g t h e a c t i v i t i e s
o f a r e c r e a t i o n d e p a r t m e n t . He had
h e l p e d B u t l e r s c h e d u l e b a s k e t b a l l games
f o r t he l i t t l e l e a g u e , bu t he had no
h a n d s - o n t r a i n i n g o r e x p e r i e n c e i n
c r e a t i n g and s e t t i n g up a b r o a d r a n g e
o f p r o g r a m s . He had no e x p e r i e n c e
t e a c h i n g a r t s , c r a f t s o r m u s i c . He
ha d n e v e r r a i s e d money o r r e c r u i t e d
p e r s o n n e l . K i n c a i d ' s o n l y e x p e r i e n c e
t e a c h i n g s p o r t s w a s t h e r e q u i r e d
s t u d e n t t e a c h i n g and c o a c h i n g l i t t l e
l e a g u e b a s k e t b a l l i n t h e w i n t e r o f
1975 .
( d ) On t h e b a s i s o f t h e i r
r e l a t i v e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s , t h i s c o u r t
f i n d s a s a f a c t t h a t p l a i n t i f f was
more q u a l i f i e d t h a n K i n c a i d t o p e r f o r m
t h e b r o a d r a n g e o f d u t i e s r e q u i r e d o f
a r e c r e a t i o n d i r e c t o r . She nad d i r e c t
e x p e r i e n c e t e a c h i n g , s u p e r v i s i n g ,
d i r e c t i n g p r o g r a m s , r a i s i n g mo n e y ,
s p e a k i n g t o t h e p u b l i c , h a n d l i n g
b u d g e t s , and p l a n n i n g a c t i v i t i e s , t h a t
K i n c a i d d i d no t h a v e . Bot h c a n d i d a t e s
knew t h e r u l e s o f m o s t s p o r t s ; b o t h
had a c t i v e l y p a r t i c i p a t e d in s p o r t s .
K i n c a i d ha d a d e g r e e i n h e a l t h and
p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n ; A n d e r s o n h a d a
d e g r e e i n e d u c a t i o n , f o r whi ch s h e was
r e q u i r e d t o t a k e c l a s s e s in p h y s i c a l
e d u c a t i o n . The s e l e c t i o n c o m mi t t e e d i d
no t i n q u i r e i n t o t he c o n t e n t o f e i t h e r
c a n d i d a t e ’ s c o u r s e s ( TT 84 , 108 ) .
W h i l e K i n c a i d had p e r s o n a l l y p l a y e d
more o f t he t r a d i t i o n a l l y ma l e do mi n a
t e d 6 p o r t s , And e r s o n had b o t h p a r t i c i
p a t e d i n and t a u g h t a b r o a d r a n g e o f
a c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d i n g s p o r t s , m u s i c ,
d a n c e , and c r a f t s . The c o m b i n a t i o n
o f p l a i n t i f f ' s t e a c h i n g d e g r e e ,
work e x p e r i e n c e , c i v i c a c t i v i t i e s ,
ano kno wl edge o f r e c r e a t i o n made her
more q u a l i f i e d t ha n K i n c a i d t o p e r f o r m
t h e d u t i e s o f t he R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r .
- 2 0 a -
14 . P l a i n t i f f , t h e more q u a l i f i e d
c a n d i d a t e , was not s e l e c t e d f o r the p o s i
t i o n o f R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r b e c a u s e o f her
s e x . T h e s e l e c t i o n c o m m i t t e e h a d no
s t a n d a r d s or c r i t e r i a by which t o c hoos e
the new d i r e c t o r , e x c e p t f o r the i n f o r m a l
r e s i d e n c e r e q u i r e m e n t . The s u b j e c t i v e
d e c i s i o n making p r o c e s s l e f t t he commit tee
members f r e e t o u s e t h e i r own b i a s e s in t he
s e l e c t i o n . De fe nd a n t a r g u e s t h a t the male
c ommi t t ee members had e x p e r i e n c e in a t h l e
t i c s , p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n , r e c r e a t i o n , and
government q u a l i f i e d them t o u s e t h e i r own
knowledge in s e l e c t i n g between the a p p l i
c a n t s . A f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g t h e l i v e t e s t i
mony and r e v i e w i n g t he e v i d e n c e , t h i s c o u r t
f i n d s t h a t t h e " k n o w l e d g e " o f t h e m a l e
members o f the commit tee i n c l u d e d a b i a s
t o w a r d h a v i n g a m a l e , p a r t i c u l a r l y one
v e r s e d in the t r a d i t i o n a l l y m a l e - do m in a te d
s p o r t s , i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f R e c r e a t i o n
- 2 1 a -
D i r e c t o r . T h i s b i a s i s i n f e r r e d from the
f o l l o w i n g e v i d e n c e :
( a ) The o n l y f e m a l e c a n d i d a t e
was a sked q u e s t i o n s ab out n i g h t work
and the r e a c t i o n o f her s p o u s e ; t h o s e
q u e s t i o n s were not s e r i o u s l y a s k e d o f
any male c a n d i d a t e . I f the q u e s t i o n s
had been a s k ed o f a l l c a n d i d a t e s , the
d e f e n d a n t might r e a s o n a b l y c l a i m t h a t
the i n q u i r y about n i g h t work was j o b
r e l a t e d . As i t i s , t h e q u e s t i o n s
imply a b e l i e f t h a t women have f a m i l y
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t h a t s h o u l d k e e p
them home a t n i g h t . P l a i n t i f f was not
t h e o n l y a p p l i c a n t w i t h a f a m i l y ;
K i n c a i d had a w i f e and c h i l d .
( b ) B u t l e r s o l i c i t e d a p p l i c a
t i o n s f rom f o u r m a l e s f o r t h e j o b
( K i n c a i d , Broadway, Rus s Bergman and
Roy P i e r s o n , TT 8 2 , 9 9 , 1 0 6 ) . A l
though he knew two q u a l i f i e d women, he
d i d not s e ek a p p l i c a t i o n s from e i t h e r
o f them. B u t l e r made an a s s u m p t i o n
t h a t the women would not want t o t a k e
a c u t in pay t o a c c e p t the j o b , and he
d i d n ot make t h a t a s s u m p t i o n w i t h
r e s p e c t t o the m a l e s .
( c ) N i c h o l s t e s t i f i e d a t t r i a l
t h a t " i t woul d h a v e b e e n r e a l h a r d "
f o r a l a d y t o h a v e run t h e j o b ( TT
1 2 0 ) . He s a i d t h a t he t h o u g h t "my
w i f e s ho u l d be a t home a t n i g h t " ( TT
125) .
- 2 2 a -
( d ) The e m p h a s i s by t h e m a l e
commit tee members on t he i m p o r t a n c e o f
a d e g r e e i n h e a l t h and p h y s i c a l
e d u c a t i o n was a b a n d o n e d when t h e y
e x p l a i n e d why Broadway was t h e i r f i r s t
c h o i c e . Broadway had no d e g r e e ; t he y
f o u n d him m o s t q u a l i f i e d b e c a u s e o f
h i s work e x p e r i e n c e (TT 1 1 5 ) . Yet the
m a l e members o f t h e c o m m i t t e e down
p l a y e d the s i g n i f i c a n c e o f e x p e r i e n c e
when compar ing p l a i n t i f f ' s t e a c h i n g ,
s u p e r v i s o r y , and r e c r e a t i o n e x p e r i e n c e
t o K i n c a i d ' s q u a l i f i c a t i o n s .
( e ) Both N i c h o l s and B u t l e r em
p h a s i z e d t h e r o l e o f t h e R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r in o r g a n i z i n g t r a d i t i o n a l l y
m a l e - d o m i n a t e d s p o r t s l e a g u e s .
N i c h o l s r e f e r r e d t o t h e j o b a s
" A t h l e t i c " d i r e c t o r ( TT 1 2 4 , d e p .
p . 7 ) . B u t l e r w a n t e d t h e b a s e b a l l ,
f o o t b a l l , and b a s k e t b a l l p r o gr am s t o
b e s t r e n g t h e n e d ( TT 1 0 7 ) . When
N i c h o l s was a s k ed a b ou t h i s e x p e r i e n c e
w i t h r u n n i n g a r e c r e a t i o n p r o g r a m ,
he r e s p o n d e d "We l o o k e d a f t e r t h e
b a s e b a l l f o o t b a l l , b a s k e t b a l l , l i n e d
t h e f i e l d s o f f , h e l p e d o u t a t b a l l -
g a me s , h e l p e d o f f i c i a t e a t b a s k e t b a l l
g a m e s , and e t c e t e r a l i k e t h a t ( TT
1 1 7 ) . N e i t h e r p e r s o n m e n t i o n e d t h e
br oa d r a n g e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l a p t i v i t i e s
o u t s i d e t h e s e s p o r t s t h a t a d i r e c t o r
woul d be e x p e c t e d t o o r g a n i z e and
s u p e r v i s e .
While one commi t tee member, Helms,
c l a i m e d t o have been i n f l u e n c e d by the
program K i n c a i d p r e s e n t e d d u r i n g the
i n t e r v i e w . M c C l e l l a n t e s t i f i e d t h a t
- 2 3 a -
A n d e r s o n and K i n c a i d p r e s e n t e d v e r y
s i m i l a r p r ogr ams (TT 1 1 2 ) . From the
t e s t i m o n y o f Anderson and K i n c a i d a t
t r i a l , the c o u r t f i n d s t h a t t h e r e was
no s u b s t a n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e between the
programs o f f e r e d d u r i n g the i n t e r v i e w
and t h a t t h i s e x p l a n a t i o n i s p r e t e x t -
u a l (TT 8 , 7 9 ) .
The male members o f the commit tee
c h o s e K i n c a i d , t h e l e s s q u a l i f i e d
c a n d i d a t e , b e c a u s e he was m al e . The
e x p l a n a t i o n o f f e r e d t h a t K i n c a i d was
more q u a l i f i e d b e c a u s e o f h i s d e g r e e
i n h e a l t h and p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n i s
p r e t e x t u a l . But f o r the d i s c r i m i n a
t i o n b a s e d on s e x , t h e p l a i n t i f f
w o u l d h a v e b e e n s e l e c t e d f o r t h e
p o s i t i o n o f R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r o f
Bes semer C i t y .
15. P l a i n t i f f s u f f e r e d monetary l o s s
a s a r e s u l t o f the d e n i a l o f t he R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r j o b . Her e v i d e n c e showed t h a t her
e a r n i n g s from March 1975 t hrough t r i a l were
$ 6 5 , 4 02 w h i l e the e a r n i n q s o f K i n c a i d f o r
the same p e r i o d were $ 9 5 , 7 9 9 .
CONCLUSIONS OF LAw
1. T h i s a c t i o n i s p r o p e r l y b e f o r e the
c o u r t , the c o u r t has j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h i s
a c t i o n unuer T i t l e V I I , ano a l l p r o c e d u r a l
r e q u i r e m e n t s o f T i t l e VII nave been met.
- 2 4 a -
2 . T h e e v i d e n t i a r y s t a n d a r d and
a l l o c a t i o n o f burden o f p r o o f a p p l i c a b l e
t o t h i s c a s e i s s e t f o r t h in T e x a s Dept .
o f Comm u n i t y Af f a i r s v ._B u r d i n e , 4 50
U . S . 248 ( 1 9 8 1 ) , where the Supreme Cour t
r e f i n e d t h e b a s i c a l l o c a t i o n o f b u r d e n s
and o r d e r o f p r e s e n t a t i o n o f p r o o f s e t
f o r t h in Mc Do nn e l l -Do ug la s Co rp . v . G r e e n ,
411 U . S . 792 ( 1 9 7 3 ) . P l a i n t i f f h a s t h e
burden o f p r o v i n g by t he p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f
t he e v i d e n c e a pr i ma f a c i e c a s e o f d i s c r i m
i n a t i o n . I f t h e p l a i n t i f f s u c c e e d s in
p r o v i n g a p r ima f ap i e c a s e , t h e b u r d e n
s h i f t s t o t h e d e f e n d a n t t o a r t i c u l a t e some
l e g i t i m a t e , nondi s c r i m i n a t o r y r e a s o n f o r
p l a i n t i f f ' s r e j e c t i o n . 411 U . S . a t 802 .
The u l t i m a t e burden o f p e r s u a d i n g the c o u t t
t n a t d e f e n d a n t d i s c r i m i n a t e d a g a i n s t p l a i n
t i f f r e m a i n s wi th p l a i n t i f f . B u r d i n e , 450
U . S . a t 253 .
- 2 5 a -
3 . P l a i n t i f f ’ s e v i d e n c e s a t i s f i e s
her burden o f showing t h a t she a p p l i e d f o r
t h e p o s i t i o n , w as q u a l i f i e d , b u t " w a s
r e j e c t e d u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t g i v e
r i s e t o an i n f e r e n c e o f u n la wf u l d i s c r i m i
n a t i o n . " Burd i n e , 450 U . S . a t 253 . Those
c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n c l u d e the gender s t e r e o
typed q u e s t i o n s a sked onl y o f the p l a i n
t i f f and the f a i l u r e t o s o l i c i t q u a l i f i e d
men and women e q u a l l y t o a p p l y f o r t h e
p o s i t i o n .
4 . D e f e n d a n t a r t i c u l a t e d a nond i s -
c r i i n i n a t o r y r e a s o n f o r f a i l i n g t o s e l e c t
p l a i n t i f f : t h a t a n o t h e r c a n d i d a t e was
b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d b e c a u s e o f h i s e d u c a t i o n a l
d e g r e e . P l a i n t i f f may d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t the
p r o f f e r e d r e a s o n was not the t r u e r e a s o n
she was not s e l e c t e d e i t h e r (1) d i r e c t l y ,
by p e r s u a d i n g t he c o u r t t h a t a d i s c r i m i n a
t o r y r e a s o n more l i k e l y m o t i v a t e d t h e
d e f e n d a n t ; o r (2) i n d i r e c t l y , by showing
- 2 6 a -
t h a t t he d e f e n d a n t ' s p r o f f e r e d r e a s o n i s
p r e t e x t u a l . Bur d i n e , 450 U . S . a t 2 5 6 ;
H e D o n n e l l - D o u g l a s , 411 U . S . a t 8 0 4 - 8 0 5 .
5 . T h e c o u r t c o n c l u d e s t h a t t h e
d e f e n d a n t ' s e x p l a n a t i o n i s p r e t e x t u a l
f o r t h e r e a s o n s s e t f o r t h f u l l y in t h e
f i n d i n g s o f f a c t . P l a i n t i f f w a s m o r e
q u a l i f i e d t h a n K i n c a i d t o p e r f o r m t h e
b r o a d r a n g e o f d u t i e s r e q u i r e d o f a
R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r . The m a l e m e m b e r s
o f t h e c o m m i t t e e w e r e b i a s e d t o w a r d
s e l e c t i n g a m a l e f o r t h e p o s i t i o n a s
i n f e r r e d f rom t h e q u e s t i o n s a b o u t n i g h t
w o r k a n d r e a c t i o n o f h e r s p o u s e a s k e d
o n l y o f t h e p l a i n t i f f , t h e f a i l u r e t o
s o l i c i t q u a l i f i e d women t o a p p l y f o r the
p o s i t i o n , t h e p e r c e p t i o n t h a t a woman
would have d i f f i c u l t y in t he p o s i t i o n , and
the e m p h a s i s on t r a d i t i o n a l l y ma l e - d o mi na
- 2 7 a -
ted s p o r t s t o the e x c l u s i o n o f r e c r e a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s f o r a l l a g e s and b o t h s e x e s .
The male members o f the commit tee empha
s i z e d e i t h e r e x p e r i e n c e o r e d u c a t i o n ,
depend ing on which c r i t e r i a j u s t i f i e d the
c h o i c e o f a p a r t i c u l a r m a l e c a n d i d a t e .
The p l a i n t i f f c a r r i e d t h e b u r d e n o f
p e r s u a s i o n t hr o ug ho ut and c o nv i n c ed t h i s
c o u r t t h a t b u t f o r t h e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
on the b a s i s o f s e x , she would have been
h i r e d a s R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r . The g e n d e r
b i a s e s o f the male members o f the commit tee
p la y e d a s u b s t a n t i v e and d e c i s i v e r o l e in
t h e h i r i n g d e c i s i o n . M t . H e a l t h y C i t y
Board o f Ed. v. D o y l e , 429 U . S . 274, 287
( 1977) .
6. C l o s e s c r u t i n y i s r e q u i r e d where
a h i r i n g d e c i s i o n i s made on s u b j e c t i v e ,
u n a r t i c u l a t e d c r i t e r i a . In Cob le v . Hot
S p r i n g s S c h o o l D i s t r i c t No. 6 , 6 8 2 F . 2d
721 ( 8 t h C i r . 1 9 8 2 ) , t h e c o u r t r e v e r s e d
- 2 8 a -
t h e f i n d i n g o f a d i s t r i c t c o u r t t h a t
p l a i n t i f f was not d i s c r i m i n a t e d a g a i n s t on
t h e b a s i s o f s e x in t h e s e l e c t i o n o f a
d i r e c t o r o f a t e a c h e r ' s c e n t e r and remand
ed t o the lower c o u r t wi th i n s t r u c t i o n s t o
g r a n t a p p r o p r i a t e r e l i e f . T h e E i g h t h
C i r c u i t found t h a t d e f e n d a n t ' s p r o f f e r e d
e x p l a n a t i o n o f l a c k o f e x p e r i e n c e and
a b s e n t e e i s m was p r e t e x t u a l and t h a t t h e
s c h o o l d i s t r i c t made the d e c i s i o n on the
b a s i s o f a g e n d e r s t e r e o t y p e t h a t t h e
f e m a l e t e a c h e r ' s f a m i l y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
would i n t e r f e r e wi t h her work p e r f o r m a n c e .
The c o u r t s a i a :
A l t h o u g h n o t i l l e g e a l p e r s e , s u b
j e c t i v e p r o m o t i o n p r o c e d u r e s a r e
t o be c l o s e l y s c r u t i n i z e d b e c a u s e o f
t h e i r s u s c e p t i b i l i t y t o d i s c r i m i n a
t o r y a b u s e . The mere f a c t t h a t t h e
s u b j e c t i v e p r o c e s s i s i n t e n d e d t o
r e c o g n i z e m e r i t d o e s not n e c e s s a r i l y
a l l e v i a t e i t s s u s c e p t i b i l i t y t o
d i s c r i m i n a t o r y a b u s e . when the e v a l
u a t i o n i s i n a n y d e g r e e s u b i e c t i v e
a n d when t h e e v a l u a t o r s t h e m s e l v e s
a r e n o t memb e r s o f t h e p r o t e c t e d
mi n o r i t y , t h e l e g i t i m a c y and u n d i s -
- 2 9 a -
c r i m i n a t o r y b a s i s o f t h e a r t i c u l a t e d
r e a s o n f o r t h e d e c i s i on s h o u l d be
s u b j e c t t o p a r t i c u l a r l y c l o s e s c r u t
i n y by t h e t r i a l j u d g e . R o y a l v .
M i s s o u r i Hi g h w a y & T r a n s p o r t a t i o n
Common 6 5 5 F . 2 d 1 5 9 , 16 4 ( 8 t h
C l r . 1 9 8 1 ) .
682 a t 726 ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) .
7 . D e f e n d a n t may n o t b a s e i t s
employment d e c i s i o n on g e n d e r s t e r e o t y p e s
or s e x u a l b i a s . In Los A n g e l e s Dept , o f
Wa t e r and Power v . M an h a r t , 435 U . S . 702
( 1 9 7 0 ) , the Supreme Cour t s a y s , " I t i s now
we l l r e c o g n i z e d t h a t employment d e c i s i o n s
cannot be p r e d i c a t e d on mere ' s t e r o t y p e d '
i m p r e s s i o n s about the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
m a l e s o r f e m a l e s . M y t h s and p u r e l y
h a b i t u a l a s s u m p t i o n s a b o u t a w o m a n ' s
i n a b i l i t y t o per form c e r t a i n k i n d s o f work
a r e no l o n g e r a c c e p t a b l e r e a s o n s f o r
r e f u s i n g t o employ q u a l i f i e d i n d i v i d u a l s ,
or f o r p a y i n g them l e s s . " 435 U . S . a t
707. D e f e n d a n t ' s d e c i s i o n not t o h i r e the
more qualified applicant for Recreation
- 3 0 a -
D i r e c t o r i s b a s e d on s u c h s t e r e o t y p e d
i m p r e s s i o n s o f the s e x e s a s i n d i c a t e d in
t he q u e s t i o n s a sked the p l a i n t i f f d u r i n g
t h e i n t e r v i e w and t h e t e s t i m o n y o f t h e
m a l e c o m m i t t e e members a t t r i a l . O t h e r
e x a m p l e s o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n by e m p l o y e r s
b a s e d on g e n d e r s t e r e o t y p e s which have been
f o u n d t o v i o l a t e T i t l e V I I a r e f o u n d in
M u n t j n v . C a l i f o r n i a P a r k s and Rec . D e p t . ,
671 F . 2d 360 ( 9 t h C i r . 1982) (woman d e n i e d
p o s i t i o n a s a d e c k h a n d ) ; W i l l i ams_v .
l l o f f m e i s t e r , 520 F. S upp . 521 ( E . D . Penn.
1981) (woman d e n i e d p o s i t i o n a s a s c h o o l
p r i n c i p a l ) ; EEOC v ^ S e o k a n e _ C o n c r e t e
P r o d u c t s , 534 F . S u p p . 518 ( E . D . VJash.
1 9 8 2 ) (woman d e n i e d p o s i t i o n a s a t r u c k
d r i v e r ) ; Woody v . C i t y o f West Miami , 477
F . S u p p . 1 0 7 3 ( S . D . F l a . 1 9 7 9 ) (woman
d e n i e d p o s i t i o n a s a p o l i c e o f f i c e r ) .
- 3 1 a -
8 . As a m a t t e r o f l a w , t h e c o u r t
c o n c l u d e s t h a t p l a i n t i f f has been d i s c r i m
i n a t e d a g a i n s t b e c a u s e o f h e r s e x i n
v i o l a t i o n o f T i t l e V I I , and i s e n t i t l e d to
be made w h o l e . A l b e r m a r l e P a p e r Co . v .
Moo t j ^ , 4 2 2 U . S . 4 0 5 ( 1 9 7 5 ) ; W h e _ v .
C a r o l i n a P a p e r b o a r d Co r p . , 564 F .2d 1073
(4 t h C i r . 1 9 7 7 ) . P l a i n t i f f i s e n t i t l e d to
back pay b a s e d on the d i f f e r e n c e between
her e a r n i n g s and K i n c a i d ' s e a r n i n g s in the
R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r p o s i t i o n . S ee EEOC v .
Korn I n d u s t r i e s , I n c . , 662 F .2d 256 (4 t h
C i r . 1 9 0 1 ) . C o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e "make
whole" p u r p o s e o f T i t l e V I I , p l a i n t i f f i s
a l s o e n t i t l e d to i n t e r e s t on t h i s amount
a t the r a t e o f 8%, compounded s e m i a n n u a l l y ,
f rom t h e d a y t h e p o s i t i o n o f R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r was f i l l e d in 1975 t o the d a t e o f
t r i a l . Al though p l a i n t i f f would n or ma l l y
a l s o lie e n t i t l e d t o r e c e i v e the R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r p o s i t i o n , p l a i n t i f f r e q u e s t e d a t
t r i a l t h a t , g i v e n t h e p a s s a g e o f t i m e ,
K i n c a i d n ot be "bumped" and t he j o b g i v e n
t o h e r . P l a i n t i f f i s a l s o e n t i t l e d t o
r e c e i v e i n t e r e s t on the amount awarded a s
r e q u i r e d by 28 U . S . C . § 1 9 61 , a s amended,
f r o m t h i s d a t e u n t i l t h e sum i s p a i d .
9 . P l a i n t i f f , a s p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y ,
i s e n t i t l e d t o r e c o v e r h e r c o s t s and
e x p e n s e s , i n c l u d i n g r e a s o n a b l e a t t o r n e y s '
f e e s . A s e p a r a t e o r d e r i s b e i n g e n t e r e d
h e r e w i t h c o n c e r n i n g f e e s , c o s t s , and
e x p e n s e s .
10. P l a i n t i f f i s e n t i t l e d t o i n j u n c
t i v e r e l i e f p r o h i b i t i n g f u t u r e d i s c r i m i n a
t i o n by the d e f e n d a n t on the b a s i s o f s ex
in i t s h i r i n g p r a c t i c e s .
A judgment w i l l be e n t e r e d b a s e d upon
t h e s e f i n d i n g s o f f a c t and c o n c l u s i o n s o f
T h i s 16 d a y o f F e b r u a r y , 1 9 8 3 .
James D. McMillan
United States District Judge
l aw.
- H a -
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
C h a r l o t t e D i v i s i o n
C-C-81-204-M
PHYLLIS A. ANDERSON,
P l a i n t i f f ,
- v s -
CITY OF BESSEMER CITY,
NORTH CAROLINA,
) J U D G K E N T
D e f e n d a n t . )
In a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e f i n d i n g s o f
f a c t and c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w a n d o r d e r
c o nc e r n i ng f e e s e n t e r e d h e r e w i t h ,
IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED:
1. That d e f e n d a n t i s hereby e n j o i n e d
from d i s c r i m i n a t i n g a g a i n s t the p l a i n t i f f
and o t h e r f e m a l e s in h i r i n g o r in o t h e r
t erms and c o n d i t i o n s of employment b e c a u s e
o f s e x .
2 . T h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f h a v e and
r e c o v e r from the d e f e n d a n t back pay in the
sum o f $ 3 0 , 3 9 7 . 0 0 , w i t h i n t e r e s t a t t h e
r a t e of 8?., compounded semi annual J v • f i om
- 3 4 a -
the d a t e d e f e n d a n t f i l l e d the p o s i t i o n o f
R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r in 1975 t o t he d a t e o f
t r i a l . De fendant i s a l s o d i r e c t e d t o pay
i n t e r e s t a t t h e r a t e s p e c i f i e d by 28
U . S . C . 5 1 961 , a s amended, from t h i s d a t e
u n t i l p a i d .
3 . T h a t p l a i n t i f i s a l l o w e d t h e
c o s t s o f t h i s a c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g r e a s o n
a b l e a t t o r n e y s ' f e e ? and e x p e n s e s , in the
amount o f $ 1 6 , 9 7 1 , 5 9 , p l u s i n t e r e s t a s
r e q u i r e d by 28 U . S . C . S 196 1 , a s amended,
from t h i s d a t e u n t i l p a i d .
T h i s 16 d a y o f F e b r u a r y , 1 9 8 3 .
J a m e s B. McMil lan
U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t J u d g e
- 3 5 a -
P h y l l i s A. ANDERSON, A p p e l l e e ,
v.
CITY OF BESSEMER CI TY, NORTH CAROLINA,
A p p e l l a n t .
No. 8 3 - 1 2 7 8 .
Uni ted S t a t e s Cour t o f A p p e a l s ,
Four th C i r c u i t .
Argued J u l y 22 , 1983.
Dec ided S e p t . 19, 1983.
P h i l i p M. Van Hoy, H a r t f o r d , Conn.
( S i e g e l , O'Connor & K a i n e n , P . C . , H a r t f o r d ,
C o n n . , A r t h u r C. B l u e , I I I , W h i t e s i d e s ,
Robinson s, B l u e , G a s t o n i a , N . C . , on b r i e f ) ,
f o r d e f e n d a n t .
J o n a t h a n W a l l a s , J o h n T. N o c k l e b y ,
C h a r l o t t e , N.C. (Chambers , F e r g u s o n , Wat t ,
W a l l a s , Adkins & F u l l e r , P . A . , C h a r l o t t e ,
N . C . , on b r i e f ) , f o r a p p e l l e e .
B e f o r e RUSSELL, WIDENER and HALL,
C i r c u i t J u d g e s .
K.K. HALL, C i r c u i t J u d g e :
- 3 6 a -
P h y l l i s A . A n d e r G o n f i l e d t h i s
s u i t p u r s u a n t t o T i t l e V I I o f t h e C i v l i
R I g h s t A c t o f 1 9 6 4 , 42 U . S . C . $ 2 0 0 0 e e t
s e q . A n d e r s o n a l l e g e d t h a t d e f e n d a n t ,
C i t y o f Be s s eme r C i t y , Nor th C a r o l i n a ( t h e
C i t y ) , d i s c r i m i n a t e d a g a i n s t h e r on t h e
b a s i s o f s ex when i t f a i l e d t o h i r e her a s
i t s R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r . F o l l o w i n g a
b e n c h t r i a l , t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t , 55 7
F . S u p p . 412 , e n t e r e d judgment in f a v o r o f
Anderson and o r d e r e d back pay and c o s t s ,
i n c l u d i n g a t t o r n e y ' s f e e s . F rom t h i s
j u d g m e n t , the C i t y a p p e a l s . We r e v e r s e .
I .
In the spring of 19 75 , the City
began seeking applicants for the position
of Recreation Director. A committee of
five persons was appointed by the mayor to
make the selection. The mayor appointed
Leona Auddie Boone, the selection commit
- 3 7 a -
t e e ' s o n l y f e m a l e m e m b e r , t o be i t s
c h a i r p e r s o n . The r e c o r d r e v e a l s t h a t no
s p e c i f i c p r e h i r i n g g u i d e l i n e s f o r t h e
p o s i t i o n had been e s t a b l i s h e d .
1. A l e t t e r from Wil iam El. M e t c a l f , C i t y
Manager , s e n t t o the s u c c e s f u l a p p l i c a n t ,
D o n a l d K i n c a i d , a f t e r he was h i r e d ,
d e s c r i b e s the d u t i e s o f the p o s i t i o n o f
R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r a s f o l l o w s :
The d u t i e s o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n
d i r e c t o r o f B e s s e m e r C i t y w i l l
e n d e a v o r [ s i c ] t o d e v e l o p a w e l l
r o u n d e d r e c r e a t i o n p r o g r a m f e r t h e
u s e a nd b e n e f i t o f t h e c i t i z e n s
o f B e s s e m b e r C i t y . H i s d u t i e s a r e
e x p e c t e d t o e n c o m p a s s and i n c l u d e ,
but not l i m i t e d [ s i c ] t o , the f o l l o w
ing :
1) To m a n a g e a l l r e c r e a t i o n
f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e C i t y o f B e s s e m e r
C i t y .
2 ) T o d e v e l o p r e c r e a t i o n
p r o g r a m s t o s e r v e t h e n e e d s o f a l l
age g r o u p s and both s e x e s .
3) O r g a n i z e a p r o g r a m o f com
p e t i t i v e s p o r t s in a c o m p r e h e n s i v e
p r o g r am .
4) M a n a g e t h e B e s s e m e r C i t y
Community C e n t e r s .
5 ) D i r e c t t h e o p e r a t i o n s
o f the swimming f a c i l i t i e s .
6 ) D e v e l o p f a c i l i t i e s a n d
p l a n n i n g anil p r o p o s e d m e t h o d s o f
f i n a n c i n g t h e p l a n s f o r i m p r o v e
ment in a d d i t i o n to the c i t y r e c r e a
t i o n f a c i l i t i e s .
- 3 8 a -
B i y h t p e r s o n s a p p l i e d f o r t h e j o b
and s u b m i t t e d t h e i r r e s u m e s , i n c l u d i n g
A nd e r s on , who was the o n l y f e ma l e a p p l i
c a n t . A l l e i g h t a p p l i c a n t s we re i n t e r
v iewed by t he s e l e c t i o n c ommi t t ee on the
same d a y . F o l l o w i n g the i n t e r v i e w s , t he
c o m m i t t e e members d e t e r m i n e d t h a t o n l y
t h r e e o f t h e a p p l i c a n t s we re q u a l i f i e d
f o r t h e j o b . They were B e r t B r o a d w a y ,
Donald K i n c a i d , and A n de r s o n .
For the two y e a r s i m m e d i a t e l y p r e c e d
ing h i s a p p l i c a t i o n , Broadway, who was a
1. ( c o n t i n u e d )
7) Per form o t h e r r e l a t e d d u t i e s
a s may be a s s i g n by t he C i t y Manager .
8 ) T h e R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r
i s u n d e r d i r e c t s u p e r v i s i o n and
c o n t r o l o f t h e C i t y M a n a g e r and
i s e x p e c t e d t o work t o g e t h e r w i t h ,
and r e c e i v e a d v i s e ( s i c ] f rom t h e
B e s s e m e r C i t y r e c r e a t i o n c o m m i t t e e .
9 ) T h e R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r
i s h e r e b y d e l e g a t e d t h e a u t h o r i t y
t o h i r e a n d f i r e a l l e m p l o y e e s
in the r e c r e a t i o n d e p a r t m e n t .
- 3 9 a -
1 i c e n s e d r e c r e a t o r , had been the R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r f o r Cr a me r t on , North C a r o l i n a , a
town l o c a t e d in the same count y a s Bes semer
C i t y . Broadway was not a c o l l e g e g r a d u a t e ,
a l t houg h he had t aken c o l l e g e - l e v e l c l a s s e s ,
i nc l udng f i v e e l e c t i v e s in p h y s i c a l e d u c a
t i o n . B e c a us e o f h i s e x p e r i e n c e , Broadway
was the f i r s t c h o i c e o f a l l the commit tee
members, i n c l u d i n g Boone, the o n l y f e ma le
member. D u r i n g h i s i n t e r v i e w , h o w e v e r ,
Broadway had i n d i c a t e d t h a t he was u n w i l l
ing t o move t o Bes semer C i t y t o a c c e p t the
j o b . For t h a t r e a s o n , t he commit tee members
e l i m i n a t e d him from f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n
and p r o c e e d e d t o d e c i d e b e t w e e n K i n c a i d
and Ander son. Four members v o t e d in f a v o r
o f K i n c a i d b e c a u s e , a s they t e s t i f i e d a t
t r i a l , t h e y b e l i e v e d he had a s u p e r i o r
e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d . Boone was t h e
only member t o v o t e f o r Ander son . K i n c a i d
was h i r e d f o r the p o s i t i o n .
- 4 0 a -
When he a p p l i e d f o r t he j o b , K i n c a i d
was t w e n t y - f o u r y e a r s o l d . A y e a r e a r l i e r
h e h a d r e c e i v e d a B a c h e l o r o f S c i e n c e
d e g r e e in h e a l t h and p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n .
In c o n n e c t i o n with h i s c o l l e g e e x p e r i e n c e ,
K i n c a i d h a d l i s t e d on h i s r e s u m e t h e
f o l l o w i n g "method and a c t i v i t y c o u r s e s " :
b a s k e t b a l l , f o o t b a l l , b a s e b a l l , v o l l e y b a l l ,
t r a c k s o c c e r , s wi mmi n g , t e n n i s , s k i i n g ,
b a d m i n t o n , and g o | f . He a l s o i n d i c a t e d
t h a t he ha d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n c o l l e g e
i n t r a m u r a l s p o r t s . I n c l u d e d a s o t h e r
i n t e r e s t s on K i n c a i d ' s resume were c o a c h
i n g , r e a d i n g , and m u s i c .
At t r i a l , K i n c a i d t e s t i f i e d t h a t
a s p a r t o f t h i s c o l l e g e t r a i n i n g , he
h a d t a k e n c o u r s e s i n how t o t e a c h and
e v a l u a t e s p o r t s and p h y s i c a l e d u a c t i o n .
He a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t h i s c o u r s e work
i n c l u d e d o r g a n i z i n g a n d a d m i n i s t e r i n g
- 4 1 3 -
p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m s , w i t h an
e m p h a s i s on p l a n n i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g
f a c i l i t i e s , b u d g e t i n g , p u r c h a s i n g , ma i n
t e n a n c e , and i n s u r a n c e . F i n a l l y , K i n c a i d
s t a t e d t h a t he h ad t a k e n c o u r s e s i n
f i r s t - a i d and p u b l i c s p e a k i n g . K i n c a i d
had p l a y e d v a r i o u s s p o r t s as a h igh s c h o o l
s t u d e n t in Bes semer C i t y and had s e r v e d a s
a l i t t l e l e a g u e s p o r t s c o a c h b e f o r e
a p p l y i n g f o r the j o b with the C i t y .
K i n c a i d had be en a s t u d e n t t e a c h e r
o f p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n a t a h i g h s c h o o l
i n T e n n e s s e e d u r i n g 1 9 7 3 - 1 9 7 4 a n d in
1974 r e c e i v e d h i s t e a c h e r ' s c e r t i f i c a t i o n
a f t e r p a s s i n g a n a t i o n a l e x a m i n a t i o n .
When he a p p l i e d f o r the p o s i t i o n o f C i t y
R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r , he was e m p l o y e d in
the f i n a n c e d e p a r tm e nt o f a c r e d i t company,
where he had some e x p e r i e n c e in d e a l i n g
with the p u b l i c .
- 4 2 a -
At t he t ime o f her i n t e r v i e w , Anderson
was t h i r t y - n i n e y e a r s o l d . In 197 3 , she
r e c e i v e d a B a c h e l o r o f A r t s d e g r e e i n
e l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n . She had a l s o t ak en
a d d i t i o n a l c o u r s e s , i n c l u d i n g a D a l e
C a r n e g i e c o u r s e and a c l a s s in d e c o u p a g e .
Around 1 9 5 6 - 1 9 5 7 , Anderson had worked
a p p r o x i m a t e l y one y e a r a t a North C a r o l i n a
s t a t e m e n t a l h o s p i t a l , w h e r e s h e h a d
i n s t r u c t e d p a t i e n t s i n r e c r e a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g s p o r t s , d a n c i n g , and
s i g n i n g . In c o n n e c t i o n wi th t h i s p o s i t i o n ,
Anderson had o b t a i n e d a s t a t e c e r t i f i c a t e
a s a R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r . A l t h o u g h h e r
d u t i e s a t the h o s p i t a l may have i n c l u d e d
some s u p e r v i s i o n o f e m p l o y e e s , s he had no
a u t h o r i t y t o h i r e , f i r e , o r d i s c i p l i n e .
A n d e r s o n ' s j o b e x p e r i e n c e a l s o i n c l u d e d
b e i n g a r e c e p t i o n i s t in a d o c t o r ' s o f f i c e
in 1959 and working a s a p a r t t ime d e p a r t
ment s t o r e c l e r k in t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 ' s .
- 4 3 a -
B e f o r e a p p l y i n g f o r t he j o b o f R e c r e a t i o n
D i r e c t o r , Anderson had been a s u b s t i t u t e
e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l t e a c h e r f o r a b o u t t e n
y e a r s and had t a u g h t a t h i r d g r a d e c l a s s in
1973-1974 .
At t r i a l Anderson t e s t i f i e d t h a t her
d u t i e s a s an e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l t e a c h e r
i n c l u d e d o e i n g r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p h y s i c a l
e d u c a t i o n and o r g a n i z i n g and s u p e r v i s i n g
c h i l d r e n ' s ga me s . she t e s t i f i e d t h a t she
a t t e n d e d s p o r t s e v e n t s in which h e r two
sons p a r t i c i p a t e d and t h a t she had p l a y e d
s o f t b a l l and b a s k e t b a l l . ^ A n d e r s o n h a d
a l s o p a r t i c i p a t e d in v a r i o u s c i v i c a c t i v i
t i e s , w h i c h i n v o l v e d f u n d r a i s i n g and
p u b l i c s p e a k i n g . Her r e s u m e f u r t h e r
i n d i c a t e d t h a t s h e p l a y e d t h e p i a n o and
had been a mus ic d i r e c t o r .
2. At o r a l a rgument , A n d e r s o n ' s c o u n s e l
s t a t e d t h a t h e r e x p e r i e n c e p l a y i n g
b a s k e t b a l l o c c u r r e d in the m i d - 1 9 5 0 ' s .
- 4 4 a -
T h e r e was c o n f l i c t i n g t e s t i m o n y a t
t r i a l wi th r e s p e c t t o whether a l l o f the
c a n d i d a t e s had been q u e s t i o n e d a b ou t t h e i r
a m e n a b i l i t y t o t r a v e l l i n g and working a t
n i g h t and about t h e i r s p o u s e s ' r e a c t i o n s
t o t h e s e a s p e c t s o f t h e j o b . A n d e r s o n
c l a i m e d t h a t one o f t h e m a l e s e l e c t i o n
c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s h a d p o s e d a s i n g l e
q u e s t i o n t o her on t h e s e s u b j e c t s , b u t she
c o u l a not i d e n t i f y which commit tee member
i t h a d b e e n . B o o n e , t h e c o m m i t t e e ' s
c h a i r p e r s o n and o n l y f e m a l e m e m b e r ,
t e s t i f i e d t h a t s n e d i d n o t r e c a l l o t h e r
c a n d i d a t e s b e i n g a s k e d s u c h q u e s t i o n s .
B o o n e a d m i t t e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t s h e h a d
commented t o K i n c a i d , " and your new b r i d e
w o n ' t m i n d . " A n o t h e r c o m m i t t e e member
t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e i n q u i r y a b o u t n i g h t
work was a s ke d o f a l l a p p l i c a n t s . Ac c o r d
ing t o t he t e s t i m o n y o f a t h i r d commit tee
member, b o th K i n c a i d and Anderson had been
- 4 5 a
q u e s t i o n e d a o ou t t h e i r w i l l i n g n e s s t o work
a t n i g h t . K i n c a i d t e s t i f i e d t h a t , a l
though he co u l d not p i n p o i n t the q u e s t i o n ,
he r e c a l l e d communica t ing t o the commit tee
h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t ft e j o b w o u l d
r e q u i r e a f t e r hour s work.
Wfien t h e c o m m i t t e e f a i l e d t o h i r e
he r f o r t h e p o s i t i o n , A n d e r s o n f i l e d a
c h a r g e o f s e x d i s c r i m i n a t i o n w i t h t h e
E q u a l Employment O p p o r t u n i t y C o m m i s s i o n
anu, a f t e r r e c e i v i n g n o t i c e o f her r i g h t
t o s u e , b r o u g h t t h i s T i t l e V I I a c t i o n .
The C i t y d e f e n d e d on t h e g r o u n d t h a t
K in c a i d was h i r e d b e c a u s e o f h i s s u p e r i o r
e d u c a t i o n a l c r e d e n t i a l s . A f t e r h e a r i n g
the e v i d e n c e , the d i s t r i c t c o u r t i s s u e d a
Memorandum o f D e c i s i o n , c o n c l u d i n g t h t the
C i t y ' s r e a s o n f o r h i r i n g K i n c a i d w as
p r e t e x t u a l a no t h a t A n d e r s o n had b e e n
d e n i e d t h e j o b b e c a u s e o f h e r s e x . The
d i s t r i c t c o u r t then d i r e c t e d p l a i n t i f f ' s
- 4 6 a -
c o u n s e l t o s u b m i t p r o p o s e d f i n d i n g s o f
f a c t , c o n c l u s i o n s o f l aw, and an a p p r o p r i
a t e j u d g m e n t . The C i t y f i l e d a m o t i o n ,
o b j e c t i n g t o t h e d e l e g a t i o n p f t h i s
f u n c t i o n t o p l a i n t i f f and r e q u e s t i n g the
t r i a l j u d g e t o w r i t e h i s own o p i n i o n .
T h i s mot ion was d e n i e d , but the C i t y was
i n v i t e d t o a n d d i d i n f a c t r e s p o n d t o
p l a i n t i f f ' s f i n d i n g s and c o n c l u s i o n s a f t e r
t h e y were t i l e a . The s u b s t a n c e o f p l a i n
t i f f ' s s u b m i s s i o n was a d o p t e d by the t r i a l
c o u r t a s the f i n a l o p i n i o n in the c a s e .
I n t h i s o p i n i o n , t h e t r i a l j u d g e
c o n c l u d e d t h a t the male c ommi t t ee members
w e r e b i a s e d t o w a r d s e l e c t i n g a m a l e ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y one who was v e r s e d in t r a d i
t i o n a l l y m a l e - d o m i n a t e d s p o r t s . F ur t he rT
m o r e , i n r e a c h i n g h i s c o n c l u s i o n t h a t
A n d e r s o n had b e e n d i s c r i m i n a t e d a g a i n s t
b e c a u s e o f h e r s e x , t h e t r i a l j u d g e
s p e c i f i c a l l y found t h a t Anderson was "more
- 4 7 a -
q u a l i f i e d t h a n K i n c a i d t o p e r f o r m t h e
b r o a d r a n g e o f d u t i e s r e o u i r e d o f a
r e c r e a t i o n d i r e c t o r . ” He f u r t h e r f o un d
t h a t Anderson was the o n l y c a n d i d a t e who
had been a s k e d any " s e r i o u s q u e s t i o n about
n i g h t work or r e a c t i o n o f s p o u s e s . "
1 1 .
On a p p e a l , t h e C i t y c o n t e n d s t h a t
t h e s e two c r i t i c a l f i n d i n g s o f the t r i a l
c o u r t were c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s and r e q u i r e a
r e v e r s a l o f t h e j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f
A n d e r s o n . The C i t y a l s o c h a l l e n g e s t h e
t r i a l c o u r t ' s c o n c l u s i o n t h a t the C i t y ' s
r e f u s a l t o h i r e A n d e r s o n w as b a s e d on
g e n d e r s t e r e o t y p e s and s e x u a l b a i s .
F i n a l l y , t h e C i t y a r g u e s t h a t t h e t r i a l
c o u r t u n l a w f u l l y d e l e g a t e d t o p l a i n t i f f ' s
c o u ns e l the j u d i c i a l f u n c t i o n o f w r i t i n g
t h e o p i n i o n in t h e c a s e . We a g r e e w i t h
each o f t h e s e c o n t e n t i o n s .
- 4 8 a -
As we r e c e n t l y s t a t e d i n L e w i s v .
C e n t r a l P i e d m o n t Communt iy C o l l e g e , 689
F . 2 d 120 7 , 1209 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 2 ) :
I n M c D o n n e l l D o u g l a s C o r p . v .
G r e e n , 411 U . S . 792 , 93S' " .Ct . 1 8 1 7 ,
26 L . E d . 2 d 668 ( 1 9 7 3 ) , t h e S u p r e me
C o u r t e s t a b l i s h e d t h e b a s i c a l l o c a
t i o n o f t h e b u r d e n s a nd o r d e r o f
p r e s e n t a t i o n o f p r o o f i n c a s e s
a l l e g i n g d i s c r i m i n a t o r y t r e a t m e n t .
( F o o t n o t e o m i t t e d ] F i r s t , t h e
p l a i n t i f f h a s t h e b u r d e n o f e s t a b
l i s h i n g a p r i m a f a c i e c a s e o f d i s - i
c r i m i n a t i o n . Then the burden s h i f t s
t o t h e e m p l o y e r t o a r t i c u l a t e a
l e g i t i m a t e , n o n - d i s c r i m n a t o r y r e a s o n
f o r r e j e c t i n g t h e p l a i n t i f f . The
b u r d e n o f p r o v i n g d i s c r i m i n a t i o n ,
however , r e m a i n s wi th t he p l a i n t i f f ,
a n d , t h e r e f o r e , i f t h e e m p l o y e r
p r e s e n t s l e g i t i m a t e r e a s o n s f o r
p l a i n t i f f ' s r e j e c t i o n , i t i s t h e
p l a i n t i f f ' s b u r d e n t o p r o v e t h a t
t h o s e r e a s o n s were a c t u a l l y a p r e t e x t
f o r d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .
In o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h a p r i m a
f a c i e c a s e , " ( t j h e p l a i n t i f f mus t
p r o v e by a p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e
e v i d e n c e t h a t s h e a p p l i e d f o r t h e
a v a i l a b l e p o s i t i o n , f o r which she was
q u a l i f i e d , b u t was r e j e c t e d u n d e r
c i r c u m s t a n c e s whi ch g i v e r i s e t o an
i n f e r e n c e o f u n l a w f u l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . "
T e x a s D e p t , o f Communi ty A f f a i r s v .
B u r d i n e , 450 U . S . 2 48 , 253 , 101 S.C~t7
1089 , 67 L . Ed .2d 207 ( 1 9 8 1 ) .
T h a t A n d e r s o n met h e r i n i t i a l b u r d e n o f
- 4 9 a -
e s t a b l i s h i n g a p r i ma f a c i e c a s e o f d i s c r i m
i n a t i o n i s not s e r i o u s l y c o n t e s t e d . Any
i n f e r e n c e o f d i s c r i m i n a t o r y i n t e n t ,
however, was d i s p e l l e d by the C i t y ' s c l e a r
e x p l a n a t i o n t h a t K i n c a i d h ad b e t t e r
q u a l i f i c a t i o n s f o r the j o b . 0 ur r e v i e w ,
t h e r e f o r e , i s f o c u s e d on w h e t h e r o r not
A n d e r s o n m e t h e r r e m a i n i n g b u r d e n o f
s h o w i n g t h a t t h e C i t y ' s a r t i c u l a t e d
n o n d i s c r i m i n i a t o r y r e a s o n f o r s e l e c t i n g
K i n c a i d was in f a c t p r e t e x t u a l , a s t h e
d i s t r i c t c o u r t found . As s t a t e d p r e v i o u s l y ,
t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s c o n c l u s i o n t h a t
Anderson had been the v i c t i m o f i n t e n t i o n a l
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n depended in l a r g e p a r t on
i t s f i n d i n g s t h a t Anderson was both b e t t e r
q u a l i f i e d than K i n c a i d and a l s o had been
s u b j e c t e d t o d i s p a r a t e s e l e c t i o n t r e a t m e n t .
I l l .
D i r e c t i n g our a t t e n t i o n f i r s t t o the
mat ter o f q u a l i f i c a t i o n s , we note t h a t i t
- 5 0 a -
is n o t e n o u g h f o r A n d e r s o n t o show t h a t
she ws j u s t a s q u a l i f i e d a s K i n c a i d t o
p er f o rm the j o b . Her burden i s t o e s t a b
l i s h t h a t s h e was b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d t h a n
t he s u c c e s s f u l a p p l i c a n t . EEOC v. F e d e r a l
R e s e r v e bank o f Richmond , 698 F . 2 d 6 3 3 ,
672 ( 4th C i r . 1983 ) . The r e c o r d in t h i s
c a s e s i m p l y t a i l s t o s u p p o r t the d i s t r i c t
c o u r t ' s f i n d i n g t h a t b e t w e e n t h e two
c a n d i d a t e s , A n d e r s o n h a d t h e s u p e r i o r
c r e d e n t i a l s .
Al though the s e l e c t i o n commit tee had
n ot e s t a b l i s h e d p r e h i r i n g g u i d e l i n e s fop
t he R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r ' s p o s i t i o n , i t i s
c l e a r t h a t a t h l e t i c s was a s i g n i f i c a n t and
l e g i t i m a t e c o n c e r n o f a l l t h e c o m m i t t e e
m e m b e r s , b o t h m a l e and f e m a l e . T h i s i s
o b v i o u s f rom t h e f a c t t h a t B r o a d w a y was
c o n s i d e r e d t he most q u a l i f i e d o f a l l the
c a n d i d a t e s by a l l s e l e c t i o n c o m m i t t e e
m e m b e r s , i n c l u d i n g B o o n e . B r o a d w a y ' s
r e s ume , which was a d m i t t e d i n t o e v i d e n c e ,
- 5 1 a -
e m p h a s i z e s h i s b a c k g r o u n d in a t h l e t i c s ,
equipment , and games , i n c l u d i n g f o o t b a l l ,
b a s e b a l l , and b a s k e t b a l l . Thus , a l t h o u g h
the p o s i t i o n a l s o i n v o l v e d o t h e r a s p e c t s
o f r e c r e a t i o n , the e n t i r e commit tee p e r
c e i v e d knowledge o f a t h l e t i c s and s p o r t s
to be an i m p o r t a n t and i n t e g r a l p a r t o f
the R e c r e a t i o n D i r e c t o r s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i y .
M o r e o v e r , t h e r e i s s i m p l y n o t h i n g
in the r e c o r d to s u p p o r t A n d e r s o n ' s c l a i m
tha t the s e l e c t i o n commit tee m a n i p u l a t e d
t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e j o b t o f a v o r
K i n c a i d o v e r A n d e r s o n . C o n t r a r y t o
A n d e r s o n ' s a s s e r t i o n , t h e f o u r m a l e
committee members were not i n c o n s i s t e n t in
r a n k i n g K i n c a i d a s t h e i r s e c o n d c h o i c e ,
because o f h i s c o l l e g e d e g r e e , when t h e i r
f i r s t c h o i c e , Broadway, was not a c o l l e g e
g r a d u a t e . Of the t h r e e a p p l i c a n t s c o n s i d
ered t o be q u a l i f i e d f o r the j o b , Broadway,
- 5 2 a -
who was a l r e a d y a r e c r e a t i o n d i r e c t o r in
a n o t h e r c i t y , c l e a r l y had the most c u r r e n t
and d i r e c t l y r e l e v a n t j o b - r e l a t e d e x p e r i
e n c e , which t h e c o m m i t t e e was s e e k i n g ,
d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t he had no c o l l e g e
d e g r e e . S i m i l a r l y , i t i s c l e a r t h a t
K i n c a i d , who was a r e c e n t c o l l e g e g r a d u a t e ,
h o l d i n g a d e g r e e i n a s p e c i f i c a c a d e m i c
d i s c i p l i n e r e l a t e d t o r e c r e a t i o n , had the
m o s t d i r e c t l y r e l e v a n t work e x p e r i e n c e .
A n de rs on , on the o t h e r hand, had n e i t h e r
t h e c u r r e n t j o b - r e l a t e d e x p e r i e n c e o f
B r o a d w a y , n o r t h e c u r r e n t j o b - r e l a t e d
e d u c a t i o n o f K i n c a i d . A n d e r s o n h e l d
m e r e l y a c o l l e g e d e g r e e i n an u n r e l a t e d
f i e l d , e l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n , and had
p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e w h i c h , w i t h o n e
e x c e p t i o n , was o n l y i n d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d to
r e c r e a t i o n .
3 . The e x c e p t i o n was t h e j o b A n d e r s o n
had f o r one y e a r a t a s t a t e h o s p i t a l
around 1957 , in c o n n e c t i o n with
- 5 3 a -
U n l i k e K i n c a i d , A n d e r s o n ' s own p a r t i
c i p a t i o n in s p o r t s was p r i m a r i l y l i m i t e d
t o her b a s k e t b a l l e x p e r i e n c e some twenty
y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y . T h i s e x p e r i e n c e , even
when c o n s i d e r e d in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h h e r
e x p o s u r e t o t eam s p o r t s a s a m o t h e r o f
two s o n s and a s an e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l
t e a c h e r , i s s i m p l y n o t c o m p a r a b l e t o
K i n c a i d ' s p e r s o n a l i nvo lvement and fo rma l
t r a i n i n g in a t h l e t i c s . N e i t h e r c a n d i d a t e
had s p e c i f i c e x p e r i e n c e in b u d g e t i n g or in
employee s u p e r v i s i o n . A n d e r s o n ' s b u d g e t a r y
e x p e r i e n c e was l i m i t e d t o c o l l e c t i n g money
f o r s c h o o l l u n c h e s and t r i p s and her s u p e r
v i s o r y e x p e r i e n c e , i f a n y , a t h e r s t a t e
3. ( c o n t i n u e d )
which s h e had o b t a i n e d h e r l i c e n s e a s
a r e c r e a t o r . T h e s e e v e n t s , h o w e v e r ,
o c c u r r e d s o m e e i g h t e e n y e a r s b e f o r e
Anderson a p p l i e d f o r the p o s i t i o n with
the C i t y and h a r d l y overcome K i n c a i d ' s
r e c e n t j o b - r e l a t e d t r a i n i n g t o make
h e r b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e p o s i t i o n
than K i n c a i d .
- 5 4 a -
h o s p i t a l j o b was t o o r e m o t e i n t i m e t o
m e r i t s e r i o u q c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
T h e r e i s no q u e s t i o n t h a t A n d e r s o n
was q u a l i f i e d f o r the j o b . N e v e r t h e l e s s ,
the e v i d e n c e shows t h a t K i n c a i d ' s o v e r a l l
t r a i n i n g w as s u p e r i o r t o A n d e r s o n ' s
t r a i n i n g and e x p e r i e n c e f o r the demand o f
4t h i s j o b . Even among e q u a l l y q u a l i f i e d
4. When a sked about p a r t i c u l a r , i n d i v i d
u a l c o m p a r i s o n s i n q u a l i f i c a t i o n s
between Anderson and K i n c a i d , even Roone
s p e c i f i c a l l y d e n i e d t h a t A n d e r s o n was
b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d .
Q Did you p e r s o n a l l y c o n c l u d e t h a t
t h e p l a i n t i f f , Ms. A n d e r s o n , would
be b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d than Mr. K i n c a i d
t o i n s t i t u t e a da nce program?
A No. I t h i n k Mr. K i n c a i d would
be f i n e .
Q You do not b e l i e v e in t h a t
s e n s e Ms. A n d e r s o n ' s q u a l i f i c a t i o n s
were s u p e r i o r ?
A No, i nd e e d .
U How a b o u t a r t , d o y o u b e l i e v e
e i t h e r one o f them had q u a l i f i c a t i o n s
s u p e r i o r t o the o t h e r . . . . As t o the
s u b j e c t o f a r t s p e c i f i c a l l y ?
A No.
- 5 5 a -
c a n d i d a t e s , an employer has d i s c r e t i o n to
choose the p e r s o n he p r e f e r s . "The f a c t
t ha t a c o u r t may t h i nk t h a t the employer
m i s j d u g e d t h e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e
a p p l i c a n t s d o e s not in i t s e l f e x p o s e him
to T i t l e VII l i a b i l i t y . . . . " Bu r d i n e , 405
U . S . a t 2 59 , 1 0 1 S . C t . a t 1 09 7 . In
f i n d i n g A n d e r s o n b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d t h a n
K i n c a i d , the d i s t r i c t c o u r t i m p e r m i s s i b l y
s u b s t i t u t e d i t s own judgment f o r t h a t o f
the s e l e c t i o n c ommi t t ee . B e c a u s e , a f t e r
rev i ewi ng the e n t i r e e v i d e n c e , we a r e " l e f t
4. ( c o n t i n u e d )
Q As t o t h e s u b j e c t o f d r a m a t i c s ?
A No, a rounded program, s i r .
Q As t o the s u b j e c t o f p u b l i c
s p e a k i n g , s p e c i f i c a l l y ?
A No, s i r .
Q As t o the s u b j e c t o f team s p o r t s ,
s p e c i f i c a l l y ?
A No.
- 5 6 a -
wi t h t he d e f i n i t e and f i rm c o n v i c t i o n t h a t
a m i s t a k e h a s b e e n c o m m i t t e d , " U n i t e d
S t a t e s v . U n i t e d S t a t e s Gypsum C o . , 333
U . S . 3 6 4 , 68 S . C t . 5 2 5 , 92 L . L d . 74 6
( 1 9 4 8 ) , t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s f i n d i n g t h a t
Anderson was b e t t e r q u a l i f i e d than K i n c a i d
i s c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s . F e d . R . C i v . P . 5 2 ( a ) .
IV.
We n ex t c o n s i d e r t he d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s
f i n d i n g t h a t Anderson was the o n l y a p p l i
c a n t s e r i o u s l y q u e s t i o n e d a b o u t n i g h t
work, t r a v e l , and her f a m i l y ' s r e a c t i o n t o
t h e s e j o b r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h i s f i n d i n g was
b a s e d i n s u b s t a n t i a l p a r t on B o o n e ' s
t e s t i m o n y , i n c l u d i n g t he f o l l o w i n g e x c e r p t
f r o m t h e C i t y ' s c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n o f
Bo on e :
U You t e s t i f i e d a b o u t t h e f amo us
q u e s t i o n about the f a m i l y ' s r e a c t i o n
t o t h e j o b . Who on t h e c o m m i t t e e
a s k e d Ms. A n d e r s o n t h a t q u e s t i o n ?
A 1 d o n ' t r e c a l l .
- 5 7 a -
Q S o , l i k e Ms. A n d e r s o n , you know
i t was a s k e d , but you d o n ' t remember
who a s k ed i t ?
A I t was e i t h e r Tim Helms - - T im,
I'm not going to put you on the
s p o t . Let me s a y 1 d o n ' t r e c a l l . I 'm
not g o i n g t o s a y b e c a u s e i t would be
j u s t l i k e p i c k i n g a name o u t o f a
h a t .
0 bo you deny t h a t the o t h e r
a p p l i c a n t s , a s i d e from the p l a i n t i t l ,
w e r e a s k e d a b o u t t h e p r o s p e c t o f
w o r k i n g a t n i g h t in t h a t p o s i t i o n ?
A Not t o my knowledge .
Q Are you s a y i n g t h a t they were not
a sked t h a t ?
A T h e y w e r e n o t a s k e d , n o t i n
t h e c o n t e x t t h a t t h e y were a s k e d o f
P h y l l i s . I d o n ' t know w h e t h e r t h e y
w e r e w o r r i e d b e c a u s e J i m w a s n ' t
g o i n g t o g e t h i s s u p p e r or what . You
know, t h a t g o e s both ways .
Q D i d y o u t e l l P h y l l i s A n d e r s o n
t h a t D on ni e K i n c a i d was n o t a s k e d
about n i g h t work?
A He w a s n ' t a sked ab out n i g h t work.
Q T h a t a n s w e r s o n e q u e s t i o n .
Now, l e t ' s answer the o t h e r one . Did
you t e l l P h y l l i s Anderson t h a t , t h a t
Do nn i e K i n c a i d was n o t a s k e d a b o u t
n i g h t work?
- 5 8 a -
A Y e s , a f t e r t h e i n t e r v i e w - - I
t h i n k t h e n e x t d a y o r s o m e t i m e , and
I know - - may I a n s w e r s o m e t h i n g ?
U I f i t ' s a q u e s t i o n t h a t l i as b e e n
a s k e d ; o t h e r w i s e , n o . I t ' s up t o
the J u d g e t o s a y .
A You a s k e d i f t h e r e was any
q u e s t i o n a b o u t — I t h i n k D o n n i e
w a s j u s t m a r r i e d , and I t h i n k I
made the comment t o him p e r s o n a l l y - -
and your new b r i d e won ' t mind.
0 S o , you a s k e d him y o u r s e l f a b o u t
h i s own w i f e ' s r e a c t i o n ?
A No, no.
0 That i s what you j u s t s a i d .
T h e e v i d e n c e i n t h i s c a s e , e v e n
i n c l u d i n g B o o n e ' s t e s t i m o n y , amply demon
s t r a t e t h a t a s u b s t a n t i a l l y s i m i l a r
q u e s t i o n c o n c e r n i n g a f t e r - h o u r s work and
f a m i l y r e a c t i o n was pos ed both t o Anderson
and K i n c a i d , i f n o t t o a l l c a n d i d a t e s .
N or a r e we c o n v i n c e d by t h e d i s t r i c t
c o u r t ' s c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f B o o n e ' s remark
t o K i n c a i d , " a n d y o u r new b r i d e w o n ' t
m i n d , " a s f a c e t i o u s and a sked me re ly out
- 5 9 a -
o f annoyance or f r u s t r a t i o n . The r e c o r d
d o e s n o t i n d i c a t e t h e s e q u e n c e o f t h e
i n t e r v i e w s and t h u s f a i l s t o p r o v i d e the
r e q u i s i t e s u p p o r t f o r t h i s t h e o r y , which
p r e s u m e s t h a t t h e s i x u n s u c c e s s f u l m a l e
c a n d i d a t e s we re i n t e r v i e w e d f i r s t , f o l
l o w e d by A n d e r s o n , a n d t h e n K i n c a i d .
Moreover , the r e c o r d c l e a r l y d e m o n s t r a t e s
t h a t n i g h t work and t r a v e l were a n t i c i
p a t e d f u n c t i o n s o f t h e p o s i t i o n . T h u s ,
any q u e s t i o n on t h e s e s u b j e c t s t o any o f
the c a n d i a t e s were c e r t a i n l y j o b - r e l a t e d .
The d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s f i n d i n g t h a t
Anderson was the o n l y c a n d i d a t e s e r i o u s l y
q u e s t i o n e d about t h e s e m a t t e r s r e p r e s e n t s
another i n s t a n c e in which the t r i a l c o u r t
i m p e r m i s s i b l y i n t e r j e c t e d i t s own judgment
i n t o t h e c a s e . The f i n d i n g i s w i t h o u t
e v i d en ce t o s u p p o r t i t and i s , t h e r e f o r e ,
c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s . Fe d . R. C i v . P . 5 2 ( a ) .
-60a-
V.
Next, we address the district court's
conclusion that the male committee members
were biased in favor of hiring a male and
that the City's "decision not to hire the
more qualified applicant [i.e. Anderson]
for Recreat ion Director is based on such
stereotyped impressions of the sexes as
indicated by the questions asked the
plaintiff during the interview and the
testimony of the male committee members at
trial." We have already determined that
tne district court's findings with respect
to Anoerson's qualifications and her
treatment in the selection process were
clearly erroneous. without these critical
findings, the remaining evidence relied on
by the district court is simply insuffic
ient to support the district court's
conclusion that the male committee members
a6pnC aqq s e
p a s o do a d aqq
e u i s a x ^ J B d
o ; ; b a q ; Aq
OBJ J O s 6 ut
a q q oq u o t s
b s i a a a q [ q ]
z xu 6 o o aa 3M • (X96I
‘ Aueduioo H B p u a a
aa dooT qo u i
£89 ' * °D 9 anouiav
n n i { ' - o t ' 9 ' e e 9
?g a A a a s a a l e a a p a g
) 9 9 - 9 9 ' 69-89f r
bx j o s u o i s n p u o o
a s o d o u a s , ^ a s d
OB J O a O T J O B O d
ouidb q u a o a a a n o
• i ma a aw ' p a s 5 a a
o t u t do aqq q o r q r t
nC s t a s B O s T q q
3 a s o p a n o
were b i a s e d .
The d i s t r i c t c o u r t p l a c e d s p e c i a l
e m p h a s i s on t h e f a c t t h a t t h e C i t y
h i r i n g d e c i s i o n was made on t he b a s i s o f
s u b j e c t i v e , u n a r t i c u l a t e d c r i t e r i a . The
u s e o f s u b j e c t i v e c r i t e r i a t o h i r e employ
e e s i s n o t , however , i l l e g a l £ e r _ s e . As
t he Supreme C o u r t p o i n t e d o u t in McDonnel l
n o u q l a s v . G r e e n , 411 U . S . 7 92 , 93 S . C t .
r c a i 19 7 3) , " t h e m e r e 1 8 1 7 , 36 L . E d . 2 c 668 ( / ■* ) t
S f i n e t Inlfrom r e m a r t s made by a n o t h e r
7 U. re e mef e r r . a r ^ r . - « « £
sJrve a s Recreation Director. Thisevi-
T i i n d i T o £ Ci i a s S , inandd T s a t d is p e U U.d by
° t h I e ^ r e ^ i s “n o t h i n ? ' t S shiw the ma l e
c o m m i t t e e me mb e r s had a a g a i n s t
? h a t ? h e i ” ; e s ha“ wor ked and w e r e
t h a t o b e i n g away from home d u r i n g
: ^ S S “ ! S « » . b , S 2 w i /e o f one co m m ittee
member hao worked a J 11^ h had p e r -
f o r t n i g h t “w o r k s a s a R e g i s t e r e d
N u r s e .
f a c t t h a t s u b j e c t i v e c r i t e r i a a r e i n v o l v e d
i n t h e r e a s o n a r t i c u l a t e d b y a n e m p l o y e r
d o e s n o t p r e v e n t a c c o r d i n g i t s u f f i c i e n t
r e b u t t a l w e i g h t t o d i s p e l t h e p r i m a f a c i e
c a s e . " P a g e v . G o l g e r , 6 4 b F . 2 d 2 2 7 , 2 3 0
( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 1 ) . we h a v e p r e v i o u s l y
d i s c u s s e d t h e l e g i t i m a t e i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h
a l l t h e c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s a t t r i b u t e d t o
a t h l e t i c s # a n d t e a m s p o r t s i n t h e R e c r e a
t i o n D i r e c t o r ' s r o l e ( s e e P a r t I I I o f t h i s
o p i n i o n ) . S u f f i c e i t t o s a y t h a t o u r
r e v i e w o f t h e e n t i r e r e c o r d l e a d s u s t o
c o n d u c e t h a t A n d e r s o n f a i l e d t o c a r r y h e r
b u r d e n o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g s e x - b a s e d b i a s on
t h e p a r t o f t h e m a l e c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s .
L i k e w i s e , g i v e n t h i s r e c o r d , s h e f a i l e d t o
f u l f i l l h e r o v e r a l l b u r d e n o f p r o v i n g
i n t e n t i o n a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n b e c a u s e o f h e r
s e x . T h u s , t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t
i n h e r f a v o r m u s t b e r e v e r s e d .
- 6 3 a -
• 3SIHN
M q q 6 x u p a u i q o j
i m a q q p u s s a e a A
)9 X i o m p e q qaquiaui
j, * s a n o q S u x u a A a
i a q o q p a u i o q s n o o e
3 ATM JTaqq ^Bqq
• U3UIOM 6 U I ^ J O M
taquiaui aaqqxuiuioo
i s t aaaqq ‘ aiduiB
o suoxq-xod aaqqo
2Tq jo &uxpuTj e
c ' jaA3Moq 'aouap
tqeaaoan sb aAaas
:’o sxq ux aaqaiaui aaqqxuiuioo
moaj pue «au5( aq
o*q uionj suoxqeo
?ui aaqqxuiuioo aiEUi
ioaj paanajux s e m
>o qoxaqsx p aqi
P Z * P 3 ’ 1 98 ' £ T8 T
, • uaa no * a s s i b n o a
3 qanoo auiaadns aph
3A9Moq ' qou sx s a a
3 aAxqoaCqns j o asn
>XJJEun ' aAxqoaCqns
e « u o x s x o a p 6uxaxq
a q q uo s x s s q d u i a
q o x q q s x p a q x
•p3SETq 9I3M
VI .
Our c l o s e s c r u t i n y o t t h e r e c o r d i n
t h i s c a s e i s j u s t i f i e d by t h e ma n ne r i n
which the o p i n i o n was p r e p a r e d . In t h i s
r e g a r d , we r e m i n d t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t o f
o u r r e c e n t a a m o n i t i o n s , c o n d e m n i n g t h e
p r a c t i c e o f a d o p t i n g t h e p r e v a i l i n g
p a r t y ' s p r o p o s e d f i n d i n g s o f f a c t and
c o n c l u s i o n s o f l aw. S e e t e «9 » • C u t n b e r t -
son v . B i g g e r s E r o s . , I n c . , 702 F . 2 d 454,
4 5 8 - 5 9 , 4 6 5 - 6 6 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 3 ) ; EEOC v .
F e d r e a l R e s e r v e Bank o f Richmond, 698 F .2d
6 3 3 , 6 4 0 - 4 1 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 3 ) ; H o l s e v v .
Armour & C o . , 683 F .2 d 864 ( 4 t h C i r . 1 9 8 2 ) .
In C h i c o p e e M a n u f a c t u r i n g C o r p . v .
K e n d a l l C o m p a n y , 288 F . 2 d 719 ( 4 t h C i r .
1 9 6 1 ) , we r e c o g n i z e d t h a t :
[ t j h e r e i s a u t h o r i t y f o r t he s u b m i s
s i o n t o t h e c o u r t o f p r o p o s e d f i n d
i n g s o f f a c t and c o n c l u s i o n s o f law
by t h e a t t o r n e y s f o r t h e o p p o s i n g
p a r t i e s in a c a s e , and t he a d o p t i o n o f
the p r o p o s e d f i n d i n g s and c o n c l u s i o n s
a s the j u d g e may f i n d t o be p r o p e r . . .
S
- 6 4 a -
B u t t h e r e i s no a u t h o r i t y i n t h e
f e d e r a l c o u r t s t h a t c o u n t e n a n c e s the
p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e o p i n i o n by t h e
a t t o r n e y f o r e i t h e r s i d e . That p r a c
t i c e i n v o l v e s the f a i l u r e o f the t r i a l
j u d g e t o p e r f o r m h i s j u d i c i a l f u n c
t i o n . . . .
I d . a t 724- 25 . In C h i c o p e e , we s p e c i f i c
a l l y he l d t h a t such a p r a c t i c e j u s t i f i e d
r e v e r s a l o f t h e j u d g m e n t a n d a r e m a n d
f o r f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s . S e e _ a l s o ,
C u t h b e r t s o n , 702 F . 2 a a t 465.
Anderson c o n t e n d s t h a t the p r o c e d u r e
e m p l o y e d i n t h i s c a s e w a s a p p r o p r i a t e
b e c a u s e d e f e n d a n t ' s c o u n s e l had an o p p o r
t u n i t y t o r e s p o n d t o p l a i n t i f f ’ s p r o p o s e d
f i n d i n g s and c o n c l u s i o n s , and b e c a u s e the
t r i a l j u d g e made some c h a n g e s i n p l a i n
t i f f ' s s u b m i s s i o n . We d i s a g r e e . Al though
in t h i s c a s e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t
a d o p t v e r b a t i m A n d e r s o n ’ s p r o p o s e d f i n d
i n g s and c o n c l u s i o n , i t d i d a d o p t t h e
s u b s t a n c e o f her s u b m i s s i o n , with c e r t a i n
r e w o r d i n g and a d d i t i o n s . F u r t h e r m o r e ,
- 6 5 a -
t h e t r i a l j u d g e had a l r e a d y i s s u e d h i s
Memorandum o f D e c i s i o n in f a v o r o f p l a i n
t i f f when he d i r e c t e d p l a i n t i f f ' s c o u n s e l
t o s u b m i t p r o p o s e d f i n d i n g s a n d t h e n
p e r m i t t e d d e f e n d a n t ' s c o u n s e l t o r e s p o n d .
T h i s p r o c e d u r e i s s u b s t a n t i a l l y d i f f e r e n t
f r o m r e q u e s t i n g a t t o r n e y s on o p p o s i t e
s i d e s t o s u b m i t p r o p o s e d f i n d i n g s and
c o n c l u s i o n s b e f o r e a judgment i s r e n d e r e d .
We, t h e r e f o r e , c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e method
employed by the t r i a l j u d g e in p r e p a r i n g
h i s o p i n i o n i n t h i s c a s e c o n t i n u e s t o
v i o l a t e t h e i n t e n t o f o u r e a r l i e r d e c i
s i o n s , i n c l u d i n g C t i i c o p e e , and c a n n o t be
s a n c t i o n e d .
VII.
For the f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , the j u d g
ment e n t e r e d by the d i s t r i c t c o u r t in f a v o r
o f Anderson i s he re by r e v e r s e d .
REVERSED.
- 6 6 a -
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. ' 83- 1278 FILED
NOV. 4 1983
1 ' U.S. Court of Appeals
Four th C i r c u i t
Phyllis A. Anderson,
A p p e l l e e ,
v e r s u s
C i t y o t Bes semer C i t y ,
North C a r o l i n a
Appellant.
ORDER
Upon c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f the a p p e l l e e ' s
p e t i t i o n f o r r e h e a r i n g and s u g g e s t i o n f o r
r e h e a r i n g en banc and a p p e l l e e ' s mot ion t o
e x c e e d the page l i m i t a t i o n in p e t i t i o n f o r
r e h e a r i n g and s u g g e s t i o n f o r r e h e a r i n g en
b a n c , and no j u d g e h av in g r e q u e s t e d a p o l l
on the s u g g e s t i o n f o r r e h e a r i n g en b a n c ,
- 6 7 a -
I T I S ORDEhED t h a t t h e m o t i o n t o
e x c e e d t h e p a g e l i m i t a t i o n in p e t i t i o n
f o r r e h e a r i n g and s u g g e s t i o n f o r r e h e a r
ing en banc i s GRANTED.
IT I S FURTHER ADJUDGED and ORDERED
t h a t the p e t i t i o n f o r r e h e a r i n g i s d e n i e d .
E n t e r e d a t t h e d i r e c t i o n o f J u d g e
H a l l f o r a p a n e l c o n s i s t i n g o f J u d g e
R u s s e l 1 , J u d g e Wi d en e r and J u d g e H a l l .
For the C o u r t ,
/ s / W i l i a m K . S l a t e , I I
CLERK
JAN 4 1984