Union National Bank of Little Rock v. Paxton Respondents' Brief in Opposition

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October 4, 1982

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  • Brief Collection, LDF Court Filings. Union National Bank of Little Rock v. Paxton Respondents' Brief in Opposition, 1982. 45d93a21-c79a-ee11-be37-000d3a574715. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/60b904b7-65a4-47d7-b664-8013ce88459c/union-national-bank-of-little-rock-v-paxton-respondents-brief-in-opposition. Accessed May 19, 2025.

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I n  t h e

OcTOBEE T erm , 1982

U n io n  N ational  B a n k  oe L it t l e  R ock ,

Petitioner,
V.

M elv in  P axton , et al.,
Respondents.

on  pe t it io n  fob. a w hit  oe certioeari
TO T H E  U N IT E D  STATES COURT OE A PPEALS 

EOE T H E  E IG H T H  C IE C U IT

RESPONDENTS’ BRIEF IN OPPOSITION

J o h n  W . W alker
First National Bank Building 
Suite 1191
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

P. A. H ollingsw oeth  
955 Tower Building 
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

J ack G reenberg  
R onald L . E l l is*

Suite 2030 
10 Columbus Circle 
New York, New York 10019 
(212) 586-8397

Attorneys for Respondents 
*  Counsel of Record



TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES .......................................  i i

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ....................................  1

REASONS FOR DENYING THE W R I T .....................  5

I .  THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT PROPERLY APPLIED
THIS COURT'S DECISION IN PULLMAN-  
STANDARD V. SWINT ....................................  6

I I .  IN CONCLUDING THAT THE BANK HAD 
DISCRIMINATED IN PROMOTIONS, THE 
EIGHTH CIRCUIT APPLIED PRIN­
CIPLES ESTABLISHED BY THIS COURT 
AND CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED BY
OTHER CIRCUITS ............................................  13

CONCLUSION .....................................................................  20

-  1 -



TABLE OF CASES

C a s e s

Brown V. G a s t o n  C o u n t y  D ye i ng  Mac h i ne  C o . ,
457 F . 2 d  1377 ( 4 t h  C i r . ) ,  c e r t .
d e n i e d , 409 U . S .  982 ( 1 9 7 2 )  . . . . .  16

EEOC V. A m e r i c a n  N a t i o n a l  B a n k ,  652 F . 2 d  
1176 ( 4 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 1 ) ,  c e r t ,  d e n i e d ,
74 L . E d . 2 d  186 ( 1982)  ..........................  15

EEOC V. D e t r o i t  E d i s o n  C o . ,  515 F . 2 d  301
( 6 t h  C i r .  1975)  ............................................  16

G r i g g s  v .  Duke Power  C o . ,  401 U . S .
424 ( 1971 ) .................................... 19

Haze l wood  S c h o o l  D i s t r i c t  v .  U n i t e d
S t a t e s ,  433 U . S .  299 ( 1 9 77 )  . 1 5 , 1 6 , 1 8 , 2 0

I n t e r n a t i o n a l  B r o t h e r h o o d  o f  T e a m s t e r s  
V. U n i t e d  S t a t e s ,  431 U . S .  324 
( 1977)  ...............................................................   5 , 1 5

J o h n s o n  v .  U n c l e  B e n ' s  I n c . ,  628 F . 2 d  
419 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 0 ) ,  c e r t ,  
d e n i e d ,  74 L . E d . 2 d  277 ( 1 9 8 2)  . . . .  15

K e l l y  V. S o u t h e r n  P a c i f i c  C o . ,  419
U . S .  318 (1974)  ............................... • . . .  13

K i r b y  v .  C o l o n y  F u r n i t u r e  C o . ,  613
F . 2 d  696 ( 8 t h  C i r .  1980)  .....................  15

Long V. S a p p ,  502 F . 2 d  34 ( 5 t h  C i r .
1974)  ...................................................................... 16

P e t t w a y  v .  A m e r i c a n  C a s t  I r o n  P i p e  C o . ,
494 F . 2 d  211 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1974)  .........  16

-  1 1



Page

P u l l m a n - S t a n d a r d  v .  S w i n t ,  72 L . E d . 2 d
66 ( 1 9 82 )  ..............................................  6 , 1 1 , 1 2 , 1 3

Reed v .  A r l i n g t o n  H o t e l  C o . ,  476 F . 2 d  
721 ( 8 t h  C i r . ) c e r t ,  d e n i e d ,  414 
U . S .  854 ( 1973)  .........................................  16

R o g e r s  v .  EEOC, 454 F . 2 d  234 ( 5 t h  
C i r .  1 9 7 1 ) ,  c e r t ,  d e n i e d ,  406 
U . S .  957 (1972)  . .777777.....................  17

Rowe V. G e n e r a l  M o t o r s  C o r p . ,  457
F . 2 d  348 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1972)  ..................  16

S t e w a r t  v .  G e n e r a l  M o t o r s  C o r p . ,  542 
F . 2 d  445 ( 7 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 6 ) ,  c e r t .  
d e n i e d , 433 U . S .  919 (1 9 77 )  ........... 17

U . S .  V. N. L.  I n d u s t r i e s ,  479 F . 2 d
354 ( 8 t h  C i r .  1973)  ..................................  16

U n i t e d  S t a t e s  v .  G e n e r a l  M o t o r s
C o r p . ,  384 U . S .  127 ( 1 9 66 )  .............  13

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
Co.  , 333 U . S .  364 ( 1948)  ..................  8

W i l l i a m s  v .  O w e n s - I l l i n o i s ,  469 F.
S u pp .  70 (N.D.  C a l .  1 9 8 1 ) ,
a f f  d i n  r e l e v a n t  p a r t , 665 F . 2 d
918 ( 1 9 8 2 ) ,  c e r t , d e n i e d , 74
L . E d . 2 d  283 ......................................................... 17

R u l e s

F e d .  R. C i v .  P .  23 ......................................  2 , 4

-  x i i  -



No. 8 2 - 1 2 2 0  

IN THE

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER TERM, 1982

UNION NATIONAL BANK OF LITTLE ROCK,

P e t i t i o n e r ,
V.

MELVIN PAXTON, e t  a l .
R e s p o n d e n t s .

On P e t i t i o n  F o r  A W r i t  Of  C e r t i o r a r i  
To The 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 E i g h t h  C i r c u i t

RESPONDENTS' BRIEF IN OPPOSITION

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

T h i s  c a s e  c o n c e r n s  a n  a p p e l l a t e  

c o u r t ' s  p r o p e r  e x e r c i s e  o f  i t s  p o w e r s  t o

r e v i e w  a d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  d e c i s i o n  b a s e d  on 

i n c o r r e c t  l e g a l  p r i n c i p l e s  a n d  c l e a r l y  

e r r o n e o u s  f i n d i n g s  o f  f a c t .



-  2

I n  1 9 7 6 ,  r e s p o n d e n t  M e l v i n  P a x t o n  

f i l e d  a c l a s s  a c t i o n  l a w s u i t  a g a i n s t  Un i on  

N a t i o n a l  B a n k  a l l e g i n g  r a c e  d i s c r i m i ­

n a t i o n  i n  h i r i n g ,  t e s t i n g  p r o c e d u r e s ,  

p r o m o t i o n s ,  d i s c h a r g e s ,  j o b  a s s i g n m e n t s ,  

c o m p e n s a t i o n  and  o t h e r  t e r m s  and c o n d i t i o n s  

o f  e m p l o y m e n t .  T h i s  c a s e  was c o n s o l i d a t e d  

w i t h  two o t h e r  l a w s u i t s  and f i v e  a d d i t i o n a l  

b l a c k  p e r s o n s  w e r e  a l l o w e d  t o  i n t e r v e n e .  

T h e  p l a i n t i f f s  a nd  i n t e r v e n o r s  move d  t o  

c e r t i f y  t h e  c o n s o l i d a t e d  c a s e s  a s  a  c l a s s  

a c t i o n  p u r s u a n t  t o  R u l e  2 3 ,  F e d .  R.  C i v .  P.  

T h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  b e g a n  a n  e v i d e n t i a r y  

h e a r i n g  on  t h e  c e r t i f i c a t i o n  i s s u e  b u t  

l a t e r  me rg e d  t h e  c e r t i f i c a t i o n  h e a r i n g  w i t h  

t h e  t r i a l  o n  t h e  m e r i t s .  The  c o m b i n e d  

h e a r i n g s  t o o k  p l a c e  i n  two p a r t s  -  A p r i l ,  

1980 and  A u g u s t ,  1980 -  and c o n t i n u e d  f o r  

f i f t e e n  d a y s  b e f o r e  t h e  o r i g i n a l  d i s t r i c t  

c o u r t  j u d g e .  I n  O c t o b e r ,  1980 t h e  o r i g i n a l



-  3 -

j u d g e  r e c u s e d  h i m s e l f .  T h e  c a s e  w a s  

r e a s s i g n e d  and t h e  s u c c e s s o r  j u d g e  i n f o r m e d  

t h e  p a r t i e s  t h a t  h e  w o u l d  n o t  r e h e a r  

t h e  w i t n e s s e s  f rom t h e  f i r s t  f i f t e e n  d a y s  

o f  t r i a l  t e s t i m o n y .  The  p l a i n t i f f s  h a d  

p r e s e n t e d  t h e  b u l k  o f  t h e i r  c a s e  i n  c h i e f  

b e f o r e  t h e  o r i g i n a l  j u d g e .  T h i s  i n c l u d e d  

t h e  t e s t i m o n y  o f  t h e  two named p l a i n t i f f s  

and t h r e e  o f  t h e  f o u r —/  i n t e r v e n o r s  w i t h  

l i v e  c o n t r o v e r s i e s .  The  t r i a l  r e s u m e d  

i n  A p r i l ,  1981 a n d  c o n t i n u e d  f o r  e l e v e n  

a d d i t i o n a l  d a y s .  T h e  p l a i n t i f f s  h a d  

g e n e r a l l y  p r o c e e d e d  on a c l a s s - w i d e  b a s i s .  

The d e f e n d a n t  had  t h e n  f u l l y  p r e s e n t e d  i t s  

d e f e n s e  a s  t o  a l l  c l a s s  a n d  i n d i v i d u a l  

c l a i m s .  At  t h e  c l o s e  o f  t h e  e v i d e n c e ,  t h e  

d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  f o u n d  t h a t  t h e r e  was  no 

c l a s s  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  by t h e  d e f e n d a n t  Union

One o f  t h e  o r i g i n a l  f i v e  i n t e r v e n o r s  
h a d  s e t t l e d  h i s  c a s e  p r i o r  t o  t r i a l .



-  4 -

N a t i o n a l  Bank .  The c o u r t  t h e r e f o r e  r e a ­

s o n e d  t h a t  c l a s s  c e r t i f i c a t i o n  was i n a p p r o ­

p r i a t e  :

T h e s e  p l a i n t i f f s  and i n t e r v e n o r s  
f a i l  a t  t h e  v e r y  o u t s e t  b e c a u s e  
t h e y  h a v e  f a i l e d  t o  p r o v e  e m p l o y ­
men t  p r a c t i c e s  and p r o c e d u r e s  o f  
U n i o n  N a t i o n a l  B a n k  w h i c h  d i s ­
c r i m i n a t e  a g a i n s t  a n y  c l a s s  o f  
t h e i r  e m p l o y e e s .  I t  f o l l o w s  t h a t  
t h e s e  p l a i n t i f f s  and i n t e r v e n o r s  
c o u l d  n o t  b e  m e m b e r s  o f  s u c h  a 
c l a s s .

A p p e n d i x  B t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p .  9 8 a .  The E i g h t h  

C i r c u i t  r e v e r s e d  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  f o r  i t s  

f a i l u r e  t o  c e r t i f y  any  c l a s s  b e c a u s e  i t s  

r e l i a n c e  on t h e  m e r i t s  o f  t h e  c l a s s  c l a i m s  

i m p r o p e r l y  i n f l u e n c e d  t h e  d e c i s i o n  on t h e  

c l a s s  c e r t i f i c a t i o n  and r e s u l t e d  i n  t h e  u s e  

o f  an i n c o r r e c t  l e g a l  s t a n d a r d .  F u r t h e r ,  

t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t ' s  e r r o n e o u s  c o n c l u s i o n s  

o n  t h e  m e r i t s  c a u s e d  i t  n o t  t o  g i v e  

p r o p e r  c o n s i d e r a t i o n  t o  t h e  r e q u i r e m e n t s  o f  

R u l e  2 3 ,  F e d .  R .  C i v .  P .  T h e  E i g h t h  

C i r c u i t  a l s o  r e v e r s e d  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t



-  5 -

on  t h e  m e r i t s  o f  t h e  p r o m o t i o n a l —' ^ c l a i m s  

b e c a u s e  t h e  f i n d i n g s  w e r e  c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s ,

REASONS FOR DENYING THE WRIT 

The q u e s t i o n s  p r e s e n t e d  c h a l l e n g e  t h e  

E i g h t h  C i r c u i t ' s  e x e r c i s e  o f  i t s  a p p e l l a t e  

j u r i s d i c t i o n .  T h e  p e t i t i o n  s h o u l d  b e  

d e n i e d  b e c a u s e  i t  p r e s e n t s  no c o n f l i c t  o f  

d e c i s i o n s  among t h e  c i r c u i t s  and b e c a u s e  i t  

p r e s e n t s  no  c o n f l i c t  w i t h  t h e  d e c i s i o n s  o f  

t h i s  C o u r t .  M o r e o v e r ,  The E i g h t h  C i r c u i t  

o p i n i o n  r a i s e s  no i m p o r t a n t  o r  new i s s u e s  

o f  l a w ,  b u t  r a t h e r  a p p l i e s  w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d  

p r i n c i p l e s  f r om t h i s  C o u r t ' s  d e c i s i o n s  i n  

I n t e r n a t i o n a l  B r o t h e r h o o d  o f  T e a m s t e r s  v . 

U n i t e d  S t a t e s ,  431 U . S .  324 ( 1 9 7 7 ) ,  a nd

2J The c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  a l s o  f o u n d  t h a t  a 
c l a s s  o f  d i s c h a r g e d  e m p l o y e e s  s h o u l d  h a v e  
b e e n  p r o p e r l y  c e r t i f i e d ,  b u t  d i d  n o t  s e t  
a s i d e  t h e  f i n d i n g  o f  no d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  w i t h  
r e s p e c t  t o  t h a t  c l a s s .



-  6 -

P u l l m a n - S t a n d a r d  v .  S w i n t  ̂ 72 L . E d . 2 d  66 

( 1 9 8 2 ) ,  t o  a d i s t r i c t  c o u r t ' s  f l a w e d  

l e g a l  a n a l y s i s  o f  a c omp le x  f a c t u a l  s i t u a ­

t i o n .

ARGUMENT

I .

THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT PROPERLY 
APPLIED THIS COURT'S DECISION 
IN PULLMAN-STANDARD V. SWINT

P e t i t i o n e r  a s k s  t h i s  C o u r t  t o  r e v i e w  

w h e t h e r  o r  n o t  t h e  E i g h t h  C i r c u i t  p a i d  " l i p  

s e r v i c e "  o n l y  t o  t h e  c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s  

r u l e .  I t  d o e s  n o t  c l a i m  t h a t  t h e  E i g h t h  

C i r c u i t  was u n a w a r e  o f  P u l l m a n  o r  t h a t  i t ,  

a s  t h e  F i f t h  C i r c u i t  h a d  i n  P u l l m a n , 

u t i l i z e d  t h e  " u l t i m a t e  f a c t "  a n a l y s i s  t o  

r e v e r s e  some o f  t h e  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 .  R a t h e r ,  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  a r g u m e n t  

r e s t s  u p o n  s p e c u l a t i o n  c o n c e r n i n g  t h e  

p o s s i b i l i t y  t h a t  t h e  r u l e  m i g h t  h a v e  b e e n



-  7 -

3 /a v o i d e d . —̂ T h i s  a s s e r t i o n  i s  n o t  s u p p o r t e d  

by t h e  r e c o r d .

The c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  a c t e d  w e l l  w i t h i n  

i t s  s p h e r e  t o  r e f r a i n  f rom s u b s t i t u t i n g  i t s  

j u d g m e n t  a s  t o  d i s p u t e d  f a c t s  and c o r r e c t l y  

e x e r c i s e d  i t s  s u p e r v i s o r y  f u n c t i o n s .  I t  

p r o p e r l y  s t a t e d  and a p p l i e d  t h e  a p p r o p r i a t e  

r u l e  o f  l a w  a n d  a s s e s s e d  t h e  c a s e  a s

f o l l o w s ;

A f t e r  a c a r e f u l  r e v i e w  o f  t h e  
6000 p a g e  t r a n s c r i p t  c o m p r i s i n g  
t h i s  r e c o r d  on  a p p e a l ,  we a r e  
l e f t  w i t h  t h e  f i r m  c o n v i c t i o n  
t h a t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  e r r e d  
i n  h o l d i n g  t h a t  t h e  b a nk  d i d  n o t  
d i s c r i m i n a t e  a g a i n s t  b l a c k  
e m p l o y e e s  w i t h  r e s p e c t  t o  p r o mo ­
t i o n s .  S e e  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 . ,  
U . S .  3 6 4 ,  395 (1 9 48 )

333

A p p e n d i x  A t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p .  17a .  The c o u r t

_3/ S i m i l a r l y ,  t h e  p e t i t i o n e r  s u g g e s t s  t h a t  
t h e  E i g h t h  C i r c u i t ,  t h o u g h  a c k n o w l e d g i n g  
t h e  p r o p e r  s t a n d a r d ,  d i d  n o t  u s e  t h e  
a b u s e  o f  d i s c r e t i o n  s t a n d a r d  i n  r e v i e w i n g  
t h e  d e c i s i o n  o n  c l a s s  c e r t i f i c a t i o n .



-  8 -

t h u s  r e v i e w e d  t h e  " e n t i r e  e v i d e n c e " —̂  

b e f o r e  c o n c l u d i n g  t h a t  " a  m i s t a k e  [ h a d ]  

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 .  364  ( 1 9 4 8 ) .

D o u b t s  c o n c e r n i n g  t h e  E i g h t h  C i r c u i t ' s  

a p p l i c a t i o n  o f  t h e  c o r r e c t  s t a n d a r d  a r e  

d i s p e l l e d  upon r e v i e w  o f  i t s  t r e a t m e n t  o f  

t h e  v a r i o u s  f a c t u a l  i s s u e s .  Such  a r e v i e w  

d e m o n s t r a t e s  t h a t  t h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  g a v e  

d u e  d e f e r e n c e  t o  t h e  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  a n d  d i d  n o t  e n g a g e  i n  a n  

i n d e p e n d e n t  e v a l u a t i o n .  An u n a m b i g u o u s  

e x a m p l e  i n v o l v e d  t h e  l e a d  p l a i n t i f f ,  M e l v i n  

P a x t o n .  S h o r t l y  a f t e r  f i l i n g  h i s  c h a r g e  o f  

d i s c r i m i n a t i o n ,  P a x t o n  was c a l l e d  i n t o  t h e  

o f f i c e  o f  t h e  p e r s o n n e l  d i r e c t o r  a n d  

q u e s t i o n e d  a t  l e n g t h  a b o u t  t h e  r e a s o n s  f o r

j4/  The  p e t i t i o n e r  a p p a r e n t l y  e q u a t e s  a 
r e v i e w  o f  t h e  r e c o r d  w i t h  i n d e p e n d e n t  
f a c t - f i n d i n g .  I n  f a c t ,  one  c o u l d  h a r d l y  
c o n s i d e r  t h e  e n t i r e  e v i d e n c e  w i t h o u t  
r e v i e w i n g  t h e  r e c o r d .



-  9 -

h i s  c h a r g e .  T h e  f a c t s  s u r r o u n d i n g  h i s

s u b s e q u e n t  r e s i g n a t i o n  w e r e  d i s p u t e d  and

t h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  h e l d :

W h i l e  we do n o t  b e l i e v e  t h a t  t h e  
r e c o r d  s u p p o r t s  t h e  v i e w  t h a t  
P a x t o n  w a s  a n  u n s a t i s f a c t o r y  
e m p l o y e e  a nd  w h i l e  we b e l i e v e  
t h a t  a f a c t f i n d e r  c o u l d  h a v e  
f o u n d  t h a t  P a x t o n  was c o n s t r u c ­
t i v e l y  d i s c h a r g e d ,  we a r e  u n a b l e  
t o  s a y  t h a t  t h e  t r i a l  c o u r t ' s  
f i n d i n g  w i t h  r e s p e c t  t o  t h e  
a l l e g e d  d i s c h a r g e  i s  c l e a r l y  
e r r o n e o u s .  We l i k e w i s e  h o l d  t h a t  
t h e  t r i a l  c o u r t ' s  f i n d i n g  t h a t  
P a x t o n  was n o t  h i r e d  a s  a ma na ge ­
m e n t  t r a i n e e  w a s  n o t  c l e a r l y  
e r r o n e o u s .

A p p e n d i x  A t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p .  3 4 a .  F u r t h e r  

e v i d e n c e  t h a t  t h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  a p p l i e d  

t h e  c o r r e c t  s t a n d a r d  i n c l u d e :

a)  A l t h o u g h  t h e  E i g h t h  C i r c u i t  f o u n d  
no  s u p p o r t  f o r  an  a l l e g e d  e x p l a n a ­
t i o n  V  f o r  t h e  h i g h e r  d i s c h a r g e  
r a t e  o f  b l a c k s ,  i t  a f f i r m e d  t h e

i n  t h e  r e c o r d  f o r_5/ "We f i n d  no s u p p o r t
t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t ' s  o b s e r v a t i o n  t h a t  more  
b l a c k  e m p l o y e e s  i n  t h e  t a r g e t  g r o u p  
w e r e  d i s c h a r g e d  t h a n  w h i t e  e m p l o y e e s  
b e c a u s e  t h e  b l a c k  p e r s o n s  h i r e d  we re  l e s s  
q u a l i f i e d  t h a n  t h e i r  w h i t e  c o u n t e r p a r t s . "  
A p p e n d i x  A t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p .  2 4 a  n . 2 2 .



-  10 -

f i n d i n g  t h a t  t h e  d i s c h a r g e  c l a s s  
had n o t  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)  A l t h o u g h  t h e  E i g h t h  C i r c u i t  f o u n d  
t h a t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  e r r e d  i n  
c h a r a c t e r i z i n g  J e r r y  R i l e y ' s  
p r o m o t i o n a l  c l a i m  t o  c o m p u t e r  
o p e r a t o r  t r a i n e e  6 /̂ and f u r t h e r  
f o u n d  t h a t  R i l e y  was q u a l i f i e d  
and had  made o u t  a p r i m a  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 t  
a f f i r m e d  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t ' s  
f i n d i n g  o f  n o n - d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  
w i t h  r e s p e c t  t o  t h i s  c l a i m  and 
w i t h  r e s p e c t  t o  h i s  c l a i m  o f  
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  i n  p r o m o t i o n  f r om 
t r a i n e e  t o  c o m p u t e r  o p e r a t o r .

I n  sum,  a f t e r  c o n s i d e r i n g  a l l  t h e  e v i d e n c e

t h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  was d i l i g e n t  i n  n o t

r e v e r s i n g  f i n d i n g s  w h i c h  w e r e  i n  a ny  way

s u p p o r t e d  by t h e  r e c o r d .  See  a l s o  A p p e n d i x

A t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p .  34a  ( f i n d i n g s  a s  t o  t h r e e

o t h e r  i n d i v i d u a l s  n o t  c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s )

"The d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  c h a r a c t e r i z e d  
R i l e y ' s  c l a i m  a s  b e i n g  much b r o a d e r  i n v o l v ­
i n g  a l l  p e r s o n s  h i r e d  a s  c o m p u t e r  o p e r a t o r s  
a f t e r  A u g u s t ,  1977 .  The d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  
c l e a r l y  e r r e d  i n  d o i n g  s o . "  A p p e n d i x  A t o  
P e t i t i o n ,  p .  28a  n . 2 4 .



- 1 1 -

T h e  p e t i t i o n e r  a s s e r t s  a f u r t h e r  

c o n f l i c t  w i t h  P u l l m a n  on t h e  c l a s s  c e r t i ­

f i c a t i o n  i s s u e  by c l a i m i n g  t h a t  t h e  c o u r t  

o f  a p p e a l s  d i d  n o t  " g i v e  p r o p e r  d e f e r e n c e  

t o  t h e  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  

t h a t  t h e  named p a r t i e s  c o u l d  n o t  r e p r e s e n t  

t h e  c l a s s . "  B a n k ' s  P e t i t i o n ,  p p .  1 5 - 1 6 .  

The d i s t r i c t  c o u r t ,  h o w e v e r ,  had  a l l o w e d  

i t s  e r r o n e o u s  v i e w  o f  t h e  m e r i t s  t o  a f f e c t  

i t s  c o n s i d e r a t i o n  o f  t h e  c l a s s  i s s u e  and 

d i d  n o t  make p r o p e r  f i n d i n g s  on t h e  e l e ­

m e n t s  o f  a c l a s s  c e r t i f i c a t i o n .  F o r  

e x a m p l e ,  t h e  c o u r t  d e c l i n e d  t o  ma k e  a n y  

f i n d i n g  w i t h  r e s p e c t  t o  t h e  a d e q u a c y  o f  

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n  r e q u i r e m e n t  b e c a u s e  o f  i t s  

b e l i e f  t h a t  no  c l a s s  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  h a d  

b e e n  shown:

I t  i s  n o t  n e c e s s a r y  t o  d i s c u s s  
t h e  f o u r t h  r e q u i r e m e n t  o f  R u l e  
2 3 ( a ) .  I t  i s  h a r d l y  n e c e s s a r y  t o  
i n q u i r e  a s  t o  w h e t h e r  t h e s e  
p l a i n t i f f s  a n d  i n t e r v e n o r s



-  12

c o u l d  a d e q u a t e l y  r e p r e s e n t  a c l a s s  
wh e n  t h e i r  p r o o f  h a s  f a i l e d  t o  
d e l i n e a t e  a ny  c l a s s  who s h o u l d  be  
r e p r e s e n t e d .

A p p e n d i x  B t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p .  1 0 0 a .  T h e  

d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  s i m p l y  h a d  no  f a c t u a l  o r  

l e g a l  b a s i s  f o r  i t s  f a i l u r e  t o  c e r t i f y  t h e  

c l a s s .

The E i g h t h  C i r c u i t  t h e r e u p o n  p r o p e r l y  

d e t e r m i n e d  t h a t  t h e  c l a i m s  o f  t h e  p l a i n ­

t i f f s  w e r e  t y p i c a l ,  f o r  h e r e  t h e  " r e c o r d  

p e r m i t s  o n l y  one  r e s o l u t i o n  o f  [ t h a t ]  f a c ­

t u a l  i s s u e . "  P u l l m a n , s u p r a , 72 L . E d . 2 d  a t  

8 2 .  B e c a u s e  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  a p p l i e d  an 

e r r o n e o u s  v i e w  o f  t h e  l a w  on  c l a s s  c e r t i f i ­

c a t i o n ,  i t  c o m p l e t e l y  i g n o r e d  t h e  f a c t s  

w h i c h  d e m o n s t r a t e d  t h e  t y p i c a l i t y  o f  

p l a i n t i f f s '  c l a i m s .  The  e v i d e n c e ,  when  

p r o p e r l y  c o n s i d e r e d ,  showed t h a t  t h e r e  w e r e  

o t h e r  m e m b e r s  o f  t h e  c l a s s  w i t h  s i m i l a r  

g r i e v a n c e s .  A p p e n d i x  A t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p p .  

1 4 a - 1 5 a .  Under  t h e  f a c t s  o f  t h i s  c a s e ,  a



-  13 -

r e m a n d  was  n o t  n e c e s s a r y . —̂  E v e n  i f  t h e  

d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  had  i n i t i a l l y  made a  c o n ­

t r a r y  f i n d i n g  u s i n g  t h e  c o r r e c t  l e g a l  

p r i n c i p l e s ,  t h e  r e c o r d  w o u l d  n o t  h a v e  

s u p p o r t e d  s u c h  a f i n d i n g .

I I .

IN CONCLUDING THAT THE BANK HAD 
DISCRIMINATED IN PROMOTIONS, THE 
EIGHTH CIRCUIT APPLIED PRINCIPLES 
ESTABLISHED BY THIS COURT AND CON­
SISTENTLY FOLLOWED BY OTHER CIRCUITS

The p e t i t i o n e r  a r g u e s ,  a l t e r n a t i v e l y .

V  The d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  d i d  n o t  a c t u a l l y  
m a k e  a  f i n d i n g  o n  t h e  r e q u i r e m e n t  o f  
t y p i c a l i t y .  Even i f  i t  h a d ,  s u c h  a  f i n d i n g  
c o u l d  n o t  h a v e  s t o o d  b e c a u s e  o f  t h e  e r r o n e ­
o u s  v i e w  o f  t h e  l a w  a p p l i e d .  P u l l m a n - S t a n ­
d a r d  V. S w i n t , s u p r a , 72 L . E d . 2 d  a t  7 9 .
See  a l s o  K e l l y  v .  S o u t h e r n  P a c i f i c  C o . ,  419 
U . S .  3 1 8 ,  323  ( 1 9 7 4 ) ;  U n i t e d  S t a t e s  v .
G e n e r a l  M o t o r s  C o r p . , 384 U . S .  127 ,  141 n . 6  
( 1 9 6 6 ) .  The p e t i t i o n e r  a p p a r e n t l y  b e l i e v e s  
t h a t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  s h o u l d  h a v e  a 
c h a n c e  t o  make a f i n d i n g  i n  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  
f a v o r  u n d e r  t h e  c o r r e c t  l e g a l  s t a n d a r d .  
T h e r e  a r e ,  h o w e v e r ,  no f a c t s  c i t e d  by  t h e  
p e t i t i o n e r  o r  by  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  o r  
c o n t a i n e d  i n  t h e  r e c o r d  w h i c h  s u p p o r t  
a  f i n d i n g  o t h e r  t h a n  t h a t  r e a c h e d  by  t h e  
E i g h t h  C i r c u i t .  Any o t h e r  f i n d i n g  would  
h a v e  t h u s  b e e n  c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s .



-  14 -

t h a t  t h e  d e c i s i o n  by  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  was 

n o t ,  i n  f a c t , — c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s .  C e n t r a l  

t o  t h i s  t h eme  i s  a  c r i t i c i s m  o f  t h e  c o u r t  

o f  a p p e a l s  t r e a t m e n t  o f  c e r t a i n  s t a t i s t i c a l  

e v i d e n c e .  More  s p e c i f i c a l l y ,  t h e  p e t i ­

t i o n e r  q u e s t i o n s  t h e  E i g h t h  C i r c u i t ' s  

c r e d i t i n g  t h e  e v i d e n c e  o f  s i g n i f i c a n t  

d i s p a r i t i e s  w i t h i n  t h e  b a n k ' s  w o r k f o r c e  

—  u p p e r  l e v e l  j o b s  b e i n g  h e l d  a l m o s t  

e x c l u s i v e l y  by w h i t e  p e r s o n s .  Howeve r ,  t h e  

c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  m e r e l y  r e c o g n i z e d ,  

a s  t h i s  C o u r t  h a s  c o n s i s t e n t l y  o b s e r v e d ,  

t h a t  g r o s s  s t a t i s t i c a l  d i s p a r a t i e s  i n  a 

w o r k f o r c e  d u r i n g  t h e  r e l e v a n t  t i m e  p e r i o d  

may a l o n e  c o n s t i t u t e  a p r i m a  f a c i e  c a s e  o f

The p e t i t i o n e r  would  t h r u s t  t h i s  C o u r t  
i n  t h e  p o s i t i o n  o f  r e v i e w i n g  t h e  e n t i r e  
e v i d e n c e  a g a i n  t o  d e t e r m i n e  i f  a c l e a r l y  
e r r o n e o u s  h o l d i n g  w e r e  j u s t i f i e d .  The  
a r g u m e n t s  o f  t h e  a m i c i  a l s o  g e n e r a l l y  
a d d r e s s  t h e  o v e r a l l  m e r i t s  o f  t h e  c l a i m s  o f  
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .



-  15 -

d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .  Haze lwood  S c h o o l  D i s t r i c t  

V. U n i t e d  S t a t e s , 433  U . S .  299  , 3 0 7 - 0 8

( 1 9 7 7 ) ;  I n t e r n a t i o n a l  B r o t h e r h o o d  o f  

T e a m s t e r s  v .  U n i t e d  S t a t e s , 431 U . S .  324 ,  

3 3 5  n . 1 5 ,  3 3 9  n . 2 0 .  T h i s  f u n d a m e n t a l  

c o n c e p t  had  b e e n  u n i f o r m l y  r e c o g n i z e d  by 

c o u r t s  o f  a p p e a l ,  b u t  c o m p l e t e l y  i g n o r e d  by 

t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t .  S e e , e . g . , J o h n s o n  v . 

U n c l e  B e n ’ s ,  I n c . ,  628 F . 2 d  419 ( 5 t h  C i r .  

1 9 8 0 ) ,  c e r t ,  d e n i e d , 74 L . E d . 2 d  U . S .  277

( 1 9 8 2 ) ;  EEOC v .  A m e r i c a n  N a t i o n a l  B a n k , 652 

F . 2 d  1176 ( 4 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 1 ) ,  c e r t , d e n i e d , 74 

L . E d . 2 d  186 ( 1 9 8 2 ) ;  K i r b y  v .  C o l o n y  F u r n i ­

t u r e  C o . , 613  F . 2 d  696  ( 8 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 0 ) .  

The d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  compounded i t s  e r r o r  by 

i g n o r i n g  o t h e r  i n d i c i a  o f  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  

w h i c h  h a v e  t r a d i t i o n a l l y  b e e n  r e l i e d  upon 

b y  c o u r t s .  I n  a d d i t i o n  t o  t h e  g r o s s  

s t a t i s t i c a l  d i s p a r a t i e s ,  t h e  f o l l o w i n g  

e v i d e n c e  w a s  p r e s e n t e d  b y  p l a i n t i f f s



-  16 -

i n  s u p p o r t  o f  t h e  a l l e g a t i o n s  o f  d i s c r i m i ­

n a t i o n  :

a )  A s h o w i n g  t h a t  t h e  b a n k  h a d  a
h i s t o r y  o f  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  a nd  
t h a t  t h e  b a n k  h i r e d  v e r y  f e w  
b l a c k  p e r s o n s  p r i o r  t o  1 9 7 3 .  
S e e  , • r H a z e l w o o d  S c h o o l
D i s t r i c t  V. U n i t e d  S t a t e s  ̂ s u p r a , 
433 U . S .  a t  3 0 9 ,  n . 1 5 ;  P e t t w a y  v . 
Ame r i c a  C a s t  I r o n  P i p e C o . ,  
494  F . 2 d  211 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 4 ) .

b)  A s h o wi n g  t h a t  t h e  b a n k  d i d  n o t  
p o s t  n o t i c e  o f  v a c a n c i e s  a n d  
r e c r u i t m e n t  was by w o r d - o f - m o u t h  
u n t i l  a t  l e a s t  1 9 7 9  w h e n  a n  
i n c o m p l e t e ,  and o f t e n  u n t i m e l y ,  
s y s t e m  w a s  i n s t i t u t e d .  S e e , 
e  . g . , B r o w n  v .  G a s t o n  C o u n t y  
Dy e in g  Mac h i ne  Co . ,  457 F , 2 d  1377 
( 4 t h  C i r . ) ,  c e r t ,  d e n i e d ,  409
U .  S .  982  ( 1 9 7 2 ) ;  U . S .  v .  N . L .
I n d u s t r i e s , I n c . ,  479  F . 2 d  354
( 8 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 3 ) ;  Long  v .  S a p p ,  
502 F . 2 d  34 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 4 ) ;  EEOC
V. D e t r o i t  E d i s o n  C o . ,  515 F . 2 d  
301 ( 6 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 5 ) .

c )  A s h o w i n g  t h a t  p r o m o t i o n a l  
d e c i s i o n s  w e r e  c o n t r o l l e d  
b y  w h i t e s  who u s e d  s u b j e c t i v e  
c r i t e r i a  i n  s e l e c t i n g  i n d i v i d u a l s  
f o r  p r o m o t i o n .  S e e , e . g . , Rowe 
V. G e n e r a l  M o t o r s  C o r p . , 457 F . 2 d  
3 4 8  ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 2 ) ;  Re e d  v . 
A r l i n g t o n  H o t e l  Co . ,  476 F . 2 d  721



-  17 -

( 8 t h  C i r . ) c e r t ,  d e n i e d , 414 U . S .  
854  ( 1 9 7 3 ) ;  S t e w a r t  v .  G e n e r a l
M o t o r s  C o r p .y 542 F . 2 d  445 ( 7 t h  
C i r .  1 9 7 6 ) ,  c e r t ,  d e n i e d ,  433  
U . S .  919 ( 1 9 7 7 ) .

d )  A s h owi n g  t h a t  a c t s  o f  r a c i s m  i n  
t h e  b a n k  w e r e  n o t  d e a l t  w i t h  
f i r m l y  a n d  f a i r l y .  S e e ,  e . g . ,  
R o g e r s  v .  EEOC, 454 F . 2 d  234 ( 5 t h  
C i r .  1 9 7 1 ) ,  c e r  ;t . n_i e d , 
406 U . S .  957 ( 1 9 7 2 ) ;  W i l l i a m s  v . 
O w e n s - I l l i n o i s ,  469 F.  S upp .  70 
( N . D . C a l  . 19 8 1 ) ,  a f  f  _|_d ^  n
r e l e v a n t  p a r t  , 6 6 5  F . 2 d  9 1 8
( 1 9 8 2 ) ,  c e r t , d e n i e d , 74 L . E d . 2 d  
283 ( 1 9 8 2 ) .

A p p e n d i x  A t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p p .  1 7 a - 1 8 a .  The 

p l a i n t i f f s  a l s o  showed t h a t  t h e  a f f i r m a t i v e  

a c t i o n  p r o g r a m  h a d  n o t  b e e n  e f f e c t i v e l y  

c o m m u n i c a t e d  t o  a l l  s u p e r v i s o r s  and t h a t  

a d h e r e n c e  t o  t h e  p o l i c y  was n o t  m a n d a t o r y  

on t o p  m a na ge m e n t .  The c o m b i n a t i o n  o f  a l l  

t h e s e  f a c t o r s  had  a d e v a s t a t i n g  e f f e c t  on 

t h e  p r o m o t i o n a l  o p p o r t u n i t i e s  o f  b l a c k s  a t  

Un i on  N a t i o n a l  Bank .  The c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  

s u m m a r i z e d  t h e  a l m o s t  t o t a l  e x c l u s i o n  o f  

b l a c k s  i n  u p p e r  l e v e l  p o s i t i o n s :



-  18

At  t h e  t i m e  o f  t r i a l ,  a l l  b u t  one  
o f  t h e  t w e n t y - f i v e  v i c e  p r e s i ­
d e n t s  and a s s i s t a n t  v i c e  p r e s i ­
d e n t s  w e r e  w h i t e .  A l l  d i v i s i o n  
h e a d s  w e r e  w h i t e ,  a s  w e r e  f i f t y -  
f o u r  o f  t h e  f i f t y - s i x  p e r s o n s  
h a v i n g  h i r i n g  o r  f i r i n g  a u t h o r i t y  
a t  t h e  b a n k .  S e v e n t y - s e v e n  o f  
e i g h t y  b a n k  o f f i c e r s  w e r e  w h i t e ,  
and  t w e l v e  o f  t h e  t h i r t e e n  b r a n c h  
b a n k s  w e r e  m a n a g e d  b y  w h i t e  
e m p l o y e e s .  No b l a c k  e m p l o y e e  was 
p r o m o t e d  t o  t h e  p o s i t i o n  o f  
t e l l e r  u n t i l  a f t e r  t h i s  a c t i o n  
was commenced and o n l y  o n e  b l a c k  
h a d  b e e n  a p p o i n t e d  a  s e n i o r  
t e l l e r  b y  t h e  t i m e  t h e  t r i a l  
o c c u r r e d .

A p p e n d i x  A t o  P e t i t i o n ,  p p .  1 9 a - 2 0 a .

T h e  p e t i t i o n e r  a t t e m p t s  t o  s u g g e s t  

t h a t  t h e r e  i s  a p o s s i b l e  c o n f l i c t  w i t h  t h i s  

C o u r t ' s  d e c i s i o n  i n  Ha z e l w o o d  S c h o o l  

D i s t r i c t  v .  U n i t e d  S t a t e s , s u p r a , b y  

a l l u d i n g  t o  c e r t a i n  u n s p e c i f i e d  " s p e c i a l  

q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . ” H o w e v e r ,  t h e  r e c o r d  

r e v e a l s  t h a t  t h e r e  w e r e  no  d i s c e r n i b l e  

o b j e c t i v e  q u a l i f i c a t i o n s  f o r  p r o m o t i o n  

w i t h i n  t h e  b a n k .  The one  " q u a l i f i c a t i o n "



-  19 -

m o s t  s e r i o u s l y  s u g g e s t e d - ^  b y  t h e  b a n k  

was e d u c a t i o n a l  a t t a i n m e n t .  The e v i d e n c e  

s h o w e d  t h a t  t h e r e  w a s  n o  s i g n i f i c a n t  

^ i f f s j ^ s n c e — b e t w e e n  t h e  e d u c a t i o n a l  

a t t a i n m e n t  o f  b l a c k s  a nd  t h a t  o f  w h i t e s  

w i t h i n  t h e  b a n k ' s  w o r k f o r c e .

V  The b an k  would  n o t  a c t u a l l y  c l a i m  t h a t  
a n y  p a r t i c u l a r  e d u c a t i o n a l  l e v e l  was  a 
r e q u i r e m e n t  f o r  p r o m o t i o n  o r  f o r  h i r e .  
T h e r e  was no e v i d e n c e  p r e s e n t e d  t o  demon­
s t r a t e  t h a t  any s u c h  a l l e g e d  q u a l i f i c a t i o n  
was  j o b  r e l a t e d  u n d e r  t h e  s t a n d a r d s  s e t  
f o r t h  i n  G r i g g s  v .  Duke Power  C o . ,  401 U . S .  
424 ( 1 9 7 1 ) .

1 0 /  T h e  a v e r a g e  e d u c a t i o n a l  l e v e l  o f  
b l a c k s  was 13.1 y e a r s  w h i l e  t h a t  o f  w h i t e s  
was 1 3 . 5  y e a r s .



-  20  -

I n  sum,  t h i s  c a s e  p r e s e n t s  no c o n f l i c t  

w i t h  Haze lwood  b e c a u s e  t h e r e  a r e  no " s p e ­

c i a l  q u a l i f i c a t i o n s "  i d e n t i f i e d  by  t h e

p e t i t i o n e r  o r  r e v e a l e d  i n  t h e  r e c o r d .

§
CONCLUSION

F o r  t h e  f o r e g o i n g  r e a s o n s ,  t h e  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  s h o u l d  b e  

d e n i e d .

R e s p e c t f u l l y  s u b m i t t e d ,

JOHN W. WALKER
F i r s t  N a t i o n a l  Bank B u i l d i n g  
S u i t e  1191
L i t t l e  Ro ck ,  A r k a n s a s  72201 

P.  A. HOLLINGSWORTH
955 Tower  B u i l d i n g  
L i t t l e  Ro ck ,  A r k a n s a s  72201

JACK GREENBERG 
RONALD L.  ELLIS*

S u i t e  2030 
10 Columbus  C i r c l e  
New Y o r k ,  New York  10019 
( 212)  5 8 6 - 8 3 9 7

A t t o r n e y s  f o r  R e s p o n d e n t s

* C o u n s e l  o f  R e c o r d



MEItEN PRESS INC. —  N, Y. C. 219

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