Union National Bank of Little Rock v. Paxton Respondents' Brief in Opposition
Public Court Documents
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 July 08, 2025.
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No. 82-1220
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