Settlement in NYC School Race Case

CIR’s long-running battle on behalf of school building superintendents in New York City reached a milestone on December 12, 2013, when U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block granted preliminary approval of a class-action settlement providing monetary compensation to a class of superintendents headed by CIR clients.  The seniority rights of these superintendents had been reduced when New York City, to end a lawsuit against it by the federal Justice Department, agreed to give “retroactive seniority” to a group of women and minority superintendents because of their sex and race.

Previously in the case, CIR set important precedent when the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that before giving benefits because of sex or race, employers had to have a strong basis in evidence that each beneficiary likely had been a victim of discrimination.  Rather than produce such evidence here, both the City and the Justice Department settled with CIR’s class.

• Read Judge Block’s order
• Read the Settlement Agreement
• Read the Notice to the Class

Photo: “United States Courthouse – Eastern District of New York 2” by ajay_suresh licensed under CC BY 2.0.