Opinion ID: 1202775
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Denial of a Promotion

Text: On May 13, 2002, DHS posted a job opening for a Motor Vehicle Supervisor (MVS) position at the Hinsdale Depot. The vacancy notice specified these qualifications: Preferred Skills: 1. One year of permanent service in the title of Motor Vehicle Operator. 2. One year of full-time experience in Motor Vehicle Dispatching, and 3. A valid NYS Class B Motor Vehicle Driver License .... MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1. One year of permanent service in the title of Motor Vehicle Operator; or 2. One year of full-time experience vehicle dispatching. License Requirement A Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York. For appointment to certain positions, possession of a Class B Commercial Driver License [(CDL)] valid in the State of New York may be required. There may be certain age requirements to obtain this license. Employees must maintain the Class B Commercial Driver License during their employment. City of New York, Department of Homeless Services, Job Vacancy Notice, May 13, 2002 (MVS Posting), at 1. Aulicino submitted his application for the position on May 22, 2002, and he was interviewed by John on June 13, 2002. Aulicino, according to his deposition testimony, found the interview very unbelievable because it seemed like [John] was trying to discourage [him] and disqualify [him] all at the same time from taking the job by telling Aulicino that the position was for a later shift and that [John] knew [Aulicino] didn't want to change shifts. When Aulicino tried to tell [John] about [his dispatching] experience [John] stopped [him] and said that he knew all about it and that was the end of the conversation. Aulicino Dep. 108-09. John also asked [Aulicino] if [he] had a CDL license [sic]. Aulicino did not, but he said to John that the CDL was not an official requirement, in light of the fact that motor vehicle supervisors basically... don't drive. Aulicino also volunteered that if it was necessary [he] would upgrade [his] license. Id. at 109-10. John declined to promote Aulicino. Aulicino testified that one of his supervisors, Sterling Ferguson, later told Aulicino that he had heard John make derogatory comments about [Aulicino] in connection with his application, saying that he wouldn't hire [Aulicino], referring to Aulicino as a white fuck. Id. at 96-97; see also id. at 100 ([Ferguson] told me about stuff that [John] said to ... him when he spoke to [John] in regard to [whether] I was qualified for the position I was applying for and [John] responded by saying something to the [effect of] I wouldn't hire that white fuck.). John testified in his deposition that he rejected Aulicino for the MVS position because Mr. Aulicino didn't have the appropriate driver's license  he had a class E license, and, John thought, the job vacancy posting required a valid New York State Class B license. John Dep. 109. John also testified that looking at Mr. Aulicino's record, it wasn't that good, it wasn't good. Id. at 145. And indeed it appears that although Aulicino's performance was consistently rated good, he was written up several times for misconduct on the job. Joseph Johnson, an African-American, was awarded the MVS position. At the time, Johnson had a commercial learner's permit but no Class B license, some fill-in dispatching experience, Johnson Dep. 64, and more than one year of experience as an MVO.