Opinion ID: 475264
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Compliance Proceedings

Text: 11 Shortly after the promulgation of the affirmative action plan, compliance began. The defendants quickly moved for approval of the employment of a personnel consultant. While prior back pay and attorney's fee issues were being resolved, the defendants filed the required semiannual reports. The parties contested the proper method for the city to finance its payment of back pay and other amounts as well as the termination of a black police officer. Proposed revisions in the personnel policies of the fire and police departments were opposed by the plaintiffs, but the district court approved policies which included the grievance procedures contemplated by the plan. The district court also approved job descriptions and other rules and regulations proposed by the defendants. 12 In December 1981 the plaintiffs, dissatisfied with the city's progress in complying with the plan, filed a motion to hold the defendants in contempt of the November 1, 1977, judgment and to request additional relief. The plaintiffs requested, inter alia, that the defendants be held in contempt for violating the terms of the plan with respect to the hiring, promotion, and training of class members. The motion also requested a revision in various specified ways of the grievance procedure set out in the plan. 13 After more disputes on collateral issues 3 and extensive discovery and pretrial conferences on the contempt motion, a four-day evidentiary hearing was held in April 1984. The plaintiffs called twenty-nine witnesses, five of which were adverse. Testimony centered largely on individual instances of the defendants' perceived failure to hire, train, promote, and transfer class members in accordance with the plan, and alleged failings in the grievance procedure as implemented. Some class members also testified concerning the alleged failure of the city to post all job vacancy notices as well as instances of racial harassment and other forms of discrimination. After the hearing, each side filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. 14 The district court on June 12, 1985, signed an order denying the plaintiffs' motion for contempt and their request for modification of the plan's grievance procedure. The court also approved the revised personnel policies and regulations previously filed by the defendants and denied the plaintiffs' request for attorney's fees. The court dissolved all prior injunctive orders and ordered the case closed for all purposes. Attached to the order was a lengthy memorandum drawn largely from the defendants' proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The court on June 26 denied the plaintiffs' motions for new trial and to alter and amend the judgment. The plaintiffs appeal the orders of June 12 and 26.