Opinion ID: 77182
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Hiring Process in Perry County

Text: 5 When a job opening occurs in Perry County, the vacancy is advertised in the local newspaper. Prospective employees submit an application for the advertised job through the state unemployment office. The unemployment office then forwards the application to the clerk of the Perry County Commission who submits the application to the superintendent of the appropriate department. 6 Applications for job openings with the Perry County Highway Department are submitted to Albert Paige, Superintendent of the Perry County Shed Office. Paige reviews and screens the applicants and conducts interviews. After this process, Paige recommends a candidate to the Commission for approval. The Commission then decides by a majority vote whether to accept or reject the recommendation. In the fourteen years that Paige has been superintendent, the Commission has never rejected a recommendation that he has made to the Commission. 7 When he considers an applicant for a truck driver position, Paige ensures that the applicant has the required commercial driver's license and relevant driving experience. Paige testified that skill, experience, lack of substance abuse, seniority, over-the-road experience, good driving record, and common-sense judgment were qualities of a good truck driver. He explained that a good driving record is accident-free, with no citations for speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Paige later testified, in a declaration executed after his deposition and the close of discovery, that one of the most important qualifications for such a position is a good driving record. In fact, a good driving record, including no convictions for driving under the influence or serious moving violations[,] is a qualification for a job as a truck driver with Perry County. 8 As part of its process for hiring truck drivers, Perry County determines from records of the Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles whether prospective employees have any automobile accidents or citations for moving violations. Paige testified that this background check is completed before hiring a driver. There is no evidence that Paige checked Underwood's driving records at the Department of Motor Vehicles when Paige considered her application.