Opinion ID: 2959641
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Akron’s 2004 Promotional Process

Text: The Plaintiffs are all members of the Akron Fire Department who took the 2004 promotion exam for either the rank of Lieutenant or Captain. Their claims arise out of the results of the Akron Fire Department’s 2004 promotional process. Akron hired E.B. Jacobs LLC to develop, administer, and score the December 2004 Lieutenant and Captain promotional exams for the Akron Fire Department. R. 277 at 7 (Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (“FFCL”) ¶¶ 70–71) (Page ID #7742). Each examination included a 100-question multiple-choice component about technical job requirements. Id. (FFCL ¶ 72). In addition to the written component, candidates for the Lieutenant position had to complete “a written work sample exercise” and undergo two oral assessments, including “a subordinate conference and incident command.” Id. (FFCL ¶ 73). The Captain promotional examination had three oral exercises: “a subordinate conference, group exercise[,] and [an] incident command.” Id. at 8 (FFCL ¶ 74) (Page ID #7743). After the examiners scored the exams, they converted the scores to a scale for which 100 was the highest score, and then created lists of eligible candidates for promotion. To be eligible for a promotion, the candidate had to achieve a final average test score of at least 70%. R. 80 at 10 (Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J.) (Page ID #513). The test administrators combined the written and oral test scores and standardized those scores by converting them to a ninety-point scale. R. 196 at 84 (Trial Tr. Vol. 3) (Page ID #4882); R. 211 at 141 (Trial Tr. Vol. 8) (Page ID #5916). Next, the Fire Department awarded up to ten additional points based on seniority to the candidates’ Nos. 13-4172/13-4268/14-3352 Howe, et al. v. City of Akron Page 4 final test scores, and then the candidates were ranked in order of the combination of their test score plus seniority. R. 196 at 83 (Trial Tr. Vol. 3) (Page ID #4881); R. 211 at 141 (Trial Tr. Vol. 8) (Page ID #5916). Candidates with the highest scores were at the top of the list; candidates with the lowest scores were at the bottom. See R. 212 at 127 (Trial Tr. Vol. 9) (Page ID #6164). This final list was called the “eligibility list.” R. 99 at 11 (Pls.’ Resp. in Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J.) (Page ID #2517). When there was a vacant Lieutenant or Captain position, the Personnel Director for the Fire Department submitted a certified list of candidates to the Mayor, which included the names of those candidates with the three highest scores on the eligibility list—the so-called “Rule of Three.” R. 213 at 178 (Tr. Trial Vol. 7) (Page ID #6502). Next, the Personnel Director interviewed the three candidates before submitting a recommendation about whom among the three candidates the Mayor should promote to the vacant position. Id.; R. 212 at 128 (Tr. Trial Vol. 9) (Page ID #6165). To fill the next available vacancy, the Personnel Director selected the top three names on the eligibility list, and the interview process began anew. R. 213 at 182–84 (Trial Tr. Vol. 7) (Page ID #6506–08). If a candidate was interviewed and passed over three times, then his or her name would be removed from the list. R. 99 at 11 (Pls.’ Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J.) (Page ID #2517). Under this system, it is possible that a candidate with the top score might never receive a promotion. Id. On April 5, 2005, the Akron Civil Service Commission completed the eligibility list, which remained active for two years. R. 277 at 8 (FFCL ¶¶ 75–76) (Page ID #7743). During that two-year period, twenty-eight candidates were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and twelve to the rank of Captain. Id. (FFCL ¶¶ 78–79). Of the twenty-eight candidates who became Lieutenants only three were African Americans. Id. (FFCL ¶ 78). Of those twelve who became Captains seven were Caucasians. Id. (FFCL ¶ 79–80). The following Table represents the pass and promotion rates for each rank and protected group at issue: Nos. 13-4172/13-4268/14-3352 Howe, et al. v. City of Akron Page 5 Rank Class Pass Rate Promotion Rate Over-40 76% (29/38) 24% (7/29) Under-40 87% (55/63) 38% (21/55) Lieutenant Caucasian 85% (69/81) 36% (25/69) African-American 75% (15/20) 20% (3/15) Caucasian 81% (26/32) 27% (7/26) Captain African-American 78% (7/9) 71% (5/7) Howe I, 723 F.3d at 656.