Grant v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville (727 F. Supp. 2d 677, 2010)

MEMORANDUM

WILLIAM J. HAYNES, JR., District Judge.

Plaintiffs, Claude Grant, Oralene Day, Princess Martindale, Faletha Reid, Darryl McKibbens, Darrel Gant, Antonia McKissack, Pamela Tucker, and Sandra Derrick, individually and on behalf of all other similarly situated, filed this class action under Title VII of the CM Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., and 42 U.S.C. § 1981 against the Defendant Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee (“Metro”). Plaintiffs are current and former employees of Metro Water Services (“MWS”), a Metro governmental department and seek to represent a putative class of all current, past, and future MWS black employees from January 1, 2000 to the present.

The gravamen of Plaintiffs’ complaint is that MWS engages in systemic practices of discrimination against black employees in post-employment opportunities, including disparate job assignments, promotions, pay, accommodations, discipline, and other terms and conditions of their employment. Plaintiffs asserted theories of disparate treatment and disparate impact for their individual and class claims. With the exception of Martindale, who worked at MWS for four and one-half years, the named Plaintiffs had between fourteen (14) and thirty (30) years of service with MWS. Id. Each Plaintiff filed timely charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) and the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (“THRC”) and received a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC.

In earlier proceedings, the Court concluded that Plaintiffs met the prerequisites of class certification under Rule 23(a) and Rule 23(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of CM Procedure because Plaintiffs seek primarily declaratory and injunctive relief related to programmatic and institutional changes in Metro Water’s employment practices. The Court also denied Metro’s motion for summary judgment (Docket Entry No. 89) concluding that material factual disputes existed.

The action proceeded to trial on April 15-18, and April 21-25, 2008. Plaintiffs’ individual and class claims based on disparate treatment and hostile work environment were decided by the jury. After proof and closing arguments, the jury found for the Defendant on Plaintiffs’ disparate treatment and hostile work environment claims of the individual Plaintiffs’ and the class. The Court reserved ruling on the Plaintiffs’ individual and class claims based on their disparate impact theory. (Docket Entry No. 191). The Court later granted the Plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial on their disparate treatment claims and set a new trial date. (Docket Entry No. 223). Metro then filed a notice of appeal of the Court’s Order granting Plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial. (Docket Entry No. 225). Plaintiffs then moved to stay the Court’s decision on their disparate impact claims pending completion of Metro’s appeal (Docket Entry No. 228) and the Court granted that motion. (Docket Entry No. 232). Metro then filed a petition for writ of mandamus for a ruling on Plaintiffs’ disparate impact claims in the Sixth Circuit. (Docket Entry No. 233). Metro’s notice of appeal divested this Court of jurisdiction to decide any claims except for ancillary matters. Pickens v. Howes, 549 F.3d 377, 383 (6th Cir.2008). Thus, with Metro’s notice of appeal, the Court lacked the authority to decide Plaintiffs’ disparate impact claims that are not ancillary matters.

On July 8, 2009, in light of the pending Sixth Circuit proceedings, the Court administratively closed this action to be reopened upon a motion of any party. (Docket Entry No. 235). On June 4, 2010, 606 F.3d 855 (2010), the Sixth Circuit remanded this action affirming the Court’s decision to grant a new trial on Plaintiffs’ disparate treatment claims and requiring a decision on Plaintiffs’ disparate impact claims within ninety (90) days of its decision. (Docket Entry No. 236).

A. FINDINGS OF FACT

1. MWS’s General Structure

MWS, a Metro department, employed 688 employees, with minor variations, during this litigation. Historically, blacks have not held upper level management positions at MWS. Scott Potter, MWS’s current director who is white, replaced Lester “Buddy” Williams, who is also white. Under its organizational structure, MWS has eight divisions: Administrative, Customer Service, Operations, Engineering, Human Resources, Information Services, System Services and Stormwater. Of MWS’s Assistant Directors for each division, David Tucker is the only black assistant director and he was promoted in 1999. Prior to his promotion, MWS never had a black employee serve as an assistant director.

Below the assistant directors are MWS’s other managers, supervisors, and other upper-level personnel who are: (1) Sonia Harvat, public information officer and Special Assistant to Director; (2) Glenn Mizell, finance manager; (3) Ann Dooley, Human Resource Manager; (4) James Brent, information systems division manager; (5) James Tarpy, special projects manager; (6) John Kennedy, deputy director of government council relations (all the above managers are white), and (7) Robin Brown, MWS’s human relations manager who transferred in 2005 and was replaced by Ann Dooley, who is white.

MWS has a “Leadership Team” that has ten (10) employees of whom only one, Tucker, is black. Metro Water’s “Leadership Team” sets MWS’s rules, policies and budget and decides internal matters. See Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 204. Plaintiff Grant who has been a MWS employee since 1973, was at one time a member of the Leadership Team and the first black employee to be so named under a prior MWS director. Among the Leadership Team members, Grant held the lowest classification and the lowest salary. According to Grant, he was removed from the Leadership Team after he disagreed with MWS’s former director on promotion issues. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 74). MWS transferred Grant to a private agency working with MWS.

The next MWS management level is the “Process Owners Group” comprised of 35 to 40 employees responsible for various decisions in MWS. When this action was filed, two African-Americans were among its members. As of 2007, 6 or 7 members of the 35 to 40 “Process Owners Group” are black. (Docket Entry No. 208 at 206-07).

Of MWS’s 688 employees, 178 employees are black, comprising twenty-six percent (26%) of the MWS workforce. Although minor variations exist from year to year, MWS has maintained a black workforce of at least 26%. Anthony Waggoner, a black employee at MWS since June 1988, has been supervised for most of his MWS career by an African-American. (Docket Entry No. 210 at 96). In 1996 Waggoner became a maintenance and repair leader 2. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 51). Yet, Waggoner cited his crew’s inability to secure proper equipment for their assigned field duties. (Docket Entry No. 210 at 97-98). During his career, the majority of Waggoner’s crew were black and his crew was referred to as the “Black Empire.” Id. at 98. By contrast, predominantly white crews were not given the name “White Empire.” Id. at 213-214.

MWS employees are subject to the Metro’s general pay plan applicable to most Metro employees. Under this plan, there are several “Pay Types”: (1) “DP”, for Department Directors; (2) “SR”, for “Standard Range” employees whose primary duties involves “knowledge or experience of an administrative, clerical, scientific, artistic, or technical nature not related to trade, craft, or manual labor work;” and (3) “TLS”, for “Trade and Labor” employees, who are in turn subdivided into three subcategories: (a) “TG”, for positions with worker responsibility; (b) “TL”, for positions with lead responsibility; and (c) “TS”, for positions with supervisory responsibility. Within each grade, there are numerical ranges, representing incremental pay increases. All MWS employees are classified by pay type and pay grade and fall within one of the ranges. Although MWS utilizes the Metro pay scales for salary type and pay grade, the actual decision-making process in classifying an employee within a particular pay grade at MWS is subjective in nature, and is conducted without any formalized criteria.

For promotions, all Metro departments are bound by the promotion policies and procedures of the Metro Civil Service Commission (“MCSC”). Yet, a promotion to a “targeted position” is not included in MCSC’s competitive promotion process. (Docket Entry No. 208 at 93). MCSC’s promotion process begins with a job description that sets forth the minimum requirements that are based upon the responsibilities of the position. Most positions with MWS have pre-established job descriptions set by MCSC, but the testimony at trial was that MCSC adopts MWS’s submissions on job descriptions. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 38, 105-106, 114). MWS can also request exceptions from job requirements for any position. (Docket Entry No. 208 at 190, 193). The job description and job announcement are posted publicly for all interested applicants to apply. MCSC prepares a list of the top three (3) to five (5) eligible applicants for the position, but MWS is not required to select the highest ranked applicant. Qualified applicants are notified and an interview panel comprised usually of three members with a MCSC staff member serving as a proctor. MWS recommends panel members to MCSC. MWS decides which applicant(s) to interview.

2. MWS’s Discriminatory Practices

Plaintiffs identify several elements of MWS’s facially neutral promotion and compensation practices that fall more harshly on MWS’s black employees than MWS’s white employees. These elements include MWS’s altered job requirements, lateral transfers, and out-of-class practices, selection interviews for promotions, and compensation practices that cause significant statistical imbalances among black and white employees at MWS as to promotions and compensation,

a. MWS’s Altered Job Qualifications Practice

The proof establishes that at MWS, the minimum qualifications in job descriptions and announcements are frequently tailored or altered from the original job descriptions to fit the person whom MWS’s management desires to fill the specific position. An example of MWS’s “tailoring” of job qualifications in a job announcement is the filling of the System Services Manager— Stormwater — NPDES Permit position, which Plaintiffs contend was crafted to fit one employee, Michael Hunt, who is white.

Linda Green is a black female who obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Tennessee in 1976 and received her Masters of Art in Human Relations, Organizational Development from Trevecca Nazarene University in 1999. Green also obtained her Grade IV Water and Grade IV Waste Water licenses from the State of Tennessee. Prior to her MWS employment, Green was employed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers from 1976 through May 1988. (Docket Entry No. 200 at 90). While employed by the Corps of Engineers, Green was a biologist who collected water samples and performed analyses. For a time, Green was transferred to the Corps’ district office in Florida, serving as manager of the Corps of Engineers’ permit program.

Green began her work at MWS in 1994 (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 15c; Docket Entry No. 200 at 98) as an assistant plant manager, but Green did not receive a promotion for over nine (9) years. In September 2003 Green she was promoted to treatment plant manager supervising approximately 60 MWS employees. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 168g). In 2005, Green applied for the position of Systems Services Manager— Stormwater — NPDES permits. Id. MWS deemed Green unqualified for this position because she lacked the four years’ experience in NPDES “stormwater” permits that was included in the job announcement as a job requirement. Green was not interviewed for this position. (Docket Entry No. 206 at 102).

According to MWS, the only qualified applicant was Michael Hunt, a white employee. Id. at 103. Yet, Green performed the exact work required for this position during her work at the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Green actually wrote NPDES permits and managed a regional office of the Corps of Engineers, supervising 27 employees who also wrote NPDES permits. Id. at 93-96. As to the purported lack of four years experience in “stormwater” NPDES permits, Green explained that the NPDES permit program is a single program that is not designed nor limited to stormwater.

In other instances, the degree requirements were altered and the effect was a hiring of a white employee. In August 2002, Plaintiff Reid applied for an administrative services officer 3 position, a job for which she was qualified. The job description originally required a bachelor’s degree for the position. When the job announcement for this position was posted, the bachelor degree requirement was removed. The position was awarded to Stephanie Belcher, who is white. Reid has a bachelor’s degree. Belcher did not have a bachelor’s degree. Under the original job description, Belcher was ineligible for this position. (Docket Entry No. 202 at 106— 107, 110: Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 102; Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 23a). Reid also applied for the administrative service officer 4 position in Human Resources. The job description for administrative service officer 4 position originally required a bachelor’s degree, but that requirement was eliminated. Ann Dooley, the white employee who received the interim appointment to this position in September 2005, does not have a bachelor’s degree. Id. at 122-126, Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 117. Dooley replaced Robin Brown, who is black. Robin Brown holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration. Dooley did not testify at trial.

Plaintiff Grant identified two promotion possibilities where MWS added an engineering degree as a requirement when these positions were posted, disqualifying Grant as a potential applicant. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 88). The recipients of the positions, Allen Hand and Danny Smith, are both white employees. Id. at 88-89. According to Grant, an engineering degree was not an essential job requirement of the positions that were awarded to Hand and Smith. Id. at 115. In fact, the individuals who received these positions are supervised by a MWS employee who does not have an engineering degree. Id. at 88, 93, 116.

Plaintiff McKibbens was hired as a maintenance and repair worker 1. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 95). In this position, McKibbens checked overflows of manholes, responded to consumer complaints, performed smoke testing, and cleaned sewers and sewer lines. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 123-124). In 1988, McKibbens’s job was retitled utility system helper 1, but his duties remained the same. Id. McKibbens left MWS from April 1998 until November 2002 and upon his return, McKibbens was assigned the position of utility system helper 1. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 95). McKibbens received only one promotion during his eighteen (18) year career at MWS, when in August 1996 he was promoted to the position of maintenance and repair leader 1. Id. In this latter position, McKibbens’s duties remained the same except that he was provided a helper. Thus, McKibbens would “lead” a single laborer whose title was maintenance and repair helper 1. As a maintenance and repair leader 1, McKibbens operated equipment, such as a boom truck or vacu-truck, and the helper assisted. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 124-125). McKibbens always received excellent evaluations and was never criticized for his work performance. Id. at 125.

On numerous occasions, McKibbens attempted to secure a promotion to the position of maintenance and repair leader 2. The duties and responsibilities of a maintenance and repair leader 2 are not different from those of maintenance and repair leader 1, except that a maintenance and repair leader 2 may be assigned a second laborer. Id. On one occasion when McKibbens applied for the maintenance and repair leader 2 positions, a MWS official informed him that he was not qualified because McKibbens lacked a high school diploma. Yet, McKibbens had previously been found qualified for the very same position in May 2001, despite his lack of a high school diploma and had received a letter from the MCSC confirming that he was qualified. Id. at 141-143. McKibbens completed the 11th grade, but did not have a high school diploma. Id. at 121. McKibbens testified that a high school diploma was not an essential job requirement for the maintenance and repair leader 2 position. McKibbens successfully worked this position on an “out-of-class” basis for years, id. at 140-141, and without any complaints about his abilities to read or write. (Docket Entry No. 208 at 210). While working as a maintenance and repair Leader 2 on an “out-of-class” basis, McKibben actually supervised Danny Jones, Mike Farley, Phillip Raines, Scott Crimmons and Hubert Winfrey, who all were subsequently promoted to maintenance and repair leader 2 positions. Id. at 169.

Prior white MWS employees in this maintenance and repair leader 2 position lacked a high school diploma or a GED and performed without complaint. Larry West who is white, held the maintenance and repair leader 2 position without a high school diploma. (Docket Entry No. 208 at 189). According to Robin Brown, MWS former human relations manager, West held that job because MWS “had no one else to do that job.” Id. at 190-91. MWS also applied to the MCSC for an “exception to the high school diploma or GED position.” Brownie Maynard, a white MWS employee with a eighth grade education also held this position, but he was grandfathered in when this job description was changed to require a high school diploma. Id. at 89.

Although MWS refused to promote McKibbens to maintenance and repair leader 2 because he did not have a high school diploma, other white employees without high school diplomas were promoted. For example, several white employees without this qualification were promoted after working 100 days on an out-of-class basis in the higher position: Ricky Taylor, Robert Stokely, and Larry West. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 30,146).

In 1997, the educational requirements for this position were changed from an eighth grade requirement to a high school diploma or equivalency requirement. (Docket Entry No. 208 at 89). After being informed of the high school diploma or GED requirement, McKibbens took the Metro Equivalency Test and although he did not receive his actual tests results, he was told by email that he failed. Id. at 147. McKibbens later received a test record of his failing that was “pasted” with white strips. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 146-150). McKibbens then took the Metro equivalency test again and passed in January 2003. Id. and Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 123. Despite passing the Metro Equivalency examination, McKibbens has yet to receive a promotion to the maintenance and repair leader 2 positions. Since returning in 2005, McKibbens has applied for a maintenance and repair leader 2 position. MWS awarded these positions to white employees. Id. at 169.

Anthony Waggoner, McKibbens’ supervisor, corroborated McKibbens’ excellent performance as maintenance and repair leader 2 on an “out-of-class” status. Wag-goner also confirmed that McKibbens had the qualifications for the maintenance and repair leader 2 position and that a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma or Metro equivalency was not essential to the position, so long as an individual could read and write. When McKibbens worked out of class as a maintenance and repair leader 2, McKibbens was required to complete all of the paperwork which Waggoner reviewed. According to Wag-goner, McKibbens did not have any problem with the paperwork nor did McKibbens ever show an inability to read and write. (Docket Entry No. 210 at 102-103; Docket Entry No. 199 at 269). Other witnesses, including Claude Grant and Darrel Gant, corroborated these witnesses’ testimony that a high school diploma was not an essential job requirement for a job. To be sure, Vernon Frye, a former MWS manager testified that the high school diploma requirement was because the position required the person to read and write. Given the numerous white employees who held the position without a high school diploma and McKibbens’s actual work in this position for years, the Court finds that a high school diploma was not an essential job requirement for maintenance and repair leader 2 position.

Plaintiff McKissack, who began his employment with Metro Water in 1990, currently maintains vehicles as a maintenance and repair worker. McKissack also sought a promotion to the maintenance and repair leader 2 position and was one of two applicants. After the white employee decided not to pursue this position, MWS decided there was not any need for this open position.

Plaintiff Derrick, who received her bachelor’s degree in English from Tennessee State University in 1985, was hired by MWS on January 16, 1989 as a customer service representative in the customer service division. During her interview, Derrick was told that her degree would benefit her future job progression at MWS. (Docket Entry No 200 at 172-174). Despite repeatedly applying for higher positions, Derrick received her first promotion in 2007, over eighteen (18) years after her initial hiring and after the filing of this action. Id. at 180-181. Derrick described instances in which job requirements were altered or changed to favor white employees. When Wes Gallet, an African-American, applied for the administrative officer 4 position, a bachelor’s degree was required. The job requirement for an administrative officer 4 position was later changed, eliminating the bachelor’s degree requirement. Ann Dooley, a white employee, received the position, an interim appointment to MWS human relations manager. As noted earlier, Robin Brown, the former MWS human relations manager, has bachelor and masters degrees. Dooley, who does not have a college degree, replaced Brown and has served as the interim human relations manager since September 2005. Id. at 185-187. In addition, the college degree requirements were modified for several customer service assistant manager positions allowing Gary Ragland and Judy Ward, white employees, to qualify and to be selected. Id. at 224-226.

b. MWS’s Lateral Transfer Practice

“Lateral transfers” are transfers of employees between MWS or any other Metro agency employees into MWS positions. Plaintiffs contend lateral transfers are another MWS promotion practice that adversely impacts Plaintiffs and other black employees at MWS. Under this practice, MWS employees who are white were effectively awarded promotions that were not posted nor filled through MCSC’s competitive process. (Docket Entry No. 208 at 211). This interagency practice requires the approval of their respective agency heads and requires only that the transferred employee receive the same pay grade and job duties comparable to the transferring employee’s prior job. Id. at 211.

As an example of this practice, Plaintiff Grant explained that in April 2002, the Stormwater Division was moved to MWS from Metro’s Department of Public Works (“DPW”). (Docket Entry No. 199 at 77-78). Tom Palko, a white employee who was previously an engineer 3 with Storm-water at DPW, was promoted in April 2002 to the position of Assistant Director of MWS’s Stormwater division. Grant, who has been at MWS since 1973 and held management experience considered himself more qualified for this position, but he was not allowed to apply or compete for it. In addition, although Grant’s position was phased out, he was not considered for a lateral transfer. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 90-91; Docket Entry No. 207 at 13-17).

Grant’s qualifications for these open positions were confirmed by Vernon Frye, who worked at MWS since 1972 and currently holds the title of Special Project Manager. Frye was promoted several times during his tenure at Metro Water, and ultimately became the assistant director of system services under Lester “Buddy” Williams, the former MWS director. (Docket Entry No. 200 at 47-49). Frye has known Grant since approximately 1980, when Grant worked for Frye, then assistant director of system services. Id. at 51-52. Under Frye’s supervision, Grant supervised between 15-20 employees and performed his job very well. Id. at 55. According to Frye, Grant is an excellent employee, a hard worker and probably had as much or more experience than anyone in MWS’s sewer system. Based on his years of experience and knowledge, Frye opined that Grant was qualified to hold an assistant director position in the Stormwater Division that was given to Palko. Id. at 60-61, 68. Although Frye testified that Grant could sometimes be somewhat “over-bearing”, Frye agreed that other higher white managerial officials have similar over-bearing personalities, and this characteristic was not unique to Grant among MWS’s management. Id. at 84-85.

On May 20, 2002, Denny Bone, a white employee, transferred laterally from his administrative services manager position in Metro’s human resources department to the administrative services manager in its Stormwater division. Plaintiff Grant who had been with MWS since at least 1973 and was also an administrative manager at MWS with more experience, would have applied for this position, if the position had been posted.

There are other instances of lateral transfers to higher management positions filled with MWS employees who are white. John Kennedy, who is white, was transferred to the newly created position of deputy director by Potter, MWS’s Director. Potter did not post the position nor were applicants solicited. As MWS’s deputy director, Kennedy earns a salary equivalent to MWS’s assistant directors. In another instance, Kim Minton, a white employee was laterally moved from MWS’s human resources to work for Sonia Harvat in MWS’s public relations. (Docket Entry-No. 200 at 226-227). Plaintiff Reid who had several years of experience in MWS’s public relations, trained Harvat, a biologist, for her public relations position, but Reid was not allowed to compete for this position under the normal job posting process. Christina Binkley, a white employee, was also transferred into a position in MWS’s Stormwater Division, but Reid was not allowed to compete for that position. (Docket Entry No. 200 at 139-140). Other white employees who were transferred into MWS positions outside of the competitive process include Lisa Fuqua, Dee Dee Vogt and Jim Pollus. Id. at 139-140. Robin Brown explained that Vogt and Pollus were facing a layoff (Docket Entry No. 208 at 25, 27-28). Harry Gilmore, another lateral transfer, was transferred to MWS to complete the last year or so for his eligibility for Metro retirement. Id. at 28.

c. MWS’s Selective Interview Practice

The interview process for promotions at MWS is also cited as a MWS practice that contributes to the disparate impact on MWS black ' employees who seek promotions. Although open positions are posted, interested applicants can apply and MCSC provides a list of qualified applicants. Plaintiffs’ proof establishes that the applicable MWS department manager decides which applicants on this list are to be interviewed by MWS’s management-selection panel. Department managers possess the discretion whether to interview an applicant and whether to interview by telephone or in person.

On “most occasions,” the “usual practice” is that the supervisor of the promotion position at issue serves on the interview panel. (Docket Entry No. 208 at 212). This panel varies in number and composition for each available position during the interview process. The MWS panel members openly discuss the scoring of each applicant and adjust individual scoring, if variations exist. There was testimony that in MWS interviews, questions are often asked that only the preselected candidate can answer and are unrelated to job-necessity. (Docket Entry No. 202 at 95-96).

As examples of this practice, Green was not interviewed for the position of Systems Services Manager — Stormwater—NPDES permits. (Docket Entry No. 200, Plaintiffs’ Exhibit at 102). In one of Plaintiff McKibbens’s applications for the maintenance and repair leader 2 position, after the interviews, McKibbens ranked Number One on the Eligibility Register, Glenn Word, a white employee ranked Number Two, and Michael French, a white employee ranked Number Three. Instead of selecting McKissack, MWS administered a second test and conducted a second interview. Michael French was not required to take a second test or a second interview. After the second interview, Michael French was ranked Number One, McKibbens Number Two and Word Number Three. French was awarded the position. Id. at 118-121. French did not testify at trial.

In 2001, Plaintiff Tucker applied for a supervisor position in customer service. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 185). Although Tucker was qualified, she was not interviewed. MWS awarded the position to Judy Ward, a white employee with less seniority than Tucker and similar experience. Id. at 189-190.

d. MWS’s “Out-of-Class” Assignments

MWS’s “OuNof-Class” practice occurs where an open position exists either due to an employee being away from work or based upon MWS’s needs. If the supervisor believes that an employee has the ability and the knowledge to perform that position, the selected MWS employee works in that position on a temporary basis without a promotion. MWS’s supervisor assignment of the employee in these circumstances is referred to as “out-of-class” work. While working “out-of-class,” the employee should receive any increased pay for that position. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 126-27). According to Plaintiffs and actual MWS practice, if an employee works “out-of-class” for more than 100 days, that employee is promoted into the higher position.

During his tenure at MWS, McKibbens observed white employees who worked out-of-class for more than 100 days and “automatically” received promotions to the elevated position. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 128-130). The white employees include Robert Stokely, Ricky Taylor, Larry West, Billy Ranes, Clyde Smith, and Willie Hoggett. Id. In late 1999, Waggoner, his supervisor, placed McKibbens in the maintenance and repair leader 2 position on an “out-of-class” status not because of an absent employee, but based upon MWS’s need given the increased demand for MWS services and the need for more equipment on the road to perform maintenance and repairs. Id. at 131. From the end of 1999 until 2003 when he suffered a broken ankle, McKibbens regularly worked “out-of-class”, but was not promoted to the maintenance and repair leader 2 position. Id. at 131-132; Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 24). After suffering a broken ankle, McKibbens was on a leave of absence from July 2003 until 2005. Upon his return, McKibbens continued to work the position “out-of-class” periodically. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 134, 137-138). Despite these years of out of class work as a maintenance and repair leader 2, McKibbens was deemed unqualified and denied promotions to this position.

Similarly, when the maintenance and repair leader 2 position was posted in 2002, Plaintiff McKissack applied because he had worked in the position “out-of-class,” but the position was given to Tim Agee, a white employee. (Docket Entry No. 200 at 121-123, 128; Docket Entry No. 199 at 197-198). McKissack also worked as a maintenance and repair worker 2 in September, 2003, due to an injury to Michael Clouse, a maintenance and repair leader 2 who is white. McKissack worked 136 days “out-of-class” that year in the maintenance and repair leader 2 positions without a promotion. When McKissack applied for the promotion to this position and after the interviews, MWS awarded this position to Chip Farrell, a white employee whom McKissack considered to be pre-selected for the position. (Docket Entry No. 200 at 116-118, Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 2).

As to higher pay for “out-of-class” assignments, Anthony Waggoner, a black employee, worked as utility maintenance supervisor on an “out-of-class” basis. (Docket Entry No. 210 at 96). Yet, Wag-goner did not receive the higher pay for this position until Plaintiff Grant, his supervisor at the time insisted on Waggoner being paid at the higher pay level of that position. Id. Plaintiff Tucker, who has worked in MWS collections since 1997 applied in March 2002, for the position of application technician, a collection position in MWS’s billing and collections department. Tucker worked in this position on an “out-of-class” basis for four years without receiving a promotion or “out-of-class” pay. Tucker was deemed qualified for the position and was interviewed, but MWS awarded the position to Cindy McCullough, a white employee who was unable to satisfactorily perform the job and was removed from the position due to poor performance. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 182-184, 186). After McCullough’s removal, Tucker filed a grievance and described her work on “out-of-class” status in the position that was awarded to McCullough. After filing her grievance, Tucker received “out of class” pay for a six-month period based upon her “out-of-class” work. Id. at 188-189, Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 43 and Defendant’s Exhibit 100.

In 1994, Plaintiff Derrick assumed the duties of the public information officer who left MWS. (Docket Entry No. 200 at 176-178; Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 99). Although Derrick assumed the public information officer’s duties, Derrick was paid substantially less, approximately $28,000.00 per year. (Docket Entry No. 200 at 174-75, 178). As a result of an audit, Derrick’s title was changed to public information representative I in 1995. Id. at 174-175. Derrick continued to perform public relations work up until 2001 when MWS posted a public information service officer position. At that time, Derrick was making approximately $29,500.00 and the posted position had a salary increase of approximately $20,500.00. Yet, Derrick did not apply because she was told by employees at MWS that the Director Potter wanted a public relations person from outside with more experience and possibly from a public relations firm. Id. at 199-201. MWS offered the position to an outside person who had worked in public relations, but the person never accepted the position. Id. at 201-202.

Shortly thereafter, a position was posted for a special assistant to the MWS director, at a higher pay scale. Id. at 202. Derrick did not apply again, however, because she was told that the position was not for her. Id. at 203-204. MWS awarded the position to Sonia Harvat, a white employee, who worked at Metro’s Department of Public Works, not MWS. Based on Derrick’s personal knowledge, Harvat, a biologist, lacked any experience in public relations or with MWS. Id. This position included public relations duties and Derrick was required to train Harvat in those public relation duties. Id. at 208-209. Harvat did not testify at trial.

e. Plaintiffs’ Promotion Experiences

Plaintiffs also described their personal experiences with promotion decisions at MWS. As to Plaintiff Grant, in September 1973, Grant was a utility plant helper. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 92; Docket Entry No. 199 at 45). In 1976, Grant was promoted to maintenance and construction leader supervising a crew of laborers in the field with routine maintenance around the treatment plant. In 1981, Grant was promoted to senior maintenance and construction leader. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 92). In 1983, Grant was promoted to supervising maintenance and construction leader. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 61). In 1986, Grant was promoted to assistant mechanical supervisor. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 92).

In the 1980s, Grant also applied for the position of assistant superintendent for construction and repair on numerous occasions. Although Grant applied and was deemed qualified with a Number 1 ranking on MCSC’s eligibility register, but after several interviews Grant did not receive the position. After complaining to the mayor, Grant finally received the promotion in 1990. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 61-63; Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 92). In 1993, Grant’s position of assistant superintendent of construction and repair was reclassified as assistant manager of System Services. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 92). In 1998, Grant was promoted to administrative services manager of Combined Sewer Overflow (“CSO”), a new section at MWS. Grant was transferred to Engineering in 1999, but retained his title. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 92). Despite Grant’s efforts to advance further into upper management, MWS has not promoted him since 1998. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 49, 54-55; Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 92).

In April 2002, the Stormwater Division was moved to MWS from the Metro Department of Public Works (“DPW”). (Docket Entry No. 199 at 77-78). Potter awarded the position of new assistant director in MWS’s Stormwater Division to Tom Palko an engineer at DPW who is white. Approximately two months after Stormwater moved to MWS, Grant received an e-mail from Potter, dated June 14, 2002, stating that Potter and Palko, the interim assistant director for the Stormwater Division wished to speak with Grant regarding “opportunities” in Stormwater. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 32; Docket Entry No. 199 at 76-77). Within the next few days, Grant met with Potter, who told Grant of some “job opportunities” for him in Storm-water that Potter thought Grant could perform. Potter referred Grant to Palko to decide which jobs in Stormwater Grant wanted. Id. at 79.

Shortly thereafter, Palko arrived and Potter instructed Palko to “take Slim [Grant] down and show him these jobs that we have for him because of his knowledge and experience.” Id. at 80. Grant then went to Palko’s office and Palko provided Grant with a document titled “Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, TN Stormwater Program and Organizational Study performed by AMEC (“AMEC Study”). Palko asked Grant to review the AMEC Study and then contact him about the positions that Grant could perform. Id. at 80; Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 170). After reviewing the AMEC Study, Grant identified several open positions, including program director, administrative support manager, and remedial maintenance manager of NPDES permits. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 82-85).

Grant thereafter repeatedly tried to contact Palko about these positions. After some delay, Grant spoke with Palko who responded that Grant’s current pay grade was “too high,” to be placed in any Storm-water management position. Grant was confused by Palko’s response given that Potter and Palko knew Grant’s position and pay level when Potter first approached him about job opportunities in Stormwater management. Id. at 85-86, 91. Grant was not awarded any of these positions in the Stormwater Division. Several months later in 2003 after Palko’s statement that Grant’s classification was “too high,” Grant learned that several Stormwater management positions identified in the AMEC Study, were posted at the same or higher pay classification than Grant’s. Id. at 88.

MWS hired Plaintiff Reid as a customer service representative on July 1, 1990. (Plaintiffs Exhibit 100). In August 1992, Reid and other customer service representatives were reclassified and given the title of senior customer service representative. (Docket Entry No. 202 at 98-99). In July 1993, Reid’s position was reclassified based on a pay plan adjustment. Id. For almost eleven (11) years, Reid did not receive a promotion. As a result of a settlement in a prior race discrimination action, Reid was promoted to the position of administrative assistant 2 and transferred to MWS’s engineering division in June 2001. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 100; Docket Entry No. 202 at 101-102). In 2001, Reid also applied for the customer service supervisor lobby and cash position that MWS awarded to Christie Binkley, who was ranked first of the applicants. Nine months after her promotion, Binkley was removed from that position for unacceptable performance. After the filing of this action, Reid received her second promotion in 2005, to the position of administrative service officer 3. Id. at 96. Reid has not received any promotions since.

Plaintiff McKissack, a black male, has a high school diploma, two (2) years of college and certifications in welding and mechanics as well as a commercial driver license (“CDL”). (Docket Entry No. 200 at 109). MWS hired McKissack on February 1, 1990 as a meter reader trainee. Approximately six months later, McKissack’s classification was changed to meter reader. Id. In 1993, McKissack’s job classification changed again to meter reader 1 and in 1994 to meter reader 2 until 1996 when MWS reclassified his job as customer service field representative 2. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 97). After approximately nine years of employment, McKissack received his first promotion on January 4, 1999, to the position of paint and body repair. Following a demotion in 2000, McKissack was placed in the maintenance and repair worker 1 position in MWS’s System Services division. In January 2004, McKissack’s classification was changed to water maintenance technician 3. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 97).

Plaintiff McKissack applied for maintenance and repair leader 2 positions and after the interview, McKissack was ranked number one on the MCSC eligibility register, followed by white employee Glenn Word, number two, and Michael French, a white employee. MWS did not award the position to McKissack, but gave a second test and conducted a second interview. French was not required to take a second test or a second interview, as did McKissack. After the second interview, Michael French was ranked number one, McKissack number two and Word Number three. MWS awarded the position to French. (Docket Entry No. 200 at 118-121). Two years after the filing of this action, McKissack was promoted to maintenance and repair leader 2 in March 2005. In February 2008, McKissack was promoted to water maintenance supervisor. Id. at 110-111. McKissack attributes those promotions to his filing of this action.

Plaintiff Martindale, a black female high school graduate, has some college classes and a certificate from clerical word processing school. (Docket Entry No. 201 at 107). Martindale worked at Metro for approximately 16 years and transferred to MWS on July 13, 2000 to the position of customer service representative 2. Id. at 107; Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 94. In July 2001, Martindale’s position was reclassified due to a pay plan adjustment as office support representative 2. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 94, Docket Entry No. 201 at 111-112). In February 2002, Martindale applied for three office support positions because she was already performing many of the same duties as other office support 3 employees who are white. Martindale applied, was found qualified, and ranked number one on the MCSC’s eligibility register. MWS interviewed Martindale for the position, but did not fill the position that remained unfilled for over a year. Id. at 121-124. Although the position had just been posted, Martindale was told that the position was not needed at that time. Id. at 123-124. Martindale did not receive the customer service representative 3 position until July 2003, after complaining about MWS’s failure to promote her. Id. at 41.

Plaintiff Tucker is a black female with a high school diploma and some additional college courses. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 174). MWS hired Tucker in 1985 for the position of typist clerk 1 in its customer service division. Tucker has worked her entire career in MWS’s customer service division and was promoted to customer service representative in 1989. Tucker’s position was reclassified to customer service representative 3 in 1993 and again reclassified in July 2001 to office support representative 3. Tucker has not received a promotion since 1989. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 98). After several promotions, Tucker cxxrrently serves as an office support 3 employee in MWS’s billing department.

In 2001, Tucker applied for a supervisor position in customer sexwice. (Docket Entry No. 199 at 185). Although Tucker was qualified, she was not intexwiewed. MWS awarded the position to Judy Ward, a white employee with less seniority than Tucker and similar experience. Id. at 189-190. Tucker applied for other promotions, including a supervisor position that was given to another white employee, Cecelia Aguilar, with about the same seniority and experience as Tucker, but Aguilar asked Tucker for assistance to do the job. Id. at 198. Tucker described a promotion for which she applied that was given to Lisa Russell, a white employee. Id. at 186-87. Based upon her obsexrvations during her 23 years at MWS, Tucker opined that blacks have a more difficult time advancing as compared to their white counterparts.

Helen Andrews, a black female with a high school diploma and three years of college, has also taken additional education classes through MWS. (Docket Entry No. 210 at 175). Andrews has worked at MWS for approximately 20 years and applied for at least 12 positions, id. at 187, but has received only 3 promotions. Id. at 178. Andrews also testified that in her experience, positions were “tailored” for the people that MWS had in mind for the promotion, and she became frustrated with the interview process during her tenure at MWS. (Docket Entry No. 210 at 186-88).

Although some Plaintiffs testified as to disparate job assignments and discipline, without statistical or comparable data, the Court cannot find disparate impact on MWS black employees based upon MWS’s practices on discipline and job assignments (other than out-of-class assignments).

3. The Parties’ Expert Proof

For their disparate impact claims, Plaintiffs’ expert was Dr. Michael Moomaw, the regional director of Applied Psychological Techniques, Inc., who holds a Ph.D. degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Moomaw works in the area of industrial psychology and human resources management, focusing on the development and validation of employee selection procedures. Dr. Moomaw has consulted with businesses on job analysis, personnel assessment, employment testing, performance management, and measurement for businesses, including top 500 films,

a. Dr. Moomaw’s 2004 Analyses

To determine whether disparity exists between black and white employees in job placement, promotions and pay, Dr. Moo-maw reviewed and analyzed: 1) MWS reports from 2000-2004 outlining MWS’s racial composition; 2) Pay Plans covering positions at MWS; 3) job descriptions for MWS jobs; and 4) employee history data for employees during the relevant period, such as positions held and salary grades. (Docket Entry No. 201 at 14-15). Dr. Moomaw also reviewed MWS data for all employees from 2000 through 2004 and on the following subjects: (1) employee history data; (2) EEOC State and Local Government Information (EEO-4) Bi-Yearly Reports for the Metro Water Services Department; (3) monthly reports from Metro Water showing the racial composition of the department from June 2002 through August 2002; (4) Metro Water applications report through October 2004 from the applicant tracking system for the named Plaintiffs; (5) charts containing information regarding charges of discrimination filed by Metro Water employees; (6) organizational charts for Metro Water; (7) graphs showing “Charges by Month”, “Disciplinary Action Demographics”, also a “List of Employees Disciplined” for 2002-OS, 2003-04 and 2004-05; and (8) Metro Water job descriptions.

For the MWS job positions identified, Dr. Moomaw established the following categories: (1) FLSA Status (exempt vs. nonexempt); (2) EEO Function (based on specific job functions or types used in government reports, such as EEO-1); (3) Salary Type (based on Metro Water Pay Plans); and (4) Pay Grade (based on Steps within each pay range). Id. at 15-19. In Dr. Moomaw’s view, these groups were of similar and comparable jobs reflecting experience and seniority.

As to FLSA Status, Dr. Moomaw’s 2004 analyses reflect statistically significant differences between white and black employees based on the FLSA status. Dr. Moo-maw’s analyses showed significantly fewer black employees held positions categorized as “exempt” under the FLSA, in each year from 2000 to 2004, as compared to white employees. The results were that only 8.8% to 11.3% of black employees held positions categorized as FLSA “exempt” during the years 2000 through 2004, while 21.2% to 23.6% of white employees held positions categorized as FLSA “exempt” during the same period. Conversely, a significantly greater percentage of black employees held non-exempt positions under FLSA compared to white employees in each year. The percentages ranged from 88.70%) to 91.20% for black employees versus 76.40% to 78.80% for white employees. Black employees typically held non-exempt, hourly positions across all years. Id. at 18-19. Dr. Moomaw’s findings reflect “significant differences between ethnic groups, particularly white and black employees, based on the FLSA status of the positions or jobs held by employees in each group.” (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 1, Moo-maw 2004 Report at 6).

As to EEO Function, Dr. Moomaw’s analyses found that a significantly greater percentage of black employees held jobs in the Service Maintenance EEO Function in each year from 2000 through 2004 compared to white employees. The percentages ranged from 30.50% to 39.20% for black employees, compared to 12.80%) to 18.70%) for white employees. Also, for the years 2001 through 2004, a significantly smaller proportion of black employees compared to white employees held positions classified in the Professional and Technician EEO Functions. For the professional function, the percentages ranged from 6.00% to 7.40% for black employees, versus 13.00% to 15.70%) for white employees. For the technician function, the percentages ranged from 4.70%) to 10.20% for black employees, compared to 12.20% to 17.30% for white employees. Finally, in 2000, a significantly smaller proportion of black employees held positions in the Administrative Support EEO Function Id. at 20.

The significantly smaller proportion of black employees than white employees held Professional, Technician, and Administrative Support EEO functions is reflected in Dr. Moomaw’s summary as follows:

Service Maintenance EEO Function

Percentage of White Percentage of Black Employees Employees

2000 18.7% (83 out of 444 39.2% (49 out of 125 employees) employees)

2001 16.3% (79/484) 31.5% (47/149)

2002 14.7% (74/502) 35.6% (62/174)

2003 14.2% (72/508) 34.9% (58/166)

2004 12.8% (65/506) 30.5% (51/167)

Professional EEO Function

Percentage of White Percentage of Black Employees Employees

2000 14.9% (66/444) 8.0% (10/125)

2001 14.7% (71/484) 7.411/149)

2002 15.7% (79/502) 6.912/174)

2003 13.0% (66/508) 6.0% (10/166)

2004 13.2% (67/506) 6.6% (11/167)

Technician EEO Function

Percentage of White Percentage of Black Employees Employees

2000 13.7% (61/444) 6.4% (49/125)

2001 12.2% (59/484) 4.7% (7/149)

2002 15.9% (80/502) 8.0% (14/174)

2003 17.3% (88/508) 8.4% (14/166)

2004 12.8% (65/506) 10.2% (17/167)

Administrative SuppoH EEO Function

Percentage of White Percentage of Black Employees Employees

2000 10.4% (46/444) 2.4% (3/125)

2001 20.5% (99/484) 18.8% (28/149)

2002 19.3% (97/502) 14.4% (25/174)

2003 22.2% (113/508) 15.7% (26/166)

2004 20,6% (104/506)_15.6% (26/167)

Id. at Table 2 to Plaintiffs’ Exhibit No. 1.

The Salary Types based on Metro pay plans include Trades and Labor Schedule (“TLS”), Standard Range Schedule (“SR”), Public Safety (“PS”) and Special Pay Types, such as Directors. TLS positions are those with primary duties involving physical work which require knowledge or experience of a trade, craft, or of a manual-labor nature. TLS has three (3) separate sub-schedules or sub-types: a) TG-which contains “positions with worker responsibility,” b) TL-which contains “positions with lead responsibility;” and c) TS-which contains “positions with supervisory responsibility.” SR positions are those, even if physical work is required, with a primary duty that “requires knowledge or experience of an administrative, clerical, scientific, artistic, or technical nature not related to trade, craft, or manual-labor work.” (Docket Entry No. 201 at 16-17).

For Salary Type, Dr. Moomaw’s analyses showed a significantly greater percentage of black employees held positions classified in the TG salary type (positions without lead or supervisor responsibilities) of the Trade and Labor Schedule in each year compared to white employees. The percentages ranged from 33.50% to 37.70%) for black employees, compared to 18.20%) to 23.90% for white employees. The TG salary type includes positions with “worker responsibility” involving the performance of physical work that requires knowledge of, or experience in a trade, craft, or manual-labor nature. The results here revealed significantly fewer black employees held positions classified in the SR salary type in each year from 2000 to 2004 compared to white employees. The percentages ranged from 35.50% to 39.90% for black employees to 52.70% to 55.80% for white employees. The SR salary type includes jobs such as Biologist, Fleet Manager-Heavy Equipment, and Special Projects Manager. Id. at 21-22.

Dr. Moomaw found that “in almost all cases, a greater number or proportion of [African-Americans] held positions at lower pay grades in all Salary Types than white employees holding positions in the same Salary Types.” (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit No. 1 at 7). In 2000, Dr. Moomaw noted that approximately 68% of black employees and approximately 37% of white employees holding positions in the TG salary type were in lower pay grades 2-6, but 63% of white employees and 32% of black employees in the TG salary type were in higher pay grades 7-13. Id. at 8. “[W]ith few exceptions,” Dr. Moomaw found that “this trend was ... consistent across years and salary types.” Id. at 8. For the TS salary type, the number of black employees who held positions in the salary type between 2000 through 2004 was from five (5) to ten (10). The relatively small changes in the pay grades for a group impacts on the group’s percentages, but black employees typically held jobs in lower pay grades for other salary types from 2000 through 2004. Id. at 23-24. A summary of Dr. Moomaw’s findings as to pay grades is as follows:_

TG Salary Type

Pay Percentage Percentage Grade of White of Black Employees Employees

2000 2-6 37.30% 67.65%

7-13 62.70% 32.35%

2001 2-6 26.00% 54.00%

7-13 74.00% 45.90%

2002 2-6 23.60% 48.60%

7-13 76.50% 51.50%

2003 2-6 25.00% 41.30%

7-13 75.10% 58.70%

2004 2-6 19.90% 45.20%

7-13 80.30% 54.80%

TL Salary Type

Pay Percentage Percentage Grade of White of Black Employees Employees

2000 6-9 47.79% 80.65%

10-14 52.21% 19.15%

2001 6-9 44.20% 72.00%

10-14 58.80% 28.00%

2002 6-9 43.40% 71.70%

10-14 56.50% 26.30%

2003 6-9 37.20% 71.00%

10-14 62.80% 29.00%

2004 6-9 38.30% 70.30%

10-14 61.80% 29.70%

TS Salary Type

Pay Percentage Percentage Grade of White of Black Employees Employees

2000 8-10 52.20% 60.00%

11-13 47.80% 40.00%

2001 8-10 51.20% 60.00%

11-13 47.80% 40.00%

2002 8-10 30.00% 62.50%

11-13 70.00% 37.50%

2003 8-10 31.00% 30.00%

11-13 69.00% 70.00%

2004 8-10 35.50% 20.00%

11-13 64.60% 80.00%

SR Salary Type

Pay Percentage Percentage Grade of White of Black Employees Employees

2000 1-7 51.00% 74.20%

8-15 48.00% 25.70%

2001 1-7 39.20% 69.10%

8-15 60.80% 30.70%

2002 1-7 29.90% 62.90%

8-15 70.10% 37.00%

2003 1-7 28.90% 60.50%

8-15 71.10% 39.50%

2004 1-7 27.10% 72.90%

8-15 55.50% 44.40%

(Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 1 at Table 3 thereto).

Dr. Moomaw deemed these differences significant in that the “[g]reater numbers or proportions of [African-American] employees tend to be in positions that are predominately ‘manual labor’ positions, covered by the TG salary type, and lower pay grades within each salary type.” (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 1 at 8). Based upon his analyses, Dr. Moomaw concluded that “a significantly smaller proportion of [African-American] employees are represented in exempt positions, positions classified in the Professional and Technical EEO Functions, positions in the SR salary type that includes professional and manager positions, and positions in higher pay grades within almost all salary types.” Id. Although MWS utilizes Metro pay scales for Salary Type and Pay Grade, the actual decision-making process in classifying a MWS employee within a particular Pay Grade is by MWS without any formalized criteria. MWS’s pay plan has particular “Salary Grade” with “Steps,” or incremental increases in pay with the Salary Grade. Dr. Michael Moomaw found that from 2000-2006, black employees consistently were in the lower “steps” within each pay grade, when compared to white employees, who were consistently paid in the higher “steps” within each pay grade.

In sum, the results of Dr. Moomaw’s 2004 analyses reveal stark and significant differences in representation between white and black employees that extend to all categories of MWS’s positions whether based on FLSA Status, EEO Function, Salary Type, and Pay Grade within Salary Type. Specifically, the results prove that black employees are significantly underrepresented compared to white employees in FLSA “exempt” positions, in the professional and technician positions based upon EEO Functions, positions in the SR Salary Type, and positions in higher pay grades within all Salary Types, except TS. Conversely, greater numbers or proportions of black employees work in positions that are predominately “manual labor” covered by the TG salary type and at lower pay grades within each salary type. The results were consistent across the years 2000 through 2004. Id. at 26. According to Dr. Moomaw, these figures reflect significant limitations on MWS’s black employees’ opportunities for advancement and increased salaries. Id. at 27.

b. Dr. Moomaw’s 2007 Analyses

In his 2007 analyses, Dr. Moomaw examined additional MWS data from 2004 through October 11, 2006 for further analyses and additional findings. Dr. Moomaw first repeated his 2004 analyses utilizing the additional data for January 2000 through October 11, 2006. In his original report, Dr. Moomaw evaluated the racial composition or ethnic representation in various positions within MWS. These analyses were once again directly related to the job assignments and promotions and the number of black and white employees in positions based on FLSA status (exempt, nonexempt), EEO Function (for example, Administrative Support, Professional functions), Salary Type (including SR, TG, TL, and TS), and Pay Grade. Id. at 13, 27. According to Dr. Moomaw, the results of the 2007 analyses provide the percentage of black and white employees in jobs classified at the various levels or categories in the variables described above and the results relate directly to the question or issue of job assignment relevant to this litigation. Id. at 29.

As to FLSA status, Dr. Moomaw’s 2007 analyses found statistically significant differences between black and white employees based on the FLSA status. Specifically, significantly fewer MWS black employees held positions categorized as FLSA exempt in each year from January 2000 through October 11, 2006 compared to MWS white employees. Only 4.52% to 6.88% of black employees held FLSA exempt positions from 2000 through 2006, as compared to 13.87% to 17.43%) of white employees in such “exempt” position for the same years. In contrast for FLSA non-exempt positions, 87.62% to 94.80% for blacks held such position compared to 78.00% to 83.40% of MWS’s white employees. Yet, significant differences were not found in the percentage of black and white employees holding management level jobs after 2005 when only one or two black employees were in positions classified as “management” positions. In 2005, the number of black and white employees increased in both groups for jobs in the