Connecticut v. Teal
United States Supreme Court
457 U.S. 440 (1982)
Relevant factsFree
Four Black provisional supervisors (plaintiffs) failed a written exam required for permanent promotion, while the State of Connecticut (defendant) ultimately promoted a higher proportion of Black candidates than white candidates among those who passed, aided by an affirmative-action program; the plaintiffs sued for disparate-impact discrimination based on the exam itself, and the State argued its favorable overall "bottom line" promotion results provided a complete defense.
IssueFree
Whether an employer sued under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is entitled to use a bottom-line defense.