Pullman-Standard v. Swint
United States Supreme Court
456 U.S. 273 (1982)
Relevant factsFree
Employees (plaintiffs) sued Pullman-Standard (defendant) under Title VII, challenging a seniority system as discriminatory; the district court found the system was implemented without discriminatory intent and ruled for Pullman-Standard, but the Fifth Circuit reversed without remanding, reasoning that the district court's error was a legal one about a controlling principle rather than a factual one, so the clearly-erroneous standard under Rule 52(a) didn't apply.
IssueFree
Whether the clearly erroneous standard applies to a trial court's finding on the presence or absence of discriminatory intent.