Teamsters v. United States
United States Supreme Court
431 U.S. 324 (1977)
The United States (plaintiff) sued an employer and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union (defendant), alleging a pattern of discriminatory hiring, job assignment, and promotion against Black and Hispanic employees in violation of Title VII. The government's case relied heavily on statistics showing minority employees were hired less often and given less desirable jobs and fewer promotions than white employees, along with testimony describing specific instances of discrimination. The district court found systemic discrimination and the court of appeals affirmed; the defendants sought review, arguing the government's reliance on statistics could not establish a prima facie case.
Whether statistical evidence alone can establish a prima facie case of systemic employment discrimination under Title VII, and whether individual class members must separately prove they were personally victimized once a pattern or practice of discrimination has been established.