HKPC Obtains Affirmance Of Summary Judgment From The Sixth Circuit Court Of Appeals In Civil Rights Case

Robert Garceau, et. al. v City of Flint, et al., Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2011 the City of Flint Police Department had an excess of sergeant openings. Thus, its then-Chief of Police, defendant Alvern Lock, provisionally promoted 12 officers until the Department could create and administer a formal promotional exam. Following the provisional-appointments, twelve Caucasian police officers who were promoted to sergeant brought suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming reverse race discrimination. After extensive discovery, the district court granted our motion for summary judgment and dismissed plaintiffs’ reverse discrimination claims. The plaintiffs then appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. After briefing, the Sixth Circuit waived oral argument and issued an opinion affirming the trial court ruling, holding that there was no support in the record that plaintiffs’ race motivated Chief Lock’s promotional decisions.