The suit contends that the city, its civil service commission and others violated the law when the commission failed to certify the two exams for fire lieutenant and captain earlier this year.
Scores on the exams indicated that no blacks would be promoted. Fourteen of the top 15 candidates for lieutenant and captain were white, based on scores. But the Civil Service Commission tied on a vote to certify the test, and the city threw out the tests.
Included in the courthouse file is a legal writ asking a judge to order the city to certify the tests. A hearing has been scheduled for July 19.
City Corporation Counsel Thomas Ude Jr. said Monday that city lawyers would review the suit carefully ``to determine what our best course of action will be.''
In the lawsuit, the union contends that the Civil Service Commission was required to certify the tests.
The prospect of a lawsuit by the union had created some strife inside the department with some minority firefighters who claimed the union wasn't representing their interests.
A group of minority firefighters has threatened to pull out of the union and claim that their union dues are being used to finance a lawsuit they oppose.
In addition to the union lawsuit, group of 20 mainly white firefighters has filed discrimination complaints with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
Information from: New Haven Register
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