Williams v. Jacksonville

Outcome: Retroactive Promotions and compensation

Description: My clients were four lieutenants on the City of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. They were denied promotions by their Fire Chief (African American) because the Chief stated they did not "meet the diversity" of the Fire Department. As a result, my clients were denied promotions to Captain and lost pay. The case was litigated for 7 years and was reviewed by the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on three occasions, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied review. On March 3, 2006, a jury ruled in favor of our clients, finding that they had been denied promotions to Captain due to their race (Caucasian). They were ordered retroactively promoted to Captain. The Order of U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan was affirmed by the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The judge and jury also awarded compensatory damages and attorneys' fees to the plaintiffs which, after all appeals, amounted to approximately $650,000.00. That award was also affirmed by the 11th Circuit. Mr. Williams, the lead plaintff, has since been promoted to Chief.