Griggs Vs Duke Power Summary

Griggs v. Duke Power
FACTS:
The case originated in a lawsuit filed by Willie Griggs and twelve other African-American employees of Duke Power's Dan River hydroelectric plant in Draper, North Carolina. Before the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Duke Power discriminated against African-Americans in hiring and promotion, restricting them to the company's Labor department. In 1955, Duke Power instituted a high school diploma requirement for initial hiring in any department except Labor. (The other departments of Duke Power included Maintenance, Operations, and Laboratory.) In 1965, when the Civil Rights Act went into effect, this requirement was expanded to block transfers from Labor to other departments by employees who had not graduated high school.
ISSUE:
interferes with employee's ability to perform)
Duke Power must prove:
• No intentional discrimination against African-Americans in hiring and promotion, restricting them to the company's Labor department.
• Institution of a high school diploma requirement for initial hiring in any department except Labor to block transfers from Labor to other departments by employees who had not graduated high school.
• Their employment practice does not have an unjustified adverse impact on Willie Griggs and the other twelve who are all members of a protected class
APPLICATION:
Willie Griggs and the twelve other African American employees can prove one or more of the prima facie elements, for