Philly Captain Alleges Reverse Discrimination

Posted by: Curt Varone September 22, 2013 6 Comments

A white fire captain has filed suit against the city of Philadelphia claiming reverse discrimination.

Fire Captain Lawrence Boyle, a 19 year veteran, took the civil service examination for battalion chief and despite never being provided with the results was removed from the promotional eligibility list.  He alleges that “promotions for the position of Fire Battalion Chief were based on race and systematically favored black candidates over better-qualified white candidates. Boyle was one of the white candidates denied promotion because of his race.”

The complaint filed last Friday in US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania contains just two counts, one alleging violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the other a Constitutional claim based on a violation of the 14th Amendment.

Here is a copy of the complaint. Boyle v Philadelphia

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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