Charity Harrison v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company

This employment discrimination case was initially brought by two black women who unsuccessfully sought employment in the production department of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company’s Gadsden, Alabama plant.

On June 19, 1967, appellants Charity Harrison and Gussie Hardwick filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging employment discrimination against black females — a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (1974)). After the EEOC authorized appellants to file suit, they initiated the present proceeding as a Fed.R.Civ.P. class action on their own behalf and the behalf of all others simi larly situated. After an extensive trial, the district court made findings of fact and entered judgment in Goodyear’s favor.

Plaintiffs renew their arguments • on appeal. Of course, findings of fact in Title VII cases are reviewed in the same manner as any other trial court findings: this court will not set the findings aside unless it is able to conclude that such findings are clearly erroneous.' See, Smith v. Delta Airlines, 486 F.2d 512, 514 (5th Cir. 1973); Terrell v. Feldstein Co., 468 F.2d 910, 911 (5th Cir. 1972); Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a).

We have examined the record thoroughly and we find sufficient evidence to support the district court’s decision that Goodyear did not discriminate in the employment of black females. Therefore, since the lower court’s decision is not clearly erroneous, the judgment is

Affirmed.