Black FBI Agents Reach A Settlement In 10-Year Bias Suit

Jet, May 21, 2001

A Washington Federal judge recently approved a settlement in a 10-year lawsuit between the FBI and 500 current and former agents who complained of racial discrimination in promotions.

Under the agreement approved by U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan, the FBI is required to overhaul its promotion, evaluation and discipline procedures to address the concerns of Black agents by the year 2004.

The Black agents alleged that under the old system, they were unable to get supervisory positions and that Whites were more likely to gain promotions, get higher profile assignments, earn positive evaluations and avoid disciplinary actions for misconduct.

Up to $300,000 in compensatory damages could be awarded to individual agents who prove to an outside mediator their claims of bias. The settlement calls for all cash awards to be placed in a fund for later distribution based on a formula favoring the most serious cases.

David J. Shaffer, attorney for the Black FBI agents, members of the group BADGE (Black Agents Don't Get Equality) (JET, July 6, 1992), recently said, "We feel very positive now that the FBI is going to be reformed."