Hodgson v. Greyhound Lines, Inc.

354 F. Supp. 230, 5 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 485, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15055, 5 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 8445
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedFebruary 5, 1973
Docket69 C 2227
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 354 F. Supp. 230 (Hodgson v. Greyhound Lines, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hodgson v. Greyhound Lines, Inc., 354 F. Supp. 230, 5 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 485, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15055, 5 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 8445 (N.D. Ill. 1973).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

PARSONS, District Judge.

The proceedings upon which the following opinion is rendered are based upon a Complaint filed by the Secretary of Labor of the United States Department of Labor, requesting the restraining of alleged violations of Sections 4(a)(1), 4(a)(2) and 4(e) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and for such further relief as is deemed appropriate, including the restraint of any further refusal by defendant to employ persons denied employment in the past because of their ages.

During the course of trial, I have had the benefit of the testimony of eminent witnesses, the arguments of counsel, written memoranda and a multitude of exhibits. This is a case of great moment and my decision has come only after deep deliberation and study.

The issue, herein, is whether defendant’s policy of refusing to consider applications of individuals between the ages of 40 and 65 for initial employment as bus drivers is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to *231 the normal operation of its business. Section 4(f)(1) of the Act states as follows:

“It shall not be unlawful for an employer, employment agency, or labor organization—
(1) to take any action otherwise prohibited under subsections (a), (b), (c), or (e) of this section where age is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business, or where the differentiation is based on reason-' able factors other than age;”

The plaintiff alleges that the defendant has failed to meet its burden of proving that its age limitation policy for bus driver position is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of its business.

The defendant has admitted that it does not consider applicants for the position of interstate bus drivers persons who are between the age of 40 to 65 years and contends that it is entitled to an exception because of Section (f)(1), supra, of the Act.

Defendant contends that if it were required to hire beginning interstate bus operators up to the age of 65 an unacceptable risk to the safety of its passengers and other members of the motoring public would ensue.

The defendant has offered the following arguments for its allegation.

“1. The defendant is required by law and by the nature of its business to exercise the highest degree of care, not only in the operation of its buses but in the hiring of bus drivers.

“2. Although individuals up to the age of 65 may be able to pass the required physical examination and be otherwise qualified, such physical examination is incapable of discovering the physical and sensory changes common to all man., [sic], caused by aging, that make an interstate bus operator less safe in the normal operation of the defendant’s business.

“3. That the normal operation of the defendant’s business requires that a beginning interstate bus operator serve from 10 to 20 years on the ‘extra board’ which service requires the highest degree of physical ability and use of the senses.

“4. That its experience of over 40 years proves that an interstate bus driver is most safe after acquiring 16 years of interstate bus driving experience which experience could not be acquired by newly-employed drivers up to the age of 65 years.”

Through the centuries volumes have been written on the subject of aging. It is a process that intrigues not only the scientific and philosophic mind but the less learned one as well. Aging is a phenomenon in which all humanity shares. The volumes that have been written are doubtless merely a fraction of what is yet to be studied. There will be inquiry and research as long as man exists for there will be the fascination with himself that leads to such study. For the moment, however, I must rely for my decision on that which exists in the realm of learning and on what I believe is both justiciable and correct under the existing law.

Defendant’s policy of not considering applicants over the age of 35 has been in effect since approximately 1929. This is true regardless of an applicant’s prior experience. At least two of defendant’s officers, Mr. Forman and Mr. Gocke testified that they did not know why age 35 was originally selected nor why other ages were not selected. However, they and defendant’s other witnesses vigorously support the age limitation policy and maintain that since the policy has produced results from a safety standpoint it has never been deemed necessary to change the rule. The National Association of Motor Bus Owners (hereinafter referred to as NAMBO) was granted leave to participate as amicus curiae for the defendant. In its trial *232 brief it stated the issue at bar succinctly:

“It is submitted that the essence of the motor carriage of passengers is safety and that if the employment of drivers over age 35 would undermine that safety, the maximum age standard utilized by defendant is “reasonably necessary” within the meaning of the bona fide occupational qualification exception to the Act.”

Thus, the battle lines have been drawn. The plaintiff contends that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 was enacted for the express purpose of “promoting ‘employment of older persons based on their ability rather than age’ ” and prohibiting “arbitrary age discrimination.” Hodgson v. First Federal Savings and Loan Ass’n. of Broward County, Fla., 455 F.2d 818, 820 (5th Cir. 1972). The defendant contends that it has established a “valid justification” for its hiring practices. Hodgson v. First Federal, supra, pg. 822.

“In discrimination cases the law with respect to burden of proof is well-settled. The plaintiff is required only to make out a prima facie case of unlawful discrimination at which point the burden shifts to the defendant to justify the existence of any disparities. See e.g., Norris v. Alabama, 294 U.S. 587, 55 S.Ct. 579, 79 L.Ed. 1074 (1935); Muniz v. Beto, 434 F.2d 697 (CA5, 1970); Weeks v. Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, 408 F.2d 228 (CA5, 1969); Gates v. Georgia-Pacific Corporation, 326 F.Supp. 397 (D.C.D.Or.1970). Once the plaintiff has made out his prima facie case we look to the defendant for an explanation since he is in a position to know whether he failed to hire a person for reasons which would exonerate him.” Hodgson v. First Fed. Sav. & L. Ass’n., supra, 455 F.2d pg. 822.

I find that the plaintiff has made a prima facie case of refusal by the defendant to hire on the basis of age.

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354 F. Supp. 230, 5 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 485, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15055, 5 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 8445, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hodgson-v-greyhound-lines-inc-ilnd-1973.