New York Firefighter’s Discrimination Lawsuit Dismissed

A federal judge has dismissed a discrimination lawsuit filed by a white suburban New York firefighter.

Mount Vernon firefighter Joseph Carroll had claimed that his promotion to lieutenant was blocked when black firefighters threatened to sue the city.

Judge Cathy Seibel ruled that Carroll’s case was a “far cry” from a New Haven, Conn., case. The Supreme Court in that case ruled in favor of white and Hispanic firefighters who sued New Haven. That city had thrown out a promotion test on which they scored higher than black firefighters.

Carroll, a 19-year veteran, sued Mount Vernon in 2007. His lawyer, Andrew Fleming, did not return calls seeking comment.

Mount Vernon is located just north of the Bronx in Westchester County.