Black Agents of the Secret Service Demand Attention to Still-Unaddressed Class Action Discrimination Suit Filed in 2000.WASHINGTON -- Representatives of the Black Secret Service Agents (BASS) today instructed their attorneys to file a Writ of Mandamus Noun 1. writ of mandamus - an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies fail mandamus in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). Circuit, compelling the court to expedite their class action race discrimination suit filed in 2000. BASS representatives allege that in the last four years, the Bush Administration and the Secret Service have used the judicial process to prevent a discussion of this case on its merits, citing the lack of progress in the case. A single witness has not been called, nor has a single document been produced. "The refusal to address the merits of the Black Agents' case is shameful," said Special Agent Reginald G. Moore, BASS, Inc. president. "It is particularly disappointing that nothing was done after Representative J.C. Watts arranged a meeting with White House Associate Counsel Stuart Bowen and the class representatives to discuss the case. This is not a situation where the White House is unaware of the issues, nor could they be after the appearance of several front-page stories on the gross mismanagement mis·man·age tr.v. mis·man·aged, mis·man·ag·ing, mis·man·ag·es To manage badly or carelessly. mis·man  age·ment n. and racial discrimination in the Secret Service." Former Special Agent Cheryl Tyler agreed. "We have no choice but to take this extreme step. We have been waiting patiently for years. Justice delayed is justice denied "Justice delayed is justice denied" is a legal cliché meaning that if legal redress is available for a party that has suffered some injury, but is not forthcoming in a timely fashion, it is effectively the same as having no redress at all. ." Special Agent Moore also has corresponded directly with Bush-appointed Secret Service Director Ralph Basham in an attempt to resolve the case. Basham, however, refused to discuss the case, instead referring Moore's letter to John Ashcroft's U.S. Department of Justice. "We take this unusual step today because we cannot take four more years of denial and delay," Moore continued. "Every day that passes, we lose witnesses and evidence. The Secret Service 'accidentally' fails to retain relevant documents. For the future of the Secret Service, we must have a hearing on the merits on the merits adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling of a court based upon the facts presented in evidence and the law applied to that evidence. A judge decides a case "on the merits" when he/she bases the decision on the fundamental issues and considers of more than 20 years of racial discrimination and a remedy that dissolves the 'Good Ol' Boy' network, which has worked so often to disadvantage black agents." About the Class Action Lawsuit class action lawsuit A lawsuit in which one party or a limited number of parties sue on behalf of a larger group to which the parties belong. For example, investors may bring a class action lawsuit against a brokerage firm that has actively promoted a tax The lawsuit (Moore et al. v. Ridge, No. cv00953), filed on May 3, 2000, alleges that the Secret Service has discriminated against African-American special agents in selections for competitive promotions, performance evaluations, transfers, assignments, other career-enhancing opportunities, awards and bonuses, assignments to undercover work, hiring practices, testing, discipline and other terms and conditions of employment conditions of employment that part of an employment that sets out the duties, responsibilities, hours of work, salary, leave and other privileges to be enjoyed by persons employed, for example a veterinary nurse, in private practice. . It also alleges that the Secret Service created and maintained a hostile work environment A hostile work environment exists when an employee experiences workplace harassment and fears going to work because of the offensive, intimidating, or oppressive atmosphere generated by the harasser. and retaliated against agents who reported discrimination. BASS is the nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. organized to represent the interests of the Black Special Agents of the Secret Service. They have retained David J. Shaffer and Ronald A. Schmidt of the Washington, D.C. office of Garvey Schubert Barer to represent the agents' interests in this matter. |
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