October 18, 2024
DOJ Reaches $2.75M Settlement with Maryland State Police Following Expert Analysis of Discriminatory Hiring Exams by Dr. DC (“Dave”) Sharp
In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The case, United States of America v. Maryland Department of State Police (1:24-CV-02862), alleged that MDSP’s reliance on a written examination disproportionately excluded black applicants from employment as troopers. Additionally, it was alleged that a physical fitness examination disproportionately excluded female applicants. Econ One Managing Director Dr. DC (“Dave”) Sharp, an expert in applied econometrics and statistics with extensive experience in class action employment litigation, was retained by the DOJ to analyze the examinations.
Dr. Sharp’s task was to determine whether the exams disproportionately disqualified black and female applicants at statistically significant rates. Utilizing a statistical test known as “the Z test” and the Court-determined benchmark “the Hazelwood Standard,” Dr. Sharp analyzed MDSP’s applicant flow data. His findings confirmed that the exams indeed disqualified black and female candidates at significantly disproportionate rates. Based on Dr. Sharp’s analysis, the DOJ concluded that MDSP’s exams violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. In 2024, the DOJ reached a settlement with MDSP, which includes $2.75 million in back pay for applicants disqualified by the exams. For more details, visit the Justice Department Agreement.
