By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
LOWER MANHATTAN — A federal district court judge in Manhattan has ruled that the city's Department of Transportation engaged in "unvarnished sex discrimination" when it refused to hire four women as bridge painters.
Judge William Pauley said that the female applicants had been turned away "solely because they are women" in a written opinion made public Friday. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by the four job applicants.
Prosecutors said the city and the DOT "relied upon an arbitrary and subjective hiring process" that denied qualified female painters access to open positions while preserving "a de facto boys' club."
"The relevant decision makers at DOT always chose a man for a position when a more qualified female candidate was available," the judge wrote.
His ruling grew out of a four-day bench trial in October 2009.
A hearing is scheduled for May 27 to determine what damages the women will be awarded.
The city's Law Department said the city continues to deny the allegations and is considering an appeal.
