Verdict for firefighters overturned

Hartford (AP) - The Connecticut Supreme Court has overturned a $500,000 jury verdict in favor of two black New Haven firefighters, who sued the city after they say they were denied promotions because of their race.

Chief Justice Chase Rogers wrote in the unanimous decision released Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence of discrimination against Lt. Christopher Texeira and retired Lt. John Brantley.

Texeira and Brantley claimed the city's promotion process favored white firefighters. A jury awarded Brantley about $260,000 and Texeira about $251,000 in July 2005.

A lawyer for the firefighters says he's weighing their options. The case is not related to a reverse discrimination case won by white New Haven firefighters in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling last June.

------

Information from: New Haven Register, http://www.nhregister.com