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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Hickman, J., concurs."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "Dewayne WORTH v. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION of El Dorado"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Steele Hays, Justice.\nThis is the second appeal by Dewayne Worth arising from a dispute with the Civil Service Commission of El Dorado over the use of seniority in civil service eligibility. In 1985, Worth, a thirteen year veteran of the El Dorado Fire Department, took the civil service examination for promotion to the rank of captain. In that examination seniority was considered by the Civil Service Commission, resulting in Wesley Harper having a higher eligibility rating than Worth. If seniority had not been considered, Worth, rather than Harper, would have been promoted to one of the two openings which occurred during the eligibility period.\nAfter our decision in Bradley v. Bruce, 288 Ark. 342, 705 S.W.2d 431 (1986), Worth filed suit against the Civil Service Commission of El Dorado contending that the use of seniority was a violation of Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 14-51-301 (1987), and asking that he be promoted to the rank of captain. The trial court held that the decision in Bradley v. Bruce should not be applied retroactively, that to do so would be disruptive to both the fire and police departments, and on that basis Worth\u2019s suit was dismissed.\nWorth appealed and this court held that the trial court erred, because at all times material to the Bradley case, as to Worth, the statute did not provide for the use of seniority as a factor in promotion. See Worth v. Civil Service Commission, 294 Ark. 643, 746 S.W.2d 364 (Decided March 7, 1988).\nFollowing remand it appears that a vacancy in the rank of captain had occurred in 1987, and three applicants had been declared eligible for promotion, though the selection had not been completed. Counsel for Worth and the Commission agreed on March 17,1988,thatno promotion would occur until the case was resolved.\nOn April 7, the trial court entered a judgment consistent with our opinion in Worth I, reciting that seniority was not a proper consideration under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 14-51-301 (1987), that Bradley v. Bruce, supra, was applicable to the case, that the agreement suspending promotion was dissolved over Worth\u2019s objection, and that Worth\u2019s argument that he should be promoted and awarded attorney\u2019s fees should be dismissed as inconsistent with the opinion of this court.\nDewayne Worth has again appealed. He maintains that the trial court erred in failing to order his promotion to captain and in failing to award attorney\u2019s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C.A. \u00a7 1988 (West 1981). We affirm the judgment.\nWorth contends that he should be promoted, not on the basis of current eligibility, but because of our decision in the first appeal. He urges that even though the City of El Dorado and Wesley Harper are not parties, that does not prevent the commission, which is a party, from being ordered to promote him to captain. But to sustain that argument would be tantamount to overruling the decision in the first appeal, which contains this language:\nEven though the appellant prevails on his point of appeal, his victory will be one of principle only. He has not joined the captain whom he seeks to have demoted, nor has he joined the City against whom he seeks a judgment for back wages. His relief necessarily will be limited to that which can be granted against the only defendant, the Civil Service Commission of El Dorado. We can only reverse and remand for entry of a decree consistent with this opinion. (Emphasis supplied).\nJust as in Worth I, the individuals who underwent the examination process for the 1987 vacancy and established their eligibility for promotion may not have their rights prejudiced by litigation in which they were not joined. Worth v. Civil Service Commission, supra; Hunt v. McWilliams, 218 Ark. 922, 240 S.W.2d 865 (1950); Leola Lumber Co. v. Bozarth, 91 Ark. 10, 120 S.W. 152 (1909); Greer v. Mid-West National Fire & Casualty Insurance Co., 434 F.2d 215 (8th Cir. 1970); Order of Railway Conductors of America v. Gorman, 133 F.2d 273 (8th Cir. 1948). The inevitability of this result was clearly presaged in Worth I:\nThis is not the type of case we remand for a complete new trial and in which the parties may amend their pleadings. See Overton Construction Co. v. First State Bank, 285 Ark. 361, 688 S.W.2d 268 (1985); and Sanders v. Walden, 214 Ark. 523, 217 S.W.2d 357 (1949).\nTurning to the matter of attorney\u2019s fees, under the circumstances we cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in denying attorney\u2019s fees. 42 U.S.C.A. \u00a7 1988 (West 1981); Paragould Music Co., Inc. v. City of Paragould, 738 F.2d 973 (8th Cir. 1984); Johnson v. Snyder, 639 F.2d 316 (6th Cir. 1981); David v. Travisono, 621 F.2d 464 (1st Cir. 1980).\nAFFIRMED.\nHickman, J., concurs.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Steele Hays, Justice."
      },
      {
        "text": "Darrell Hickman, Justice,\nconcurring. The opinion in Worth v. Civil Service Commission, 294 Ark. 643, 746 S.W.2d 364 (1988), should have stopped with the decision that a fatal non-joinder of the necessary parties existed.",
        "type": "concurrence",
        "author": "Darrell Hickman, Justice,"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Spencer, Spencer, Depper & Guthrie, by: David F. Guthrie, for appellant.",
      "Henry C. Kinslow, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Dewayne WORTH v. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION of El Dorado\n88-188\n761 S.W.2d 169\nSupreme Court of Arkansas\nOpinion delivered December 5, 1988\nSpencer, Spencer, Depper & Guthrie, by: David F. Guthrie, for appellant.\nHenry C. Kinslow, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0251-01",
  "first_page_order": 281,
  "last_page_order": 283
}