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Atlanta firefighters face demotions over test cheating

ATLANTA,None — A group of Atlanta firefighters have won their fight against test cheating within the department.

Channel 2's Sophia Choi went to the Fulton County courthouse Wednesday, where a judge granted the firefighters' requests to level the promotion playing field.

More than 100 firefighters filed a lawsuit against the city. They claimed supervisors gave out contents of an exam that determined which firefighters were promoted to lieutenants, and jurors agreed. 

"We have overwhelming evidence and a jury verdict of cheating," attorney Lee Parks said.

Parks, who represents the plaintiffs, said six firefighters who made above 90 on the lieutenant's test likely cheated and should be stripped of their rank.

"We've got cheating found by a jury and now confirmed by a court. An injunction ordered people removed from their positions for cheating, but the city fire department has yet to take step one to investigate," Parks said.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Kelly Lee decided the city must strip the lieutenant rank from firefighters who tested 90 or above. Those who scored 60 or above must now retake the test to make lieutenant.

The city has also been ordered to perform an internal investigation to find out who in the upper ranks leaked the information, and pay the plaintiff's legal fees.

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