McDowell v. Hurley

This is a petition for a writ of mandamus brought by two applicants for promotion to the position of deputy *259assessor in the assessing department of the city of Boston. The petitioners have taken a “promotional examination” which was held under the direction of the respondents and are dissatisfied with the rating which they received. They pray that the court order the respondents “to void said examination” and to reexamine all applicants. The single justice dismissed the petition as matter of law.

The petition is founded upon allegations that the respondents failed to conduct the examination…