"The City is disappointed and saddened that three of our employees have chosen to file employment discrimination claims against the city," he said.

According to statistics provided by the city of Cambridge, 25.1 percent of all employees are members of recognized minority groups.

Among management and executive level jobs--the source of the litigant's charges--13.3 percent of employees are minority, 3 percent below the city's hiring target.

In an affidavit filed with the discrimination commission, William Gomes, a former affirmative action director, alleges that Healy himself engaged in questionable hiring practices.

"In my view, the management of the city of Cambridge, as an employer, has resisted treating people of color equally," Gomes' statement said.

In his reply, Healy defended the city's hiring practices.

"In the hiring, supervision, and retention of employees, we apply uniform standards of conduct and procedure...without respect to any non-job related factors, including race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, and other personal characteristics," he said.

Zucker said she is confident that her clients will win their claim.

"We expect that the evidence in this case will prove that there is a pattern and practice of racial discrimination in the city of Cambridge," Zucker said