Case Information
*1 U S D C S DNY DO C u ‘ \
UN I TE D S T A TE S D I S T R I C T C OU R T S OU T H E R N D I S T R I C T O F N E W YO R K
X DA TE F LE D 7 l L A RR I C H I S O L M a nd J OHN ELL S HA RR O C K , P l a i n ti ff s , D E C I S I ON AND O R D E R 08 C i v . 7894 ( GAY ) - a g a i n s t - L I B E R T Y L I N E S T R AN S I T I N C ., D e f e nd a n t . I . B ac kg r ound P l a i n ti ff s L a rr i C h i s o l m a nd J ohn e ll S h a rr o c k b r ough t t h i s ac ti on a g a i n s t L i b e r t y L i n e s T r a n s it I n c . ( “ L i b e r t y ” ) a ll e g i ng t h a t s a i d c o m p a ny f a il e d t o h i r e t h e m i n J a nu a r y 2008 i n v i o l a ti on o f bo t h T itl e V II o f t h e C i v il R i gh t s A c
t o f 1964 ( “ T itl e V II ” ) a nd t h e N e w Y o r k S t a t e H u m a n R i gh t s L a w , E x ec u ti v e L a w § 290 e t g . ( “ NYH R L ” ) . T r i a l c o mm e n ce d on J u l y 25 , 2011 a nd on J u l y [29] t h a j u r y r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t i n f a vo r o f p l a i n ti ff s a w a r d i ng bo t h o f t h e m $7 , 000 i n c o m p e n s a t o r y d a m a g e s a nd $5 , 000 eac h i n pun iti v e d a m a g e s . T h e i ss u e o f ec ono m i c d a m a g e s i s t o b e d ec i d e d by t h i s C ou r t .
L i b e r t y m ov e d f o r j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w pu r s u a n t t o F e d . R . C i v . P . 50 f o ll o w i ng t h e c l o s e o f t h e p l a i n ti ff’ s ca s e i n c h i e f a nd a g a i n f o ll o w i ng t h e c l o s e o f a ll t h e e v i d e n ce . T h e C ou r t r e s e r v e d on s a i d m o ti on s a nd s ub m itt e d t h e ca s e t o t h e j u r y . L i b e r t y no w m ov e s f o r j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w a s t o bo t h t h e li a b ilit y a nd pun iti v e d a m a g e a w a r d s a nd , i n t h e a lt e r n a ti v e , f o r a n e w t r i a l o r a m e nd e d j udg m e n t pu r s u a n t t o R u l e 59 .
F o r t h e r ea s on s t h a t f o ll o w , t h e m o ti o n s a r e d e n i e d . *2 II . S t a nd a r d o f R e v i e w “ J udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w m a y no t p r op e r l y b e g r a n t e d und e r R u l e 50 un l e ss t h e e v i d e n ce , v i e w e d i n t h e li gh t m o s t f a vo r a b l e t o t h e oppo s i ng p a r t y , i s i n s u ff i c i e n t t o p e r m it a r ea s on a b l e j u r o r t o f i nd i n h e r f a vo r . ’ G a l d i e r i - A m b r o s i n i v . N a ti on a l R ea lt y & D e v . C o r p ., 136 F . 3d 276 , 289 ( 2d C i r . 1998 ) .
I n m a k i ng t h i s d e t e r m i n a ti on , t h e c ou r t m u s t d e f e r ‘ t o a ll c r e d i b ilit y d e t e r m i n a ti on s m a d e by t h e j u r y a nd t o a ll r ea s on a b l e i n f e r e n ce s fr o m t h e e v i d e n ce t h a t t h e j u r y m i gh t h a v e d r a w n i n f a vo r o f t h e non m ov i ng p a r t y . ” V a s b i nd e r v . A m b ac h , 926 F . 2d 1333 , 1339 ( 2d C i r . 1991 ) . J udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w s hou l d no t b e g r a n t e d un l e ss “ ( 1 ) t h e r e i s s u c h a c o m p l e t e a b s e n ce o f e v i d e n ce s uppo r ti ng t h e v e r d i c t t h a t t h e j u r y ’ s f i nd i ng s c ou l d on l y h a v e b ee n t h e r e s u lt o f s h ee r s u r m i s e a nd c on j ec t u r e , o r ( 2 ) t h e r e i s s u c h a n ov e r w h e l m i ng a m oun t o f e v i d e n ce i n f a vo r o f t h e m ov a n t t h a t r ea s on a b l e a nd f a i r m i nd e d [ p e r s on s ] c ou l d no t a rr i v e a t a v e r d i c t a g a i n s t [ it ] . ” C r u z v . L o ca l U n i on N o . 3 o f t h e I n t ’ l B r o t h e r hood o f E l ec . W o r k e r s , 34 F . 3d 1148 , 1154 ( 2d C i r . 1994 ) .
I n s u m , “a c ou r t s hou l d r e nd e r j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w w h e n a p a r t y h a s b ee n f u ll y h ea r d on a n i ss u e a nd t h e r e i s no l e g a ll y s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n ti a r y b a s i s f o r a r ea s on a b l e j u r y t o f i nd f o r t h a t p a r t y on t h a t i ss u e . ” R ee v e s v . S a nd e r s on P l u m b i ng P r odu c t s , I n c ., 530 U . s . 133 , 149 ( 2000 ) ( i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on a nd c it a ti on o m itt e d ) .
A c ou r t m a y g r a n t a n e w t r i a l pu r s u a n t t o F RC P 59 “ i n a n ac ti on i n w h i c h t h e r e h a s b ee n a t r i a l by j u r y , f o r a ny o f t h e r ea s on s f o r w h i c h n e w t r i a l s h a v e h e r e t o f o r e b ee n g r a n t e d . ” F e d . R . C i v . P r o c . 59 ( a ) . G e n e r a ll y , a n e w t r i a l m a y b e w a rr a n t e d i f “ t h e v e r d i c t i s a g a i n s t t h e w e i gh t o f t h e e v i d e n ce , d a m a g e s a r e e x ce ss i v e , t h e v e r d i c t i s i n c on s i s t e n t , s u b s t a n ti a l e rr o r s w e r e m a d e i n a d m itti ng o r e x c l ud i ng e v i d e n ce , o r i n
*3 c h a r g i ng t h e j u r y , o r b eca u s e a m a t e r i a l i ss u e w a s i m p r op e r l y s ub m itt e d o r w it hd r a w n fr o m a j u r y . ” D e w itt v . N e w Y o r k S t a t e H ou s i ng F i n a n ce A g e n c y , N o . 97 C i v . 4651 , 1999 W L 672560 , a t *1 ( A ug . 26 , 1999 ) ( i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on a nd c it a ti on o m itt e d ) . R u l e 59 ’ s t h r e s ho l d f o r g r a n ti ng a n e w t r i a l i s l o w e r t h a n R u l e 50 ’ s t h r e s ho l d f o r g r a n ti ng j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w b eca u s e t h e t r i a l j udg e “ i s fr ee t o w e i gh t h e e v i d e n ce h i m s e l f a nd n ee d no t v i e w it i n t h e li gh t m o s t f a vo r a b l e t o t h e v e r d i c t w i nn e r . U n it e d S t a t e s v . L a nd a u , 155 F . 3d 93 , 104 ( 2d C i r . 1998 ) ( i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on a nd c it a ti on o m itt e d ) . T hu s , “a m o ti on f o r a n e w t r i a l m a y b e g r a n t e d e v e n i f t h e r e i s s ub s t a n ti a l e v i d e n ce t o s uppo r t t h e j u r y ’ s v e r d i c t . ” C a r uo l o v . J ohn C r a n e , I n c ., 226 F . 3d 46 , 54 ( 2d C i r . 2000 ) . H o w e v e r , t h e t r i a l c ou r t “ o r d i n a r il y s hou l d no t g r a n t a n e w t r i a l un l e ss it i s c onv i n ce d t h a t t h e j u r y h a s r eac h e d a s e r i ou s l y e rr on e ou s r e s u lt o r t h a t t h e v e r d i c t i s a m i s ca rr i a g e o f j u s ti ce . ” H ygh v . J ac ob s , 961 F . 2d 359 , 365 ( 2d C i r . 1992 ) ( i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on o m itt e d ) . lii . D I S C U SS I ON
A . T h e R u l e 50 a nd 59 M o ti on s D e f e nd a n t L i b e r t y a s s e r t s t h a t t h e r e w a s n o l e g a l l y s u f f i c i e n t b a s i s f o r a r ea s o n a b l e
j u r y t o f i nd f o r p l a i n ti ff s on t h e i r “ s e x - p l u s ” d i s c r i m i n a ti on c l a i m a nd a w a r d pun iti v e d a m a g e s . L i b e r t y a r gu e s , i n t e r a /i a , t h a t p l a i n ti ff s d i d no t e s t a b li s h a t t r i a l t h a t t h e y w e r e d e n i e d po s iti on s a s bu s op e r a t o r s und e r c i r c u m s t a n ce s g i v i ng r i s e t o a n i n f e r e n ce o f “ s e x p l u s ” d i s c r i m i n a ti on ; t h a t t h e h i r i ng s t a ti s ti c s t h a t w e r e a d m itt e d i n t o e v i d e n ce a t t h e t r i a l do e s no t r e v ea l a ny d i s c r i m i n a ti on ; t h a t p l a i n ti ff s d i d no t p r ov e t h a t t h e y w e r e
*4 qu a li f i e d f o r a po s iti on a s a bu s d r i v e r o r r e bu t L i b e r t y ’ s l e g iti m a t e bu s i n e ss r ea s on s f o r no t h i r i ng t h e m ; a nd t h a t t h e p r oo f a g a i n s t L i b e r t y d i d no t e s t a b li s h m a li ce o r r ec k l e ss n e ss r e qu i r e d f o r a pun iti v e d a m a g e s a w a r d . L i b e r t y a l s o s t a t e s t h a t p l a i n ti ff s ’ un t r u t h f u l a nd / o r p e r j u r e d t r i a l t e s ti m ony j u s ti f i e s , a t l ea s t , v aca ti ng t h e pun iti v e d a m a g e s a w a r d s .
P l a i n ti ff s , on t h e o t h e r h a nd , c on t e nd t h a t t h e t r i a l e v i d e n ce w a s m o r e t h a n s u ff i c i e n t t o p e r m it a r ea s on a b l e j u r y t o f i nd i n p l a i n ti ff s ’ f a vo r a s t h e y d i d . P l a i n ti ff s a l s o s t a t e t h a t L i b e r t y h a s i m p r op e r l y r a i s e d i n t h i s po s t - v e r d i c t m o ti on t h e i ss u e f o r t h e f i r s t ti m e t h a t p l a i n ti ff s ’ w e r e no t qu a li f i e d f o r bu s op e r a t o r po s iti on s . T h e y a l s o a ss e r t t h a t t h e r e i s no e v i d e n ce o f p e r j u r y o r un t r u t h f u l n e ss by t h e p l a i n ti ff s on t h i s t r i a l r ec o r d t h a t w ou l d j u s ti f y g r a n ti ng a ny r e li e f t o L i b e r t y . P l a i n ti ff s a l s o u r g e s t h e C ou r t t o d i s r e g a r d a n a ff i d a v it o f a L i b e r t y e m p l oy ee t h a t w a s s ub m itt e d w it h t h e R u l e 50 m o ti on h e r e i n .
P l a i n ti ff s c on t e nd t h a t L i b e r t y f a il e d t o h i r e t h e m a s bu s op e r a t o r s b eca u s e t h e y a r e A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s . S u c h “ s e x ‘ p l u s ” c l a i m s o f e m p l oy m e n t d i s c r i m i n a ti on b r ough t pu r s u a n t t o T itl e V II a r e a n a l y ze d und e r t h e f a m ili a r bu r d e n - s h i f ti ng fr a m e w o r k s e t f o r t h i n M c D onn e ll - D oug l a s C o r p v . G r ee n , 411 U . S . 782 , 802 - 03 ( 1973 ) ; B lit ze r v , P o tt e r , N o . 03 C i v . 6124 , 2005 W L 1107064 a t 9 ( S . D . N . Y . M a y 6 , 2005 ) . A p l a i n ti ff m u s t f i r s t s a ti s f y t h e m i n i m a l bu r d e n o f m a k i ng ou t a p r i m a f ac i e ca s e o f d i s c r i m i n a ti on by s ho w i ng t h a t “ ( 1 ) h e i s a m e m b e r o f a p r o t ec t e d c l a ss . ( 2 ) h e w a s qu a li f i e d f o r t h e po s iti on h e h e l d , “ ( 3 ) h e s u ff e r e d a n a dv e r s e e m p l oy m e n t ac ti on ; a nd ( 4 ) t h e a dv e r s e ac ti on t ook p l ace und e r c i r c u m s t a n ce s g i v i ng r i s e t o t h e i n f e r e n ce o f d i s c r i m i n a t i on . ” R u i z v . C n t y . o f R o c k l a n d . 60 9 F . 3 d 48 6 , 49 2 ( 2 d C i r . 20 10 ) .
*5 A p l a i n ti ff’ s bu r d e n i n p r e s e n ti ng p r i m a f ac i e e v i d e n ce i s d e m i n i m i s . A bud - B r i ss on v . D e lt a A i r li n e s , I n c ., 239 F . 3d 456 , 467 ( 2d C i r . ) , ce r t d e n i e d , 534 U . S . 993 ( 2001 ) . L i b e r t y c on t e nd s , ho w e v e r , t h a t p l a i n ti ff s d i d no t p r ov e t h a t t h e y w e r e qu a li f i e d f o r t h e po s iti on o f bu s d r i v e r . A p a r t y m a y r e qu e s t po s t - v e r d i c t j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w pu r s u a n t t o F e d . R . C i v . P . 50 ( b ) on l y i f t h e y s ough t s u c h r e li e f b e f o r e t h e j u r y r e ti r e d . P r ovo s t v . C it y o f N e w bu r gh , 262 , F . 3d 146 , 161 ( 2d C i r . 2001 ) . T h e s c op e o f t h e l a t e r m o ti on i s li m it e d t o t ho s e g r ound s s p ec i f i ca ll y r a i s e d i n t h e p r i o r R u l e 50 m o ti on du r i ng t h e t r i a l . fr i . ( c it a ti on a nd quo t a ti on s o m itt e d ) ; M c C a r d l e v . H a dd a d , 131 F . 3d 43 , 51 ( 2d C i r . 1997 )( ” I n s u m a po s tt r i a l m o ti on f o r j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w ca n p r op e r l y b e m a d e on l y i f , a nd t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t , s u c h a m o ti on s p ec i f y i ng t h e s a m e g r ound s w a s m a d e p r i o r t o t h e s ub m i ss i on o f t h e ca s e t o t h e j u r y . ” ) . A r e v i e w o f t h e r ec o r d s ho w s t h a t L i b e r t y d i d no t m a k e t h e i r t r i a l m o ti on s f o r j udg m e n t a s m a tt e r o f l a w on t h e s p ec i f i c g r ound s t h a t p l a i n ti ff s w e r e no t qu a li f i e d f o r t h e po s iti on . T r i a l T r . 494 - 98 , 579 . A cc o r d i ng l y , L i b e r t y ca nno t no w m ov e po s t - v e r d i c t pu r s u a n t t o R u l e 50 ( b ) on s a i d g r ound s .
If t h e p l a i n ti ff e s t a b li s h e s a p r i m a f a d e ca s e , t h e bu r d e n s h i f t s t o t h e e m p l oy e r t o a r ti c u l a t e a l e g it i m a t e , no n - d i s c r i m i n a t o r y r ea s o n f o r e m p l o y ee ’ s d i s m i s s a l . T e x a s D e p ’ t o f C m t y . A ff a i r s v , B u r d i n e , 450 U . S . 248 , 252 - 53 ( 1981 ) .
If s u c h a r ea s on i s p r o f e rr e d , t h e bu r d e n s h i f t s b ac k t o t h e p l a i n ti ff t o p r ov e t h a t d i s c r i m i n a ti on w a s t h e r ea l r ea s on f o r e m p l oy m e n t ac ti on . j . a t 253 .
H e r e , p l a i n ti ff s s ee k t o e s t a b li s h a n i n f e r e n ce o f d i s c r i m i n a t o r y i n t e n t un d e r a *6 “ d i s p a r a t e t r ea t m e n t ” t h e o r y . ( T r . a t 12 ) 1 “ A s ho w i ng o f d i s p a r a t e t r ea t m e n t - t h a t i s , a s ho w i ng t h a t t h e e m p l oy e r t r ea t e d p l a i n ti ff ‘ l e ss f a vo r a b l y t h a n a s i m il a r l y s it u a t e d e m p l oy ee ou t s i d e h i s p r o t ec t e d g r oup ’ - i s a r ec ogn i ze d m e t hod o f r a i s i ng a n i n f e r e n ce o f d i s c r i m i n a ti on f o r pu r po s e s o f m a k i ng ou t a p r i m a f ac i e ca s e . ” M a nd e ll v . C n t y . o f S u ff o l k , 316 F . 3d 368 , 379 ( 2d C i r . 2003 )( quo ti ng G r a h a m v . L ong I s l a nd R . R , 230 F . 3d 34 , 39 ( 2d C i r . 2000 ) . T o r a i s e a n i n f e r e n ce o f d i s c r i m i n a ti on by s ho w i ng d i s p a r a t e t r ea t m e n t “ t h e p l a i n ti ff m u s t s ho w [ 1 h e w a s ‘ s i m il a r l y s it u a t e d i n a ll m a t e r i a l r e s p ec t s ’ t o t h e i nd i v i du a l s w it h w ho m [] h e s ee k s t o c o m p a r e h [ i m j s e l f . ” G r a h a m , 230 F . 3d a t 39 ( quo ti ng S hu m w a y v . U n it e d P a r ce l S e r v i ce , I n c ., 118 F . 3d 60 , 64 ( 2d C i r . 1997 ) .
P l a i n ti ff s c on t e nd e d a t t r i a l t h a t t h e d i s c r i m i n a t o r y ac ti on t a k e n a g a i n s t t h e m w a s t h e r e f u s a l o f L i b e r t y t o h i r e t h e m a s a r e s u lt o f t h e i r D ece m b e r 2007 a pp li ca ti on b eca u s e t h e y w e r e A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n w o m e n . F ou r a pp li ca n t s , B r e n t S t r a l e y , D e n i s e B e ss - B oyd , W a lt e r W a l k e r a nd T ho m a s O ’ R e ill y , w e r e c ho s e n f o r t h e J a nu a r y 28 , 2008 bu s op e r a t o r t r a i n i ng c l a ss fr o m t h e J un e t o D ece m b e r a pp li ca ti on s . ( E x . 8 , #038 ) . S a i d a pp li ca ti on s i n c l ud e d a t l ea s t s e v e n t ee n ( 17 ) A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s i n c l ud i ng t h e p l a i n ti ff s . ( E x . 7 ) .
Z e n ec k P r o ce k . E x ec u ti v e D i r ec t o r o f O p e r a ti on s a t L i b e r t y , w a s r e s pon s i b l e f o r i n t e r v i e w i ng j ob a pp li ca n t s f o r bu s op e r a t o r o r v a n op e r a t o r po s iti on s du r i ng t h e y ea r s 2000 t h r ough 2007 , ( T r . 231 ) . P r o ce k w ou l d d e t e r m i n e w ho w ou l d g e t a f i r s t i n t e r v i e w , c ondu c t t ho s e i n t e r v i e w s a nd d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e a pp li ca n t w ou l d g e t a s ec ond
1 ’ T r . ” r e f e r s t o t h e p a g e s o f t h e t r i a l t r a n s c r i p t . *7 i n t e r v i e w . ( T r . 232 - 33 ) . H e l ook e d f o r a c l ea n c o mm e r c i a l d r i v i ng li ce n s e ( “ C D L ” ) , d r i v i ng f o r t h r ee y ea r s o r m o r e a nd a s t a b l e w o r k h i s t o r y i n h i s i n iti a l e v a l u a ti on . ( T r . 236 ) . P r o ce k w ou l d no t c on s i d e r a nyon e w ho d i d no t h a v e a C D L . ( T r . 236 - 37 ) .
I t w a s po ss i b l e f o r a pp li ca n t s w ho h a d g a p s i n e m p l oy m e n t o f m o r e t h a n t w o o r t h r ee y ea r s t o b e i n t e r v i e w e d . ( T r . 239 ) . T h e C ou r t f i nd s t h a t t h e e v i d e n ce b e f o r e t h e j u r y w a s s u ff i c i e n t f o r t h e m t o c on c l ud e t h a t S h a rr o c k a nd C h i s o l m m e t s a i d c r it e r i a t o b e h i r e d a s bu s op e r a t o r s . P l a i n ti ff S h a rr o c k ’ s a pp li ca ti on w a s d e n i e d b eca u s e s h e d i d no t li s t a ll o f h e r w o r k h i s t o r y . ( T r . 266 ) . P r o ca k a l s o no t e d i n c on s i s t e n t i n f o r m a ti on t h a t h e r ece i v e d fr o m C h i s o l m du r i ng h e r v a r i ou s i n t e r v i e w s a s t h e r ea s on f o r h e r no t b e i ng h i r e d . ( E x . 1 ; 14 ( a t B a t e s p . 374 ) ; a nd 15 ( a t B a t e s p . 397 ) .
B e f o r e t h e j u r y w a s t e s ti m ony a nd e v i d e n ce o f ho w L i b e r t y t r ea t e d t h e p l a i n ti ff s du r i ng t h e i r i n t e r v i e w s a nd a pp li ca ti on p r o ce ss ( T r . 177 - 81 , 257 - 266 , 273 - 282 , 392 - 393 , 444 - 445 , 448 - 45 - , 451 - 452 , 483 - 484 ) , c on t r a s t e d t o t h e t r ea t m e n t a nd h i r i ng o f o t h e r s ou t s i d e t h e c l a ss o f A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s w ho w e r e h i r e d ( E x . 9 , T r , 309 - 347 , 348 - 360 , 393 , 545 - 547 m 549 - 550 m 550 - 554 , 555 - 556 ) . F o r e x a m p l e , B r e n t S t r a l e y , a C a u ca s i a n m a l e , a pp li e d i n J un e 2007 a nd w a s h i r e d i n D ece m b e r 2007 . ( E x . 9 - M , 15 82 - 1 58 7 ) . P r o ca k i n d i ca t e d t h a t S t r a l e y w a s u n p r e p a r e d f o r h i s i n t e r v i e w , d i d no t kno w h i s w o r k h i s t o r y r e l a t e d t o h i s a pp li ca ti on , h a d littl e t o no e xp e r i e n ce w it h v e h i c l e s l a r g e r t h a n a U - H a u l t r u c k , h a d littl e o r no kno w l e dg e o f W e s t c h e s t e r , a nd on l y li s t e d d a t e s f o r j ob s f o r on e y ea r p r i o r t o h i s a pp li ca ti on . W a lt e r W a l k e r , a n A fr i ca n A m e r i ca n m a l e , a pp li e d i n O c t ob e r 2007 a nd w a s h i r e d t o s t a r t i n J a nu a r y 2008 . ( E x . 9 - N , 2627 - 2638 ) . P r o ca k no t e d t h a t W a l k e r “ n ee d s e xp e r i e n ce” w h e n h e i n t e r v i e w e d h i m i n
*8 D ece m b e r 2007 . ( T r . 354 - 356 ) . W a l k e r’ s e m p l oy m e n t h i s t o r y d i d no t d e m on s t r a t e s t a b ilit y .
M o r e ov e r , t h e t r i a l r ec o r d a l s o i n c l ud e d s t a ti s ti ca l e v i d e n ce o f L i b e r t y ’ s h i r i ng r ec o r d i n t h e y ea r s p r i o r t o p l a i n ti ff s ’ 2007 e m p l oy m e n t a pp li ca ti on s . S a i d e v i d e n ce s ho w e d t h e li m it e d nu m b e r o f A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s h i r e d a s bu s op e r a t o r s i n t h e y ea r s p r ece d i ng 2008 . ( E x . 10 , 11 ) . F o r e x a m p l e , a n a n a l y s i s o f E x . 17 s ho w s t h a t i n 2004 f i f t y -f ou r ( 54 ) A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s a pp li e d f o r bu s op e r a t o r po s iti on s a nd t w o ( 2 ) w e r e h i r e d ; f o r t y -f i v e ( 4 5 ) H i s p a n i c f e m a l e s a pp li e d a nd s i x ( 6 ) w e r e h i r e d ; a nd s e v e n ( 7 ) C a u ca s i a n f e m a l e s a pp li e d a nd non e w e r e h i r e d .
I n 2005 , f i f t y - t w o ( 52 ) A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s a pp li e d a nd non e w e r e h i r e d ; f i f t y -f ou r ( 54 ) H i s p a n i c f e m a l e s a pp li e d a nd e l e v e n ( 11 ) w e r e h i r e d ; a nd n i n e ( 9 ) C a u ca s i a n f e m a l e s a pp li e d a nd t w o ( 2 ) w e r e h i r e d . ( E x . 17 ; P I s . M e m o . o f L a w i n O pp . T o D e f t s . M o t . F o r J udg m e n t a t 16 ) .
L i b e r t y d i d h i r e D e s i r ee B e ss - B oyd , a n A fr i ca n A m e r i ca n f e m a l e , w ho a l s o s t a r t e d i n J a nu a r y 2008 . H o w e v e r , t h e j u r y h a d b e f o r e it e v i d e n ce s u ff i c i e n t t o d e m on s t r a t e d i s p a r a t e t r ea t m e n t . T h e j u r y w a s a l s o a b l e t o a ss e ss t h e c r e d i b ilit y o f t h e p l a i n ti ff s a nd t h e w it n e ss e s fr o m L i b e r t y a s t o t h e i r s t a t e d r ea s on s f o r t h e h i r i ng d ec i s i on s . T h e C ou r t c on c l ud e s t h a t t h e r e w a s s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n ce t o s uppo r t t h e v e r d i c t s o f t h e j u r y . A cc o r d i ng l y , t h e m o ti on o f L i b e r t y f o r j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w pu r s u a n t t o R u l e 50 i s d e n i e d , T h i s C ou r t a l s o c on c l ud e s t h a t t h e v e r d i c t w a s no t a “ s e r i ou s l y e rr on e ou s r e s u lt ” o r a “ m i s ca rr i a g e o f j u s ti ce . ” H ygh v . J ac ob s , 961 F . 2d a t 365 . T h e C ou r t a l s o f i nd s t h a t t h e v e r d i c t w a s no t a g a i n s t t h e w e i gh t o f t h e e v i d e n c e t h a t w a s b e f o r e t h e j u r y . A s s u c h , t h e m o ti o n f o r a n e w t r i a l pu r s u a n t t o R u l e 59 i s a l s o d e n i e d ,
*9 B . J u r y I n s t r u c ti on s L i b e r t y a r gu e s t h a t it i s e n titl e d t o j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w b eca u s e t h e C ou r t r e f u s e d t o g i v e a j u r y i n s t r u c ti on t h a t i n c l ud e d l a ngu a g e u s e d by D i s t r i c t J udg e K e nn e t h M . K a r a s i n h i s d ec i s i on on s u mm a r y j udg m e n t . L i b e r t y p r opo s e d t h a t t h e C ou r t i n s t r u c t t h e j u r y a s f o ll o w s : “ W h il e t h e f ac t t h a t L i b e r t y L i n e s h i r e d o t h e r A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s du r i ng t h e s a m e ti m e p e r i od do e s no t p r e v e n t p l a i n ti ff s fr o m b r i ng i ng t h i s l a w s u it , it do e s po s e a s i gn i f i ca n t hu r d l e t h a t p l a i n ti ff m u s t ov e r c o m e . ” ( T r . 592 ) . T h e C ou r t d ec li n e d t o g i v e t h e r e qu e s t e d c h a r g e a nd s t a t e d : “ I r ea d w h a t J udg e K a r a s s a i d on s u mm a r y j udg m e n t . H o w e v e r , t h e r e i s a l o t o f l a ngu a g e i n s u mm a r y j udg m e n t t h a t ’ s no t a pp r op r i a t e f o r j u r y i n s t r u c ti on s . I b e li e v e t h i s i s on e o f t h e m . Y ou ca n m a k e you r a r gu m e n t s t o t h e j u r y c on ce r n i ng w h a t you j u s t s a i d , you kno w , t h a t o t h e r A fr i ca n - A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s w e r e h i r e d . ”
T h e C ou r t a dh e r e s t o it s r u li ng a t t h e j u r y c h a r g e c on f e r e n ce t h a t t h e u s e o f s u c h l a ngu a g e i n a s u mm a r y j udg m e n t d ec i s i on do e s no t r e qu i r e it s u s e i n t h e j u r y i n s t r u c ti on s t o b e g i v e n . T h e j u r y i n s t r u c ti on s t h a t w e r e g i v e n w e r e c o rr ec t s t a t e m e n t s o f t h e l a w . T h e C ou r t ’ s r e f u s a l t o g i v e t h e r e qu e s t e d l a ngu a g e do e s no t w a rr a n t t h e g r a n ti ng o f t h e m o ti on o r j u s ti f y a n e w t r i a l .
C . P un iti v e D a m a g e s T h e j u r y a w a r d e d eac h p l a i n ti ff t h e a m oun t o f $5 , 000 i n pun iti v e d a m a g e s on t h e i r
“ s e x - p l u s ” c l a i m s h e r e i n . L i b e r t y c o n t e n d s t h a t i t i s e n ti t l e d t o j u d g m e n t a s a m a t t e r o f l a w o r a n e w t r i a l on s a i d pun iti v e d a m a g e s a w a r d s , L i b e r t y a r gu e s t h a t t h e e v i d e n ce *10 d i d no t e s t a b li s h t h a t it ac t e d w it h m a li ce o r r ec k l e ss d i s r e g a r d o f t h e r i gh t s o f t h e p l a i n ti ff s . L i b e r t y f u r t h e r a ll e g e s t h a t un t r u t h f u l t e s ti m ony by t h e p l a i n ti ff s j u s ti f i e s v aca ti ng t h e a w a r d o f pun iti v e d a m a g e s . P l a i n ti ff s , on t h e o t h e r h a nd , a ss e r t t h a t t h e e v i d e n ce a t t r i a l w a s s u ff i c i e n t t o s ho w t h a t L i b e r t y ac t e d w it h r ec k l e ss d i s r e g a r d o f t h e i r r i gh t s .
P un iti v e d a m a g e s i n a T itl e V II ca s e a r e a v a il a b l e w h e r e t h e e v i d e n ce d e m on s t r a t e s t h a t ‘ t h e e m p l oy e r h a s ‘ e ng a g e d i n i n t e n ti on a l d i s c r i m i n a ti on a nd h a s don e s o w it h m a li ce o r w it h r ec k l e ss i nd i ff e r e n ce t o t h e f e d e r a ll y p r o t ec t e d r i gh t s o f a n a gg r i e v e d i nd i v i du a l . ” Z i mm e r m a n v . A ss o c s . F i r s t C a p it a l C o r p ., 251 F . 3d 376 , 384 ( 2d C i r . 2001 )( quo t a ti on o m itt e d ) . H e r e , t h e t r i a l e v i d e n ce e n titl e d t h e j u r y t o f i nd t h a t L i b e r t y i n t e n ti on a ll y d i s c r i m i n a t e d a g a i n s t t h e p l a i n ti ff w e ll kno w i ng t h a t o t h e r s ou t s i d e t h e c l a ss o f A fr i ca n A m e r i ca n f e m a l e s w e r e b e i ng h i r e d w it h t h e s a m e i ss u e s t h a t w e r e t h e s t a t e d r ea s on s f o r no t h i r i ng p l a i n ti ff s . A s a dv a n ce d by p l a i n ti ff s , t h e r e w a s s t a ti s ti ca l e v i d e n ce c on ce r n i ng t h e “ s e x p l u s ” c l a i m s t h a t e n titl e d t h e j u r y t o c on c l ud e t h a t s u c h d i s c r i m i n a ti on w a s l ong s t a nd i ng . A l s o , it i s c l ea r t h a t t h e j u r y d i d no t c r e d it L i b e r t y ’ s s t a t e d r ea s on s f o r no t h i r i ng p l a i n ti ff s . A s s u c h , t h e e v i d e n ce w a s s u ff i c i e n t t o s ho w r ec k l e s s i n d i ff e r e n c e by L i b e r t y t o t h e p l a i n ti f f s ’ p r o t ec t e d r i g h t s . T h e j u r y w a s e n t it l e d t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r o r no t p l a i n ti ff s w e r e i n t e n ti on a ll y un t r u t h f u l i n t h e i r t e s ti m ony . T h e C ou r t d ec li n e s t o c on s i d e r t h e a ff i d a v it o f T a n i a W illi a m s s ub m itt e d w it h t h e m o ti on s h e r e i n w ho w a s a v a il a b l e t o b e ca ll e d a s a t r i a l w it n e ss .
A cc o r d i ng l y , t h e m o ti o n s c o n ce r n i n g t h e p u n i t i v e d a m a g e s a w a r d s a r e d e n i e d . *11 I V . E c ono m i c D a m a g e s U pon t h e m o ti on o f d e f e nd a n t , it w a s o r d e r e d t h a t t h e e qu it a b l e d a m a g e s r e m e d i e s
und e r T itl e V II w ou l d b e d ec i d e d by t h e C ou r t i f t h e j u r y f ound li a b ilit y a g a i n s t L i b e r t y . P l a i n ti ff s no w s ee k d a m a g e s f o r b ac k p a y , l o s t b e n e f it s a nd fr on t p a y i n li e u o f t h e i r b e i ng h i r e d a s bu s op e r a t o r s w it h L i b e r t y . A f t e r t h e j u r y r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t i n f a vo r o f t h e p l a i n ti ff s , t h e C ou r t r e qu e s t e d po s t - t r i a l b r i e f s r e g a r d i ng t h e ca l c u l a ti on o f d a m a g e s .
A p l a i n ti ff p r e v a ili ng i n a T itl e V II ac ti on m a y b e e n titl e d t o “ b ac k p a y ” a nd “ fr on t p a y ” R ob i n s on v . M e t r o - N o r t h C o mm u t e r R . R . C o ., 267 F . 3d 147 , 157 ( 2d C i r . 2001 ) , ce r t . d e n i e d , 535 U . S . 951 ( 2002 ) . “ T h e pu r po s e o f b ac k p a y i s t o c o m p l e t e l y r e d r e ss t h e ec ono m i c i n j u r y t h e p l a i n ti ff h a s s u ff e r e d a s a r e s u lt o f d i s c r i m i n a ti on . ” S a u l p a ugh v . M on r o e C o mm un it y H o s p ., 4 F . 3d 134 , 145 ( 2d C i r . 1993 ) , ce r t . d e n i e d , 510 U . S . 1164 ( 1994 )( i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on s a nd c it a ti on s o m itt e d ) . A n a w a r d o f b ac k p a y m a y i n c l ud e l o s t w a g e s , a n ti c i p a t e d r a i s e s a nd fr i ng e b e n e f it s .
I d . A “ p l a i n ti ff i s e n titl e d t o a n a w a r d o f b ac k p a y fr o m t h e d a t e o f h e r t e r m i n a ti on un til t h e d a t e o f j udg m e n t . ” j 4 . a t 144 . S eea l s o C a rr e r ov . N . Y . C . H ou s i n c A u t h ., 890 F . 2d 569 , 580 ( 2d C i r . 1989 )(’[ a ] n a w a r d o f b ac kp a y i s t h e r u l e , no t t h e e x ce p ti on ” ) . T hu s , i n ou r ca s e h e r e i n , p l a i n ti ff s m a y b e e n titl e d t o b ac k p a y a w a r d s fr o m J a nu a r y 28 , 2008 , t h e d a t e t h e y w ou l d h a v e b e g a n w o r k a t L i b e r t y b a s e d on t h e i r D ece m b e r 2007 a pp li ca ti on s ; a nd t h e J u l y 29 , 2011 d a t e o f t h e j u r y v e r d i c t; a ss u m i ng t h a t t h e y r ea s on a b l y m iti g a t e d d a m a g e s .
T h e pu r po s e o f “ fr on t p a y ” i s t o a l s o m a k e t h e v i c ti m o f un l a w f u l d i s c r i m i n a ti on w ho l e . A n a w a r d o f fr on t p a y “ s e r v e s a n ece ss a r y r o l e i n m a k i ng v i c ti m s o f *12 d i s c r i m i n a ti on w ho l e i n ca s e s w h e r e t h e f ac t f i nd e r ca n r ea s on a b l y p r e d i c t t h a t t h e p l a i n ti ff h a s no r ea s on a b l e p r o s p ec t o f ob t a i n i ng c o m p a r a b l e a lt e r n a ti v e e m p l oy m e n t . ” W h ittl e s e y v . U n i on C a r b i d e C o r p ., 742 F . 2d 724 , 729 ( 2d C i r . 1984 ) . I n d ec i d i ng w h e t h e r a n a w a r d o f fr on t p a y i s a pp r op r i a t e , a c ou r t s hou l d c on s i d e r ( 1 ) w h e t h e r “ r e i n s t a t e m e n t [ i s ] e it h e r i m po ss i b l e o r i m p r ac ti ca b l e” ; ( 2 ) w h e t h e r t h e p l a i n ti ff h a s a r ea s on a b l e p r o s p ec t o f ob t a i n i ng c o m p a r a b l e e m p l oy m e n t; a nd ( 3 ) w h e t h e r t h e ca l c u l a ti on o f fr on t p a y w ou l d i nvo l v e ‘ undu e s p ec u l a ti on . ” fr i . A n a w a r d o f fr on t p a y ca nno t b e undu l y s p ec u l a ti v e . D un I a - M c C u l I e r v . R i e s e O r g ., 980 F . 2d 153 , 159 ( 2d C i r . 1992 ) , ce r t . d e n i e d , 510 U . S . 908 ( 1993 ) ; C h i s ho l m v . M e m o r i a l S l o a n - K e tt e r i ng C a n ce r C e n t e r , 824 F . S upp . 2d 573 , 577 ( S . D . N . Y . 201 1 )( a w a r d o f fr on t p a y f o r t w o y ea r s f ound t o b e w a rr a n t e d ) ; H ill v . A i r bo r n e F r e i gh t C o r p ., N o s . 97 - C V - 7098 , 98 - C V - 6249 , 2003 W L 366641 , a t *5 ( E . D . N . Y . F e b . 20 , 2003 )( a w a r d i ng fr on t p a y f o r a pp r ox i m a t e l y on e y ea r a nd c o ll ec ti ng ca s e s ) ; P a d ill a v . M e t r o - N o r t h C o mm u t e r R a il r o a d , 92 F . 3d 117 , 126 ( 2d C i r . 1996 ) , ce r t . d e n i e d , 520 U . S . 1274 ( 1997 )( a w a r d i ng fr on t p a y f o r ov e r 20 y ea r s ) ; T y l e r v . B e t h l e h e m S t ee l C o r p ., 958 F . 2d 1176 , 1189 ( 2d C i r . ) , ce r i d e n i e d , 506 U . S . 826 ( 1992 )( a w a r d i ng fr on t p a y f o r a 17 y ea r p e r i od ) .
H o w e v e r , a p r e v a i li ng p l a i n ti f f f o rf e it s t h e i r r i g h t t o b ac k o r fr on t p a y i f t h e y f a il t o m iti g a t e d a m a g e s by no t u s i ng “ r ea s on a b l e d ili g e n ce i n f i nd i ng o t h e r s u it a b l e e m p l oy m e n t . ” F o r d M o t o r C o . v . EE O C . 458 U . S . 219 , 231 ( 1982 ) . P l a i n ti ff’ s du t y i s “ no t on e r ou s , a nd do e s no t r e qu i r e [ h e r] t o b e s u cce ss f u l i n m iti g a ti on . ” D a il e y v . S o c i e t e G e n e r a l e , 108 F . 3d 451 , 456 ( 2d C i r . 1997 )( i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on s a nd c it a ti on s o m itt e d ) . M o r e ov e r , “ t h e un e m p l oy e d o r und e r e m p l oy e d c l a i m a n t n ee d no t go i n t o *13 a no t h e r li n e o f w o r k , acce p t a d e m o ti on , o r t a k e a d e m ea n i ng po s iti on . ” F o r d M o t o r C o ., 458 u . s . a t 231 .
T h e d e f e nd a n t h a s t h e bu r d e n o f p r ov i ng “ ( 1 ) t h a t s u it a b l e w o r k e x i s t e d , a nd ( 2 ) t h a t t h e e m p l oy ee d i d no t m a k e r ea s on a b l e e ff o r t s t o ob t a i n it.” H a w k i ng s v. 1115 L e g a l S e r v . C a r e , 163 F . 3d 684 , 695 ( 2d C i r . 1998 ) . H o w e v e r , a n e m p l oy e r ca n b e “ r e l ea s e d fr o m t h e du t y t o e s t a b li s h t h e a v a il a b ilit y o f c o m p a r a b l e e m p l oy m e n t if it ca n p r ov e t h a t t h e e m p l oy ee m a d e no r ea s on a b l e e ff o r t s t o s ee k s u c h e m p l oy m e n t . ” G r ee n w a y v. B u ff a l o H ilt on H o t e l , 143 F . 3d 47 , 54 ( 2d C i r . 1998 ) .
P l a i n ti ff s a nd L i b e r t y d i s pu t e w h e t h e r o r no t a n a w a r d o f fr on t p a y i s a pp r op r i a t e in t h i s m a tt e r . L i b e r t y , i n t e r a li a , c on t e nd s t h a t fr on t p a y i s i n a pp r op r i a t e b eca u s e it h a s no t b ee n d e m on s t r a t e d t h a t p l a i n ti ff s h a v e no r ea s on a b l e p r o s p ec t o f ob t a i n i ng c o m p a r a b l e a lt e r n a ti v e e m p l oy m e n t b eca u s e o f t h e “ un i qu e a nd n a rr o w w o r k s k ill s ” i nvo l v e d c iti ng W h ittl e s e y , 742 F . 2d a t 729 a nd P a d ill a , 92 F . 3d a t 125 . L i b e r t y f u r t h e r c on t e nd s t h a t a n a w a r d o f fr on t p a y w ou l d b e s p ec u l a ti v e a nd un w a rr a n t e d ; a nd , in a ny e v e n t , s hou l d no t b e a w a r d e d f o r t h e nu m b e r o f y ea r s s ough t by p l a i n ti ff s . L i b e r t y a l s o a r gu e s t h a t a ny a w a r d o f fr on t p a y m u s t b e b a s e d on t h e d i ff e r e n ce b e t w ee n L i b e r t y w a g e s a nd w h a t p l a i n ti ff s c ou l d h a v e ea r n e d a t R oy a l . L i b e r t y a l s o a ss e r t s t h a t a ny a w a r d o f fr on t p a y m u s t b e r e du ce d t o p r e s e n t v a l u e . P l a i n ti ff s c on t e nd t h a t p l a i n ti ff s s hou l d b e a w a r d e d fr on t p a y t o t h e i r p r o j ec t e d r e ti r e m e n t s a t a g e 65 .
A s s e t f o r t h a bov e , fr on t p a y i s a w a r d e d in t h e s ound d i s c r e ti on o f t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t . A w a r d s o f fr on t p a y a r e n ece ss a r il y p ec u li a r t o t h e f ac t s o f eac h ca s e a nd s u c h a w a r d s *14 r e qu i r e a d e g r ee o f p r e d i c ti on . M eac h a m v . K no ll s A t o m i c P o w e r L a bo r a t o r y , 185 F . S upp . 2d 193 , 219 ( N . D . N . Y . 2002 ) , a ff d , 381 F . 2d 56 ( 2d C i r . 2004 ) ; j udg m e n t v aca t e d , 554 U . S . 84 ( 2008 ) . T h e S ec ond C i r c u it h a s ob s e r v e d t h a t “ fr on t p a y a w a r d s a l w a y s i nvo l v e s o m e d e g r ee o f s p ec u l a ti on [ . ] ” T y l e r v . B e t h l e h e m S t ee l C o r p ., 958 F . 2d 1176 , 1189 ( 2d C i r . ) , ce r t . d e n i e d , 506 U . S . 826 ( 1992 ) . L i b e r t y c on t e nd s t h a t bo t h p l a i n ti ff s a r e no t e n titl e d t o b ac k p a y o r fr on t b eca u s e t h e y f a il e d t o r ea s on a b l y m iti g a t e d a m a g e s a f t e r J a nu a r y 2008 ; t h e d a t e t h e y w ou l d h a v e s t a r t e d w o r k f o r L i b e r t y i f h i r e d b a s e d on t h e i r D ece m b e r 2007 a pp li ca ti on s .
1 . P l a i n ti ff C h i s o l m R ea s on a b l y M iti g a t e d D a m a g e s P l a i n ti ff C h i s o l m h e l d do w n a p a r t - ti m e j ob a t R oy a l C o ac h , a c o m p a ny t h a t d i d no t
h a v e f u ll - ti m e j ob s f o r bu s op e r a t o r s . ( T r . 431 , 516 ) . C h i s o l m a l s o w o r k e d du r i ng t h e d a y a s a ca f e t e r i a l un c h ca s h i e r a t a Y onk e r s pub li c s c hoo l . ( T r . 440 ) . S i n ce r ece i v i ng t h e l e tt e r fr o m L i b e r t y t h a t s h e w ou l d no t b e h i r e d d a t e d J a nu a r y 30 , 2008 , C h i s o l m s ough t c o m p a r a b l e f u ll - ti m e w o r k a t N e w J e r s e y T r a n s it , C onn ec ti c u t T r a n s it , a nd t h e M e t r opo lit a n T r a n s po r t a ti on A g e n c y ( “ M T A ” ) ( T r . 487 ) . S h e i s on a w a iti ng li s t f o r a c ondu c t o r po s iti on a t t h e M T A . ( T r . 487 - 88 ) . C h i s o l m a l s o s ub m itt e d o t h e r j ob a pp li ca ti on s i n c l ud i ng a n a pp li ca ti on f o r a po s iti on a t a bu s c o m p a ny t h a t m a d e t r i p s t o A tl a n ti c C it y a nd o t h e r a r ea s . ( T r . 488 ) .
S i m p l y s t a t e d , t h e r ec o r d d e m on s t r a t e s t h a t C h i s o l m m a d e r ea s on a b l e e ff o r t s t o m iti g a t e h e r d a m a g e s a nd i s e n titl e d t o b ac k p a y . T h e C ou r t a l s o e x e r c i s e s it s d i s c r e ti on t o a w a r d r ea s on a b l e fr on t p a y t o C h i s o l m a s t h e t r i a l r ec o r d s ho w s t h a t s h e *15 has not been able to obtain comparable full-time employment as a bus operator despite those efforts. The argument by Liberty that front pay is not appropriate because the bus operator position is not a “unique and narrow work skill”, citing Padilla, 92 F.3d at 126, is not determinative. The Second Circuit stated that the plaintiff in Padilla was entitled to front pay because he “has no reasonable prospect of obtaining comparable alternative employment..” id. Front pay has been awarded for a wide variety of positions sought such as firefighters, probation officers, and administrative assistant. Broadnax v. City of Haven, 141 Fed. Appx. 16 at, *23 (2d Cir. 2005)(summary order); Lucas v. County of Nassau, 344 Fed. Appx. 637 (2d Cir. 2009)(summary order); Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, 185 F.Supp.2d at 233.
In any event, given the fact that Chisolm undertook reasonable efforts to find comparable employment, the burden was on Liberty to prove that suitable work existed. Liberty did not meet that burden.
B. Plaintiff Sharrock Did Not Reasonably Mitigate Damages Plaintiff Sharrock has been driving a bus since 1994. (Tr.152). She has worked
part-time at Royal Coach as a bus operator from 2005 to the time of trial. (Tr. 214). Since working at Royal Coach, Sharrock testified at trial that she has not applied anywhere, other than Liberty Lines, to attempt to obtain a job. (Tr. 22-23). Sharrock had applied for a job at MTA “early on, way before I got to Royal Coach.” (Tr. 223). Sharrock did seek out additional bus runs, week-end runs and charter runs at Royal Coach. (Tr. 217, 223-24), However, Royal Coach is a part-time school bus company. *16 (Tr. 516).
Thus, Sharrock h a s not m a d e any effort at all to look for c o m p a r a b l e employment after s h e received t h e rejection letter from Liberty in J a nu a r y , 2008, on her December, 2007 bu s op e r a t o r application. (Tr. 195). S h e only a tt e m p t e d to obtain additional part- time hours at Royal Coach. This lack of r ea s on a b l e mitigation efforts by Sharrock r e l ea s e s Liberty from the burden of proving c o m p a r a b l e employment w a s available. Greenway, 143 F.3d at 54 (“...employer, und e r t h a t rule, is r e l ea s e d from the duty to e s t a b li s h the availability of c o m p a r a b l e employment if it can prove t h a t the e m p l oy ee m a d e no r ea s on a b l e efforts to s ee k s u c h employment”); Whittlesey, 742 F.2d at 728-29 (“an award of front pay in lieu of r e i n s t a t e m e n t do e s not c on t e m p l a t e t h a t a plaintiff will sit idly by and be c o m p e n s a t e d for doing nothing, b eca u s e t h e duty to mitigate d a m a g e s by s ee k i ng employment e l s e w h e r e significantly limits t h e a m oun t of front pay available” (citation omitted)).
The Court c on c l ud e s t h a t Sharrock’s failure to s ee k c o m p a r a b l e full-time e m p l oy m e n t d e p r i v e s her of any entitlement to front pay. Moreover, an award of front pay to S h a rr o c k und e r t h e s e facts would be unduly s p ec u l a ti v e . However, the Court e x e r c i s e s its discretion to award back pay to Sharrock for on e (1) year, from J a nu a r y 2008 to D ece m b e r 31, 2008. The Court c on c l ud e s that back pay for on e y ea r is justified a nd a pp r op r i a t e to a dd r e ss t h e discriminatory c ondu c t found by t h e jury herein.
C. Back Pay Calculations for Plaintiff Chisolm The Court c on c l ud e s t h a t Chisolm is entitled to back pay from J a nu a r y 28, 2008 to
*17 t h e d a t e o f t h e v e r d i c t h e r e i n , J u l y 29 , 2011 . A s s u c h , t h e C ou r t f i nd s t h a t t h e t o t a l a m oun t o f ea r n i ng s t h a t s h e w ou l d h a v e m a d e a t L i b e r t y w ou l d b e $1 59 , 973 , a n a m oun t t h a t bo t h p l a i n ti ff a nd d e f e nd a n t a g r ee t o g i v e n t h e C ou r t ’ s c on c l u s i on t h a t C h i s o l m w ou l d i n f ac t b e e n titl e d t o b ac k - p a y du r i ng s a i d ti m e p e r i od . ( D e f t s . P o s t - T r i a l C a l c u l a ti on s I n S upp . a t 15 ; P l s . P o s t - T r i a l C a l c u l a ti on s I n S upp . a t 18 , n . 10 ) . T h e C ou r t f i nd s t h a t C h i s o i m ea r n e d w a g e s fr o m J a nu a r y , 2008 t o J u l y 29 , 2011 i n t h e t o t a l a m oun t o f $101 , 885 . S a i d ea r n i ng s a m oun t i s ca l c u l a t e d a s f o ll o w s a s s e t f o r t h i n A dd e ndu m #3 o f P i s . P o s t - T r i a l C a l c u l a ti on s I n S upp . : ( a ) $28 , 497 i n 2008 ( E x . #28 ) ( b ) $27 , 750 i n 2009 a pp r ox i m a t e a m oun t ( E x . 28 ) ( c ) $28 , 838 i n 2010 ( E x . 28 ) ( d ) $16 , 800 i n 2011 t o J u l y 29 , 2011 a pp r ox i m a t e ( T r . 514 , 8 - 25 , E x . Y ) T o t a l E a r n e d W a g e s $101 , 885
S ub t r ac ti ng t h e t o t a l ea r n e d w a g e s fr o m w h a t p l a i n ti ff w ou l d h a v e ea r n e d a t L i b e r t y du r i ng s a i d ti m e p e r i od , t h e C ou r t h e r e by a w a r d s C h i s o i m t h e a m oun t o f $58 , 115 i n b ac k p a y .
D . B ac k P a y C a l c u l a ti on s f o r P l a i n ti ff S h a rr o c k T h e C ou r t a dop t s t h e ca l c u l a ti on s o f d e f e nd a n t t h a t S h a rr o c k w ou l d h a v e e a r n e d t h e
*18 amount of $36,986 if employed by Liberty from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. (Defts. Post-Trial Calculations In Supp. at 12-14). The parties agree that Sharrock earned wages in the amount of $26,722 at Royal Coach in 2008. (j.; PIs. Post-Trial Calculations In Supp. at Addendum 4). Subtracting the amount Sharrock earned at Royal Coach in 2008 from what she would have earned at Liberty if hired in 2008, results in a total back pay award of $10,264.
E. Front Pay Calculations for Plaintiff Chisolm The Court agrees with Liberty that an award of front pay to Chisolm’s projected date
of retirement at age 65 would be unduly speculative and unjustified under the circumstances herein. At the time of trial plaintiff Chisolm has been driving buses for approximately fourteen (14) years. She has worked part-time at Royal Coach since 2004. The record demonstrates that she is an experienced bus driver, but has been unable to obtain full-time bus operator employment comparable to that available at Liberty from January, 2008 to the date of trial.
However, the Court concludes that it would be unduly speculative to conclude that an experienced bus operator would be unable to obtain comparable employment for the next twenty- five (25) years. Chisolm has applied for positions with the MTA, a large public transit agency in the local area. She is currently on the MTA waiting list for a conductor position. (Tr, 487-88). She has also applied for positions with other large public transit authorities in states bordering New York (Tr. 487). Under the circumstances herein, the Court finds that a front pay award for five (5) years would be *19 a reasonable time period to compensate the plaintiff for future lost earnings. The Court concludes that the trial evidence does not support awarding front pay for a longer time period.
The Court adopts the future wage calculations for Chisolm set forth in Addendum #7 to PIs. Post-Trial Calculations In Supp., but for a period of five years. The Court finds that said calculations are fully supported by the record. Given that the Court has found that Chisolm has reasonably mitigated her damages, the calculations are fairly based on what she earned at Royal Coach and not on a forty (40) hour work week which has not been shown to be reasonably available. As such, front pay is calculated as follows:
1. Anticipated Future Wages from July 29, 2011 (a) Royal Coach from September 2011 to June, 2012
$21.28 per hourx4.5 hours adayx2lo guaranteed days = $20,109.60 (b) Yonkers School District from September, 2011 to June 2012 = $ 7,250.00 Total Approximate Future Earned Wages $27,359.60 2. Projected 2011 Basic Annual Income at Liberty At Vested Top Rate $28.64 per hourx40 guaranteed hrswk x 52 weeks $59,571.20 3. Chisolm’s Future Lost Wages for 2012 $32,211.40 *20 4. Chisolm’s Future Lost Wages for 5 Years
5 years x $32,211.40 $161057.00 II. Pension Benefits for Plaintiff Chisolm Plaintiff Chisoim also seeks an award for lost pension benefits. Lost pension benefits
may be considered in arriving at a proper economic award under the anti-discrimination statutes, but any such award must be supported by evidence. Chishoim v. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 824 F.Supp.2d at 578; Vernon v. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, No. 95 Civ. 4594, 2003 WL 1563219, at [*] 8 (S.D.N.Y. March 26, 2003).
Here, Chisolm seeks lost pension contribution that would have been made by Liberty if she had been hired from January, 2008 to July 29, 2011. The Court adopts the lost pension benefit calculations set forth in Addendum #6-B to Pls. Post-Trial Calculations In Opp. The Court finds that said calculations are fully supported by the trial evidence. As such, the lost pension benefits are awarded to Chisoim as follows from January, 2008 to July 29, 2011: Royal Coach - Employer Contributions Received Royal’s Benefit Years Chisolm’s Contrib. (Ex. 28) Employer’s 10% Contrib. (Ex. Y) 2008 $1,175.00 $117.50 *21 2009 $1,050.00 $105.00 2010 $ 197.67 $ 19.77 Total $2,422,67 $242.27 Liberty - Employer Contributions Lost: CBA Benefit Years # of Weeks Liberty Contribs. (Ex. 20, 21) Total 4/01/2008 - 2/28/2009 48 $135.00 x 48 $6,480.00 3/01/2009-2/28/2010 52 $150.00x52 $7,800.00 3/01/2010-12/31/2010 7 $160.00x7 $1,120.00 Total $15,400.00
Subtracting the Royal Coach 10% contribution results in a net total pension for Chisolm of $15,157.63. III. Present Value The award of front pay to Chisolm must be reduced to present value. McCrann v.
U.S. Lines, Inc., 803 F.2d 771, 772 (2d Cir. 1986), Liberty may submit to the Court evidence as to the proper discount rate and calculations to the date of this Decision and Order within 15 days. Plaintiffs may then respond within 15 days.
2Collective Bargaining Agreement at Liberty. *22 IV. Pre-Judgment Interest Plaintiffs seek pre-judgment interest on their back pay awards. The Second Circuit
has stated that in a suit to enforce a federal right, “it is an abuse of discretion not to include pre-judgment interest.” Gierlinger v. Gleason, 160 F.3d 858, 874 (2d Cir. 1998).
Accordingly, plaintiffs shall submit to the Court a calculation of interest to be awarded on their back pay awards to the date of this Decision and Order within 15 days. Liberty may then respond within 15 days.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the motions by Liberty for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial are denied. The Clerk of the Court is respectfully requested to terminate the pending motion (Docket #48). The parties are to provide submissions to the Court as set forth above.
SO ORDERED: / I / j 2 r Dated February 2013 J/f White Plains, New York
I
GEORGE A. YANTHlS;U.S.M.J.