Wallace v. Hardee's of Oxford, Inc.
Wallace v. Hardee's of Oxford, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
ORDER
Plaintiff Lawrence Wallace, Jr. alleges that, upon returning from active duty in Saudi Arabia, defendant Hardee’s of Oxford, Inc.,
Damages: The Act states that, when an employer fails to reemploy a veteran, the court may require the employer to “compensate such person for any loss of wages or benefits suffered by reason of such employer’s unlawful action.” 38 U.S.C.A. § 4302. On its face, this language suggests that punitive damages are not warranted. Case law on veteran’s reemployment, although not directly. on point, supports this proposition. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, outside the context of punitive damages, has stated that the correct compensation is that “the veteran should be made whole, and reimbursed for the measurable wage disadvantage or loss suffered through his incorrect reinstatement.” Helton v. Mercury Freight Lines, Inc., 444 F.2d 365, 367 (5th Cir. 1971).
As to incidental and consequential damages, Wallace is entitled to only damages that fall within the “wages or benefits” language of the statute; he is not entitled to damages that fall outside this language. This language includes prejudgment interest,
Jury Trial: Wallace concedes that he is not entitled to a jury trial.
Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, it is ORDERED:
(1) That the motion to strike plaintiffs demand for punitive and incidental damages, filed by defendant Hardee’s of Oxford, Inc. on June 9,1994, is granted as to the punitive damages and denied as to the incidental damages; and
(2) That the motion to strike plaintiff’s jury demand, filed by defendant Hardee’s of Oxford, Inc. on June 9, 1994, is granted.
. The defendant contends that its correct legal name is Flagstar Enterprises, Inc. f/k/a Spardee’s Restaurants, Inc.
. The Act was formerly codified at 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 2021, et seg.
.In Bonner v. Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc), the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals adopted as binding precedent all of the decisions of the former Fifth Circuit handed down prior to the close of’business on September 30, 1981.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Lawrence C. WALLACE, Jr. v. HARDEE'S OF OXFORD, INC.
- Status
- Published