Kerr-Selgas v. American Airlines, Inc.
Kerr-Selgas v. American Airlines, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
In this sex discrimination case, we had originally ordered the reinstatement of plaintiff Mary Jane Kerr-Selgas to her previous position at American Airlines. The First Circuit reversed our order, and remanded the case for further determination after granting defendant the opportunity of a hearing on the contested issue. Mary Jane Kerr Selgas v. American Airlines, Inc., 104 F.3d 9 (1st Cir. 1997). The Court of Appeals expressed concern on statements offered to support the reinstatement by plaintiffs treating psychologist, Carlos Velázquez. The Circuit noted that Mr. Velázquez’ affidavit spoke “only in the most general terms: it states that on the basis of unspecified tests conducted at unspecified dates, Kerr Selgas ‘is currently [ ... ] functioning adequately’ and that he therefore believes she is ‘now able to return and to carry out her duties as Account Sales Executive at American Airlines.” Id. at 15, n. 10. After the benefit of a three-day hearing on the issue of reinstatement, in which defendant had the opportunity to challenge Mr. Velázquez’ involvement and his evidence, this court denied plaintiffs request for reinstatement.
Now before us is plaintiffs motion requesting that we make findings of facts and conclusions of law pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a) with respect to our decision denying her reinstatement to her former job as a cargo sales executive for American Airlines.
In deciding whether or not to order reinstatement, we were cognizant at all times of Title VH’s goal of making the plaintiff victim of discrimination whole through reinstatement, back pay or front pay. Albemarle Paper Co. v. Moody, 422 U.S. 405, 418, 95 S.Ct. 2362, 2372, 45 L.Ed.2d 280 (1975). Reinstatement is the preferred prospective remedy for individuals who prevail on their claims of intentional discriminatory discharge from employment under Title VII. Kerr Selgas, 104 F.3d at 12. However, reinstatement is not feasible when plaintiff is unfit to return to work, or there is workplace hostility or no vacancy; courts may then award the alternative prospective remedy of front pay from the date of the judgment to the date the plaintiff returns to the employer or obtains a comparable position. Id.
In spite of our specific findings of fact on the issue of reinstatement, plaintiff argues that we made no finding with respect to her present fitness to work at her former job or at any job. We clearly stated in our prior opinion that there was presently no credible and reliable evidence that Ms. Kerr was fit to resume her employment. Since the inception of this case, plaintiff has been alleging that she is unfit to work. At trial and after its conclusion, Ms. Kerr Selgas argued that she was unable to maintain gainful employment, requesting the company’s health insurance coverage instead of reinstatement. The only evidence that plaintiff presented to prove that her condition had dramatically changed
Plaintiff further argues that while denying reinstatement, we made no reference to the remedy of front pay in lieu of reinstatement. If a trial court decides not to award reinstatement, it then has discretion whether or not to award front pay. Wildman v. Lerner Stores Corp., 771 F.2d 605, 616 (1st Cir. 1985). It is not a mandatory remedy, as plaintiff seems to imply in her brief. Shore v. Federal Express Corp., 777 F.2d 1155, 1159 (6th Cir. 1985). Although the remedial schemes of antidiscrimination statutes are designed to make the plaintiff whole, the court must avoid granting the plaintiff a windfall. Standley v. Chilhowee R-IV School Dist., 5 F.3d 319, 322 (8th Cir. 1993). In the instant case, the jury granted plaintiff front pay from the date of judgment until October, 1995. Kerr Selgas, 104 F.3d at 14. The front pay was part of the $1.2 million award to plaintiff. This monetary award, one of the largest ever granted to a plaintiff in an employment discrimination case in this jurisdiction, more than adequately reimbursed plaintiff for damages due to her illegal discharge. Wildman, 771 F.2d at 616. Moreover, although estimating an award of front pay is necessarily speculative, Kerr Selgas, 104 F.3d at 14, n. 6, the circumstances in this case make the granting of additional future damages even more so. Presently, the court does not know when plaintiff will be fit for employment. Courts order front pay for a finite period: “[F]rom the conclusion of trial through the point at which the plaintiff can either return to the employer or obtain comparable employment elsewhere.” Id. at 12. Without having any idea as to when plaintiff will be able to join the workforce again, we do not abuse our discretion in declining to award a highly speculative amount of money as additional front pay in this case.
Recapitulating, and as we stated in our prior opinion, we denied reinstatement because plaintiff did not demonstrate that she was fit to return to work, and the hostility amongst the parties would prevent the effective performance of job duties.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
. All throughout this case, plaintiff has requested reinstatement to her former job as a cargo sales executive. It was not until very recently that she requested reinstatement to any available position within American Airlines if the company was unable to accommodate her in her previous job. Because we find that reinstatement is unavailable due to plaintiffs condition, we do not discuss further plaintiff's belated change in her equitable remedy request.
. Although defendant raised the issue of bumping, we did not base our decision on this factor. When deciding whether or not to grant the equitable remedy of reinstatement, courts look at the particular circumstances of each case. Kerr Selgas, 104 F.3d at 13. Courts in general have considered such factors as plaintiffs ability to work, animosity in the workplace, and possibility of bumping. Id. at 12. However, there are no fixed set of circumstances that we must consider before granting or denying such remedy, as plaintiff appears to imply.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mary Jane KERR-SELGAS v. AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
- Status
- Published