Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-03772/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-03772-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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JOHN FREDERIC GARMON,

Plaintiff 

V.

PERALTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, PERALTA COMMUNITY

COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, and DARRYL MOORE

Defendants

Case No. C-04-3772 WDB

COURT’S [PROPOSED] SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES

Generally Applicable Instructions:

Unless it is explicitly stated otherwise in the question, the applicable

standard of proof is the "preponderance of the evidence" standard defined in the

instructions that I have given you.

These special interrogatories contain legal terms and standards that are

defined and explained in detail in the jury instructions. Please refer to your copies

of the jury instructions if you are unsure about the meaning or content of any legal

term or standard that appears in the special interrogatories. 

In many instances, the answer you give to one question determines which

question you are to address next. Please attend carefully to the instructions that

follow immediately after the questions; those instructions may tell you to skip

some questions and to go directly to another question.

The first question for you to answer is question number 1 presented on 

page 2.

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 1 of 19
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DR. GARMON’S CLAIM FOR DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE

AGAINST PERALTA AND THE BOARD

1. Did Dr. Garmon prove that his race was a motivating factor in defendants’

decision not to renew his contract to serve as President of Vista College?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 2. If you answered “no” go to

question number 6. 

2. Did defendants prove that their decision not to renew Dr. Garmon’s contract

to serve as President of Vista College was also motivated by one or more

lawful reasons?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 3. If you answered “no” go to

question number 4.

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 2 of 19
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3. Did defendants prove that they would have made the same decision not to

renew Dr. Garmon’s contract even if Dr. Garmon’s race had not been a

factor in that decision -- that is, even if defendants had considered only

lawful reasons?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 5. If you answered “no” go to

question number 4.

4. You found that defendants decision not to renew Dr. Garmon's contract was

wrongful -- that is, you found that an unlawful consideration was a

motivating factor in that decision. Did Dr. Garmon prove that the wrongful

decision not to renew his contract has caused him to suffer emotional

distress or that he is reasonably certain to suffer emotional distress in the

future as a result of that decision?

____________yes ____________no

Go to question number 5.

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5. Please enter in the space below the amount of money that would reasonably

compensate Dr. Garmon for emotional distress that he has proved he has

suffered in the past and/or, with reasonable certainty, will suffer in the

future as a result of the defendants' wrongful decision not to renew Dr.

Garmon's contract to serve as President of Vista College.

If you answered “yes” to question number 3 OR you answered “no” to

question number 4 your answer to question number 5 must be $1.00.

$__________________

Go to question number 6.

DR. GARMON’S CLAIM FOR DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER

AGAINST PERALTA AND THE BOARD

6. Did Dr. Garmon prove that gender was a motivating factor in defendants’

decision not to renew his contract to serve as President of Vista College?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 7. If you answered “no” go to

question number 11. 

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 4 of 19
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7. Did defendants prove that their decision not to renew Dr. Garmon’s contract

to serve as President of Vista College was also motivated by one or more

lawful reasons?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 8. If you answered “no” go to

question number 9.

8. Did defendants prove that they would have made the same decision not to

renew Dr. Garmon’s contract even if Dr. Garmon’s gender had not been a

factor in that decision -- that is, even if defendants had considered only

lawful reasons?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 10. If you answered “no” go to

question number 9.

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 5 of 19
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9. You found that defendants decision not to renew Dr. Garmon's contract was

wrongful -- that is, you found that an unlawful consideration was a

motivating factor in that decision. Did Dr. Garmon prove that the wrongful

decision not to renew his contract has caused him to suffer emotional

distress or that he is reasonably certain to suffer emotional distress in the

future as a result of that decision?

____________yes ____________no

Go to question number 10.

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10. Please enter in the space below the amount of money that would reasonably

compensate Dr. Garmon for emotional distress that he has proved he has

suffered in the past and/or, with reasonable certainty, will suffer in the

future as a result of the defendants' wrongful decision not to renew Dr.

Garmon's contract to serve as President of Vista College.

Do not include the amount, if any, that you included in response to question

number 5.

If you answered “yes” to question number 8 OR you answered “no” to

question number 9 your answer to question number 10 must be $1.00.

$__________________________

Go to question number 11.

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 7 of 19
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DR. GARMON’S CLAIM FOR RETALIATION AGAINST PERALTA AND

THE BOARD

11. Did Dr. Garmon prove that he expressed opposition to decisions or practices

by defendants on the ground that they were motivated by racial

discrimination?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 12. If you answered “no” go to

question number 18. 

12. Did Dr. Garmon prove that it was reasonable, given all the circumstances,

for him to believe that the decisions or practices to which he expressed

opposition were motivated by racial discrimination?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 13. If you answered “no” go to

question number 18. 

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 8 of 19
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13. Did Dr. Garmon prove that his opposition to decisions or practices that he

reasonably believed were discriminatory was a motivating factor in

defendants’ decision not to renew his contract to serve as President of Vista

College?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 14. If you answered “no” go to

question number 18. 

14. Did defendants prove that their decision not to renew Dr. Garmon’s contract

to serve as President of Vista College was also motivated by one or more

lawful reasons?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 15. If you answered “no” go to

question number 16.

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15. Did defendants prove that they would have made the same decision not to

renew Dr. Garmon’s contract even if retaliation had not been a factor in that

decision -- that is, even if they had considered only lawful reasons? 

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 17. If you answered “no” go to

question number 16.

16. You found that defendants decision not to renew Dr. Garmon's contract was

wrongful -- that is, you found that an unlawful consideration was a

motivating factor in that decision. Did Dr. Garmon prove that the wrongful

decision not to renew his contract has caused him to suffer emotional

distress or that he is reasonably certain to suffer emotional distress in the

future as a result of that decision?

____________yes ____________no

Go to question number 17.

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17. Please enter in the space below the amount of money that would reasonably

compensate Dr. Garmon for emotional distress that he has proved he has

suffered in the past and/or, with reasonable certainty, will suffer in the

future as a result of the defendants' wrongful decision not to renew Dr.

Garmon's contract to serve as President of Vista College.

Do not include the amount(s), if any, that you included in response to

question number 5 and 10.

If you answered “yes” to question number 15 OR you answered “no” to

question number 16 your answer to question number 17 must be $1.00.

$__________________________

Go to question number 18.

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 11 of 19
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DR. GARMON’S CLAIM FOR DEFAMATION AGAINST MR. MOORE

18. Did Dr. Garmon prove that Mr. Moore made a statement to a person other

than Dr. Garmon that communicated that the Board did not renew Dr.

Garmon’s contract to serve as President of Vista because Dr. Garmon had

performed poorly or otherwise was not competent to hold the position?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 19. If you answered “no” go to the

Concluding Instruction.

19. Did Dr. Garmon prove that the person to whom Mr. Moore made that

statement reasonably understood that that statement was about Dr. Garmon?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 20. If you answered “no” go to the

Concluding Instruction.

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20. Did Dr. Garmon prove that that statement was false?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 21. If you answered “no” go to the

Concluding Instruction.

21. For this question you must apply the higher standard of proof described by

the Court in the Court’s Closing Jury Instruction number 20 called “clear

and convincing evidence.”

Did Dr. Garmon prove by clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Moore

knew, at the time he made the statement, that it was false or that Mr. Moore

had serious doubts about the truth of the statement?

____________yes ____________no

If you answered “yes” go to question number 22. If you answered “no” go to the

Concluding Instruction.

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22. For this question you must apply the higher standard of proof described by

the Court in the Court’s Closing Jury Instruction number 31 called “clear

and convincing evidence.”

Did Dr. Garmon prove by clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Moore

acted with malice, oppression, or fraud (as these terms are defined in the

jury instructions) when he made the statements that were defamatory?

____________yes ____________no

Go to question number 23.

23. Did Dr. Garmon prove that Mr. Moore’s defamation caused him to suffer

emotional distress or that he is reasonably certain to suffer emotional

distress in the future as a result of the defamation that you found?

____________yes ____________no

See the Court’s Closing Jury Instruction number 23 and 27 about emotional

distress.

Go to question number 24. 

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24. Please enter in the space below the amount of money that you find would

compensate Dr. Garmon for “general damages” caused by Mr. Moore’s

defamatory statement(s). Said another way, please enter in the space below

the amount of money that will reasonably compensate Dr. Garmon for the

emotional harm that he has proved he has suffered in the past and/or, with

reasonable certainty, will suffer in the future as a result of Mr. Moore’s

defamation and for the presumed harm to reputation that you find.

See the Court’s Closing Jury Instruction number 27 about “general

damages.”

Do not include any amount intended to punish Mr. Moore.

$___________________

Go to question number 25.

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25. Did Dr. Garmon prove that Mr. Moore’s defamation caused him to suffer

economic harm or that he is reasonably certain to suffer economic harm in

the future as a result of the defamation that you found?

____________yes ____________no

See the Court’s Closing Jury Instruction number 28 about economic harm

(“special damages”).

If you answered “yes” go to question number 26. If you answered “no” go to the

“Concluding Instruction.”

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 16 of 19
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26. Please enter in the space below the amount of money that will reasonably

compensate Dr. Garmon for the economic harm (“special damages”) that he

has proved he has suffered in the past and/or, with reasonable certainty, will

suffer in the future as a result of Mr. Moore’s defamation.

$_____________________

See, the Court’s Closing Jury Instruction number 28 and 30 about ‘special

damages” and present cash value.

Do not include any amount intended to punish Mr. Moore.

Go to question number 27.

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MR. MOORE’S CLAIM THAT PLAINTIFF FAILED TO USE

REASONABLE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE HIS ECONOMIC DAMAGES

27. Did Mr. Moore prove that Dr. Garmon failed to use reasonable efforts to

mitigate the damages that you found in question number 26?

____________yes ____________no

See the Court’s Closing Jury Instruction number 29.

If you answered "yes" go to question number 28. If you answered "no" go to the

Concluding Instruction.

28. By what amount of money did Mr. Moore prove plaintiff would have

reduced his economic damages if he had used reasonable efforts to mitigate

damages? Said another way, how much money do you find should be

subtracted from the damages you found in question number 26 due to Dr.

Garmon’s failure to use reasonable efforts to mitigate his economic

damages?

$__________________________

Go to the Concluding Instruction.

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Concluding Instruction:

If you have reached this point, you should have completed your

deliberations. Please go over these special interrogatories once more to make sure

that you have answered all the questions that the instructions directed you to

answer and that you have recorded no response to the questions which, under the

instructions, there was no occasion for you to address. After you have completed

this task, your foreperson should place his or her signature, the date, and his or

her printed name in the appropriate spaces below.

______________________________ _____________

(foreperson’s signature) (date)

_______________________________

 (foreperson’s name -- printed)

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 98 Filed 05/01/06 Page 19 of 19