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Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Employment Discrimination

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VERDICT FORM (No. 3:14-cv-00846-LB) 

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United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

San Francisco Division 

JOSEPH A SMITH, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

EQUINOX HOLDINGS, INC., et al., 

Defendants. 

Case No. 3:14-cv-00846-LB 

VERDICT FORM 

I. JOSEPH SMITH’S WAGE-AND-HOUR CLAIMS 

A. Equinox’s Exemption Defense 

Question 1: Did Joseph Smith perform work for Equinox? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 2. If you answered “no,” stop here, answer no further 

questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form. 

Question 2: Did Equinox prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Equinox properly 

classified Joseph Smith as an exempt employee during the employment period in question? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 15. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 3. 

 

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B. Joseph Smith’s Nonpayment of Overtime Compensation Claim 

Question 3: Did Joseph Smith prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he worked overtime 

hours in any week? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 4. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 6. 

Question 4: Was Joseph Smith paid at a rate lower than the legal overtime compensation rate for 

any overtime hours that he worked for Equinox? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 5. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 6. 

Question 5: What is the amount of overtime wages that Equinox owes to Joseph Smith? 

$__________ 

Proceed to Question 6. 

C. Joseph Smith’s Meal Period Claim 

Question 6: Did Joseph Smith prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Equinox failed to 

provide him with one or more legally required 30-minute duty-free meal periods? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 7. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 8. 

Question 7: What is the amount of money owed to Joseph Smith for the meal periods that 

Equinox did not provide? 

$__________ 

Proceed to Question 8. 

D. Joseph Smith’s Rest Period Claim 

Question 8: Did Joseph Smith prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Equinox failed to 

provide him with legally required duty-free rest periods? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 9. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 10. 

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Question 9: What is the amount of money owed to Joseph Smith for the rest periods that Equinox 

did not provide? 

$__________ 

Proceed to Question 10. 

E. Joseph Smith’s Accurate Itemized Wage Statement Claim 

Question 10: Did Joseph Smith prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Equinox 

knowingly and intentionally failed to furnish to him with one or more accurate itemized wage 

statements during any pay period while Joseph Smith was employed with Equinox? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 11. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 12. 

Question 11: For how many pay periods did Equinox knowingly and intentionally fail to furnish 

Mr. Smith with accurate itemized wage statements? 

__________ 

Proceed to Question 12. 

F. Joseph Smith’s Failure to Pay All Wages Upon Termination Claim 

Question 12: Did Joseph Smith prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Equinox willfully 

failed to pay him the amount of wages due to him at the time his employment with Equinox 

ended? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 13. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 15. 

Question 13: For how many calendar days following Joseph Smith’s last day of employment did 

Equinox willfully fail to pay the full amount of Joseph Smith’s wages? (Enter a number between 1 

and 30.) 

__________ 

Proceed to Question 14. 

Question 14: What was Joseph Smith’s daily wage rate at the time his employment ended? 

$_________ 

Proceed to Question 15. 

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II. JOSEPH SMITH’S WRONGFUL DISCHARGE IN VIOLATION OF PUBLIC 

POLICY CLAIM 

Question 15: Did Joseph Smith prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Equinox 

discharged him? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 16. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 24. 

Question 16: Did Joseph Smith prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he complained 

about Equinox’s failure to properly classify employees and provide employees meal and rest 

periods? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 17. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 24. 

Question 17: Did Joseph Smith prove by a preponderance of the evidence that his complaints 

were a substantial motivating reason for Equinox’s decision to discharge him? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 18. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 24. 

Question 18: Did Equinox prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Joseph Smith’s 

violation of Equinox’s policies and procedures and improper authorization of discounts of store 

merchandise also was a substantial motivating reason for Equinox’s decision to discharge him? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 19. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 20. 

Question 19: Did Equinox prove by a preponderance of the evidence that it would have 

discharged Joseph Smith anyway based on Joseph Smith’s violation of Equinox’s policies and 

procedures and improper authorization of discounts of store merchandise had Equinox not also 

been substantially motivated by retaliation for Joseph Smith’s complaints? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 24. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 20. 

Question 20: Was Joseph Smith harmed by his termination? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 21. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 24. 

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Question 21: What are Joseph Smith’s damages in relation to his wrongful termination? 

Economic losses 

 Past economic loss, including lost earnings: $______________ 

 Future economic loss, including lost earnings: $______________ 

Total Economic Damages: $______________ 

Noneconomic losses 

 Past noneconomic loss, including mental suffering: $______________ 

 Future noneconomic loss, including mental suffering: $______________ 

Total Noneconomic Damages: $______________ 

TOTAL DAMAGES (economic plus noneconomic): $______________ 

Proceed to Question 22. 

Question 22: Was conduct constituting malice, oppression, or fraud committed by one or more 

officers, directors, or managing agents of Equinox acting on behalf of Equinox? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 23. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 24. 

Question 23: What amount do you award as punitive damages against Equinox? 

$_________ 

Proceed to Question 24. 

 

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III.JOSEPH SMITH’S DEFAMATION PER SE CLAIM 

Question 24: Did Equinox state to persons other than Joseph Smith that Joseph Smith was 

terminated for “integrity reasons”? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 25. If you answered “no,” stop here, answer no further 

questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form. 

Question 25: Did the persons to whom the statement was made reasonably understand that the 

statement was about Joseph Smith? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 26. If you answered “no,” stop here, answer no further 

questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form. 

Question 26: Did these people reasonably understand the statement to mean that Joseph Smith 

was terminated for “integrity reasons”? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 27. If you answered “no,” stop here, answer no further 

questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form. 

Question 27: Was the statement substantially true? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 28. If you answered “yes,” stop here, answer no further 

questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form. 

Question 28: Did Equinox fail to use reasonable care to determine the truth or falsity of the 

statement? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 29. If you answered “No,” stop here, answer no 

further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form. 

Question 29: Did Joseph Smith prove that, in making the statement, Equinox either (1) acted with 

hatred or ill will toward him, showing its willingness to vex, annoy, or injure him, or (2) had no 

reasonable grounds for believing the truth of the statement? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” proceed to Question 30. If you answered “No,” stop here, answer no 

further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form. 

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Question 30: Was Equinox’s conduct a substantial factor in causing Joseph Smith actual harm? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” then answer Question 31. If you answered “no,” proceed to Question 32. 

Question 31 ̶ Actual Damages: What are Joseph Smith's actual damages for: 

a. Harm to Joseph Smith's property, business, trade, profession, or occupation? $__________ 

b. Expenses Joseph Smith had to pay as a result of the defamatory statements? 

$__________ 

c. Harm to Joseph Smith's reputation? 

$__________ 

d. Shame, mortification, or hurt feelings? $__________ 

If Joseph Smith has not proved any actual damages for either c or d, then answer Question 32. If 

Joseph Smith has proved actual damages for both c and d, then skip Question 32 and proceed to 

Question 33. 

Question 32 ̶ Assumed Damages: What are the damages you award Joseph Smith for the 

assumed harm to his reputation and for shame, mortification, or hurt feelings? You must award at 

least a nominal sum. 

$_________ 

Proceed to Question 33. 

Question 33 ̶ Punitive Damages: Did Joseph Smith prove by clear and convincing evidence that 

Equinox acted with malice, oppression, or fraud? 

________Yes ________No 

If you answered “yes,” then answer Question 34. If you answered “no,” stop here, answer no 

further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form. 

Question 34: What amount, if any, do you award as punitive damages against Equinox? 

 $_________ 

You are now finished with all the questions. The presiding juror should sign and date the form. 

SIGNED: DATED: 

 Presiding Juror

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