IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

DOLORES (DEE) BARRETT, : CIVIL ACTION NO.

: 02-cv-4421

Plaintiff, :

:

v. :

:

THE GREATER HATBORO CHAMBER : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

OF COMMERCE, INC., JOHN J. (BUD) :

AIKEN, and MICKEY GLANTZ, :

:

Defendants. :

DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO PRECLUDE

AN AWARD OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES

Defendants, The Greater Hatboro Chamber of Commerce, Inc., John J. (Bud) 

Aiken, and Mickey Glantz, by and through their counsel, Sidney L. Gold & Associates,

P.C., hereby file Defendants’ Motion to Preclude an Award of Punitive Damages. In

support thereof, Defendants aver the following:

1. Plaintiff instituted the instant action in this Court on July 3, 2002. 

Plaintiff’s Complaint asserts a claim under the Pennsylvania Equal Rights Amendment to

the Pennsylvania Constitution for sexual harassment and retaliatory discharge.

2. Plaintiff’s Complaint includes a demand for punitive damages.

3. The Pennsylvania legislature has not provided for a recovery of punitive

damages under the Pennsylvania Equal Rights Amendment to the Pennsylvania

Constitution.

Case 2:02-cv-04421-PBT Document 46 Filed 09/09/2005 Page 1 of 4
WHEREFORE, Defendants respectfully request that the Court preclude the

Plaintiff from recovering punitive damages in this action. 

Respectfully submitted,

SIDNEY L. GOLD & ASSOCIATES, P.C.

/s/ Sidney L. Gold, Esquire SG1387 

SIDNEY L. GOLD, ESQUIRE

Identification No.: 21374

1835 Market Street, Suite 515

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 569-1999

Attorneys for Defendants

Dated: September 9, 2005

Case 2:02-cv-04421-PBT Document 46 Filed 09/09/2005 Page 2 of 4
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

DOLORES (DEE) BARRETT, : CIVIL ACTION NO.

: 02-cv-4421

Plaintiff, :

:

v. :

:

THE GREATER HATBORO CHAMBER : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

OF COMMERCE, INC., JOHN J. (BUD) :

AIKEN, and MICKEY GLANTZ, :

:

Defendants. :

DEFENDANTS’ MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF THEIR

MOTION TO PRECLUDE AN AWARD OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES

I. INTRODUCTION:

Plaintiff instituted the instant action in this Court on July 3, 2002. Plaintiff’s

Complaint asserts a claim under the Pennsylvania Equal Rights Amendment to the

Pennsylvania Constitution for sexual harassment and retaliatory discharge. Plaintiff’s

Complaint includes a demand for punitive damages. The Pennsylvania legislature has not

provided for a recovery of punitive damages under the Pennsylvania Equal Rights

Amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution. Accordingly, the Court should grant the

Defendants’ Motion and preclude the Plaintiff from receiving an award of punitive

damages.

II. ARGUMENT:

In Hoy v. Angelone, 554 Pa. 134; 720 A.2d 745 (1998), the Pennsylvania Supreme

Court ruled that punitive damages are unavailable under the Pennsylvania Human

Case 2:02-cv-04421-PBT Document 46 Filed 09/09/2005 Page 3 of 4
Relations Act. The court plainly stated, “In the absence of express statutory language or

any further legislative guidance, we hold that punitive damages are not available under

the [PHRA].” Id. at 751. See also Gagliardo v. Connaught Laboratories, Inc., 311 F.3d

565, 570 n. 3 (3rd Cir. 2002) (“Punitive damages are not available under the PHRA.”). 

Analogous to the PHRA, in enacting the Pennsylvania Equal Rights Amendment

to the Pennsylvania Constitution, the Pennsylvania legislature clearly did not explicitly

authorize an award of punitive damages. As such, the Court should preclude the Plaintiff

from recovering punitive damages in this case.

III. CONCLUSION:

For the reasons set forth herein, the Court should grant the Defendants’ Motion

and preclude the Plaintiff from recovering punitive damages in this case.

Respectfully submitted,

SIDNEY L. GOLD & ASSOCIATES, P.C.

/s/ Sidney L. Gold, Esquire SG1387 

SIDNEY L. GOLD, ESQUIRE

Identification No.: 21374

1835 Market Street, Suite 515

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 569-1999

Attorneys for Defendants

 

Dated: September 9, 2005

Case 2:02-cv-04421-PBT Document 46 Filed 09/09/2005 Page 4 of 4