Opinion ID: 424926
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: remaining issues raised by the parties

Text: 54 In light of our conclusion that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over Jackson's retaliatory discharge claim, that claim must be dismissed and the judgment of compensatory damages awarded pursuant to that claim vacated. Our resolution of the jurisdictional question necessarily precludes Jackson's assertion on cross-appeal that the punitive damage award pursuant to the retaliatory discharge claim should be reinstated. 55 The only remaining issue therefore is whether the compensatory damage award of $13,500 pursuant to Jackson's FELA claim must be vacated and a new trial on damages granted. Conrail claims that the award was tainted by counsel's argument and evidence appropriate, if at all, only to the question of punitive damages. 56 The evidence and argument of which Conrail complains pertains to Conrail's net worth, the number of persons in Jackson's family, impliedly dependent upon him for support, and counsel's characterization of the case as an opportunity for the jury to send a message in favor of all working men to corporations throughout the country. 57 Conrail's argument is untenable because we find no indication that the FELA compensatory damage award was tainted. It is significant that the damages awarded Jackson on the FELA claim, $13,500 after a ten percent reduction for Jackson's contributory negligence, is less than eight percent of the compensatory damages awarded on the retaliatory discharge claim. Even more striking, it is just over one percent of the punitive damages awarded Jackson on the retaliatory discharge claim. These comparisons compel the conclusion that the jury properly considered the FELA claim wholly separate and apart from the retaliatory discharge claim for the purpose of setting a damage figure and therefore no tainting occurred. 58 If any error did occur below pertaining to the admission of evidence or the tolerance of impermissible argument, a question that we do not decide, the error was harmless. The compensatory damage award of $13,500 in favor of Jackson on his FELA claim will not be disturbed on appeal.