Opinion ID: 1508402
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Liability for Handicap Discrimination

Text: In his cross-appeal, Schnabel claims the court erred by failing to issue findings and conclusions on his claim of handicap discrimination under 21 V.S.A. § 495(a). See V.R.C.P. 52(a) (In all actions tried upon the facts without a jury ... the court shall, upon request ... find the facts specially and state separately its conclusions of law thereon); Jacobs, 144 Vt. at 127, 473 A.2d at 1167-68 (trial court must state facts essential to the disposition of the issues properly before the court). As Schnabel concedes in his brief, the damages he sought under the handicap discrimination statute and the employment reinstatement statute were the same and thus, the Superior Court did not necessarily need to reach both issues to make Mr. Schnabel whole. Even if the court committed error by not issuing findings and conclusions, the error was harmless in light of Schnabel's recovery of damages from Nordic Toyota for its failure to reinstate him according to the terms of § 643b. See Crampton v. Lamonda, 95 Vt. 160, 164, 114 A. 42, 43-44 (1921) (failure of court to issue findings immaterial to result does not prejudice requesting party and is therefore harmless). [1]