Opinion ID: 759498
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Willfulness of ADEA Violation

Text: 35 Farmers contends that the district court committed clear error by sustaining the jury's finding that Farmers violation of the ADEA was willful. The district court concluded on this basis that plaintiff was entitled to $102,614 in liquidated damages. See 29 U.S.C. § 626(b) (providing for liquidated damages in an amount equal to the compensatory damages awarded by the jury). Denesha apparently conceded before the district court that punitive damages under the MHRA and liquidated damages under the ADEA are mutually exclusive, while arguing that he was entitled to the greater of the two amounts. See Denesha, 976 F.Supp. at 1287. Given our decision to reinstate punitive damages with remittitur of $700,000--an amount larger than the liquidated damages award--we need not reach the issue of whether defendant's violation was willful. Cf. Nelson, 26 F.3d at 803 n. 1.