Opinion ID: 48272
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Back- and Frontpay Damages

Text: 22 The jury awarded $91,000 backpay from the date of Barrios's separation, July 1999, to the date of judgment in January 2005, and the court awarded frontpay of $200,000, premised on Barrios's ability to work until she became sixty-five and on the infeasibility of reinstatement at DuPont. DuPont challenges both awards. 23 The jury's determination of the backpay period in this case was not insupportable. See Brunnemann v. Terra Int'l, Inc., 975 F.2d 175, 178 n. 5 (5th Cir.1992) (the determination of back pay period is a factual matter to be set aside only when clearly erroneous (citing Matthews v. A-1, Inc., 748 F.2d 975, 978 (5th Cir.1984))). Although Dr. Montegut, Barrios's physician, testified that Barrios was medically unable to work after June 2001, the jury could have relied upon testimony that Barrios had a high pain threshold and could have worked after that date. The jury was in a better position than this court to weigh the evidence concerning the proper date to cut off backpay. See id. Further, assessing the backpay at the modest amount of approximately $20,000 per year over a five-year period was not improper. 4 24 The same cannot be said of the district court's award of frontpay, which was based on an advisory jury verdict. See Julian v. City of Houston, 314 F.3d 721, 728 n. 25 (5th Cir.2002) (district court may determine frontpay with the assistance of an advisory jury). We review the district court's award of frontpay for abuse of discretion. Id. at 728; see also Giles v. Gen. Elec. Co., 245 F.3d 474, 489 (5th Cir.2001). 25 Front pay is awarded to compensate the plaintiff for lost future wages and benefits. Rutherford v. Harris County, 197 F.3d 173, 188 (5th Cir.1999) (quoting Shirley v. Chrysler First, Inc., 970 F.2d 39, 44 (5th Cir.1992)). Although reinstatement is preferred, frontpay may be awarded if reinstatement is not feasible. Id. 5 The key issue before this court is whether the district court adequately explained why it awarded front pay. Id. 26 The district court concluded that Barrios was likely to have continued working for DuPont despite her walking impairment. This conclusion was based on testimony that Barrios was hard-working, committed, and had a high tolerance for pain. Given Barrios's steadily deteriorating medical condition, however, her doctor's repeated statements as time went on that she remained unable to work, and the fact that the trial occurred more than three years after her doctor's first disability determination and five years after the adverse FCE, the court's finding that Barrios could work for nearly ten more years post-judgment defies reality and the record. As she was unable to work in the future, Barrios was not eligible to receive future wages and benefits. See, e.g., McInnis v. Fairfield Cmtys., Inc., 458 F.3d 1129, 1146 (10th Cir.2006) (frontpay award must not grant plaintiff a windfall). Although the jury's determination of the backpay period was not clearly erroneous, the district court's award of frontpay was an abuse of discretion. Only the backpay award can stand.