Opinion ID: 407955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Issuance of Reinstatement Order

Text: 20 Finally, the City contests the propriety of the district court's order directing that Thomas be reinstated in his position as police officer. The objection is two-pronged. We have already disposed of the first contention. The City argues that the evidence does not support any judgment for Thomas so a reinstatement order was erroneous as well. But we have decided above that the record supports a holding in favor of Thomas. 21 Second, the City suggests that Thomas' separation from the force was due to reasons other than the constitutional violations the jury found. The City urges that even though the jury found the discharge was wrongful, there was no showing of a logical nexus between the conspiracy and the wrongful discharge. It therefore claims that reinstatement cannot come within the scope of the instant proceeding. This argument must also fail. 22 The jury determined that Thomas was discharged because of his actions and as the result of the conspiracy to punish him for those actions. Yet his actions were constitutionally protected. The nexus between the conspiracy and the discharge is clear. When a monetary award alone will not repair a constitutional infraction in the civil rights setting, a judge may fashion such equitable relief as may be necessary to remedy the wrongs. In an employment-based dispute, reinstatement is an accepted measure to accompany back pay as part of the overall remedy. See, e.g., United States v. City of Jackson, Mississippi, 519 F.2d 1147 (5th Cir. 1975). Reinstatement is a routine remedy for wrongful discharge in industrial employment cases. National Labor Relations Act 29 U.S.C. § 160(c). 23 For the reasons outlined above, we AFFIRM the decisions of the district court. We REMAND for a determination of reasonable costs and attorneys fees related to this appeal.