Opinion ID: 741895
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Verdict and Judgment

Text: 17 After a four-day trial, the district court denied the defendants' motion for judgment as a matter of law and submitted the case to the jury. The jury found for Mason on all claims and awarded him $185,572.70 in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded punitive damages as follows: $150,000 against Young and $150,000 against Scott on the section 1983 claim; $150,000 against Young and $250,000 against Scott on the wrongful discharge claim; and $300,000 against Scott on the tortious interference claim. 3 The issue of front pay was then tried to the court, and the court awarded Mason $60,000. 18 The defendants filed post-trial motions for judgment as a matter of law, a new trial, remittitur, and to alter and amend the judgment. The district court denied judgment as a matter of law and declined to grant a new trial, but altered the judgment in two ways. First, pursuant to Title 23 Okla. Stat. § 9, the district court determined that the punitive damages awarded against each defendant on the state law claims could not exceed the total value of compensatory damages. App. Vol. VI at 1562-63 (Mason v. Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, No. CIV-93-1836-R (W.D. Okla. filed Jan. 19, 1996)). Second, the district court determined that Mason's claims, although representing alternative theories of recovery, were all based on the same conduct by the defendants, and that Mason was not entitled to receive multiple punitive damage awards. The district court required Mason to elect only one punitive damage award against each defendant. Id. at 1558. The net effect of these alterations to the judgment is that Young remained liable to Mason for a single punitive damage award of $150,000, while Scott remained liable for a single punitive damage award capped at $245,572.70. 19 Also not entirely satisfied with the jury's verdict, Mason moved for a new trial on the issue of compensatory damages. Mason argued that by awarding as compensatory damages an amount exactly equal to the back pay he sought, the jury completely disregarded his nonpecuniary losses. Mason also asserted that the district court's front pay award was inadequate. The district court denied this motion. Id. at 1582.