Opinion ID: 160670
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Front Pay Awards

Text: 10 Defendant further asserts that the district court erred in awarding Plaintiff $8,150 in front pay. An award of front pay for claims under 1983 is an equitable remedy; thus, the district court has discretion to decide whether such an award is appropriate. See Mason v. Okla. Tpk. Auth., 115 F.3d 1442, 1458 (10th Cir. 1997) (citing Starrett v. Wadley, 876 F.2d 808, 824 (10th Cir. 1989)). That discretion, however, should be measured against an anti-discrimination statute's purpose to make the plaintiffs 'whole.' Davoll v. Webb, 194 F.3d 1116, 1143 (10th Cir. 1999) (citing Carter v. Sedgwick County, Kan., 36 F.3d 952, 957 (10th Cir.1994), and Pitre v. W. Elec. Co., 975 F.2d 700, 704 (10th Cir.1992)). We thus review the court's award of front pay for an abuse of discretion. See Mason, 115 F.3d at 1458. 11 As set forth above, the district court erred in holding Defendant liable despite the jury finding that Defendant had proven its anyway defense. In addition, the court abused its discretion in awarding equitable damages to Plaintiff despite Defendant's inculpability. Plaintiff did not need to be made whole because Defendant had caused no harm, according to the jury verdict. It is impertinent that the jury advised an award of front pay, since such determinations are made solely by the court. See McCue v. Kan. Dep't of Human Res., 165 F.3d 784, 791 (10th Cir. 1999). 12 We have previously adopted the reasoning that front pay can be refused in part when the fact finder determines that the employee would have been legitimately laid off sometime before trial. Dalal v. Alliant TechSystems, Inc., 182 F.3d 757, 759 n.2 (10th Cir. 1999). The Supreme Court has even held that evidence of employee wrongdoing discovered by an employer after discharge and sufficient for termination renders reinstatement or front pay inequitable and pointless. McKennon v. Nashville Banner Publ'g Co., 513 U.S. 352, 361-62 (1995); see also Medlock v. Ortho Biotech, Inc., 164 F.3d 545, 554-55 (10th Cir. 1999). Wrongdoing known to the employer before termination and found by the jury should have no less an effect. Thus, Defendant is not liable to Plaintiff for front pay.