Opinion ID: 587012
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Need For a Remedy

Text: 24 Finally, appellee suggests that because the district court found that Great Dane had taken some corrective action to improve the racial situation at Ruffin's jobsite, the court's injunction does not materially alter the existing legal relations between Ruffin and Great Dane, and therefore cannot serve as the basis for an award of attorney's fees. This argument is also without merit. 25 An injunction is inappropriate if the possibility of future harm to the plaintiff arising out of the behavior plaintiff seeks to enjoin is purely speculative. Lopez v. Garriga, 917 F.2d 63, 67 (1st Cir.1990). The district court saw fit to issue an injunction against Great Dane because Great Dane had failed to correct adequately the situation which led to violations of Ruffin's rights. The court's decision to issue its injunction reflected its belief that the possibility of future violations of plaintiff's rights--and the rights of other blacks employed by Great Dane--existed, and served to ensure the lack of recurring violations. 26 Appellee does not challenge the award of injunctive relief, nor does it suggest that the court's finding that Great Dane has failed to address adequately the problem of jobsite racism is clearly erroneous. Given the district court's unchallenged findings, we cannot hold that the court's injunction did not materially alter the relationship between Ruffin and Great Dane because Great Dane had already acted to effectuate this changing relationship. To do so would strip the district court's action of any meaning whatsoever, and would negate the court's determination that Great Dane had not adequately corrected the situation that resulted in a violation of Ruffin's rights.