Opinion ID: 2069652
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Compensatory Damages Award

Text: UMWA challenges the award of front pay or future economic loss and emotional distress damages to Ms. Moore. UMWA contends that: (1) Ms. Moore did not seek reinstatement to her position or show that reinstatement was not practicable; and (2) the trial court had no basis for assuming that (a) Ms. Moore would have been relegated to lower paying jobs or (b) would have remained at UMWA for the remainder of her worklife. Therefore, UMWA maintains, if Ms. Moore was entitled to any damages for lost pay, they should have been imposed from the date of her termination to the date of judgment. Thus, the damages for lost wages would have amounted to only $60,000. Ms. Moore argues that UMWA waived its right to raise the issue of future economic loss because it failed to object to testimony presented by Dr. Richard Lurito, her economic expert. In addition, she argues, she is entitled to damages for future economic loss under the case law, and further, UMWA failed to show the availability of comparable work at higher wages. Our review of an award of compensatory damages is limited and highly deferential because the trial court has broad discretion to determine appropriate relief under the DCHRA. Daka, supra, 711 A.2d at 100; see also D.C.Code § 1-2556(b); Arthur Young & Co., supra, 631 A.2d at 373.