Opinion ID: 744871
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Carter's Mitigation of Her Damages.

Text: 39 The Company also faults the award for the harm she experienced because the evidence shows that Carter did not properly mitigate her damages. It argues that, although she obtained comparable employment with Intellect Computer Services (Intellect) shortly after being terminated by DecisionOne, she quit that position three months 9 later to accept a consulting position with IBM, for which she was never paid any wages. For this reason, it says that her back pay award on the age discrimination claim must be reduced to $79,677.43 on remand. 40 According to Carter, the evidence shows that she took reasonable steps to mitigate her damages. She notes that she took the job with Intellect the day after her termination by defendant and worked there for 15 months before resigning to take what appeared to be a better position with IBM. Because of cutbacks and changes at IBM, however, that position never developed as she had hoped. Further, the jury's award of backpay was within the universe of possible awards and should not be altered. She presented evidence that would have supported a jury verdict for backpay of up to $194,743.89. After considering all the evidence concerning mitigation, the jury returned a verdict of $173,700.00 in backpay. 41 Whether a new trial on damages should be granted is within the sound discretion of the district court, and a refusal to grant a new trial will not be overturned unless there has been a clear abuse of discretion. Goldstein v. Manhattan Industries, Inc., 758 F.2d 1435, 1447-48 (11th Cir.1985). A new trial should be ordered only when the verdict is so excessive as to shock the conscience of the court. Id. When the jury's verdict is within the bounds of possible awards supported by the evidence, its award should not be disturbed. Narcisse v. Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Co., 620 F.2d 544 (5th Cir.1980). In this case, the backpay determined by the jury was within the parameters supported by Carter's evidence and was apparently reduced to reflect her failure to entirely mitigate her damages. Under these circumstances, the backpay finding was proper. 42