Opinion ID: 537652
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: General and Liquidated Damages

Text: 42 Plaintiff claims that the court erroneously found that he was not entitled to liquidated or general damages under the LADEA. The LADEA provides that any party aggrieved by any violations under the Act may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction for legal or equitable relief. La.Rev.Stat.Ann. Sec. 23:973 (West Supp.1990). The underscored language appears in both the federal ADEA and the LADEA. See 29 U.S.C. Sec. 626(b). In interpreting this provision, federal courts have concluded that general damages are not authorized under the ADEA. See, e.g., Dean v. American Sec. Ins. Co., 559 F.2d 1036, 1038-39 (5th Cir.1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1066, 98 S.Ct. 1243, 55 L.Ed.2d 767 (1978). We agree with the district court that since the federal rule was clear, and since the Louisiana Legislature used the identical language, it must have intended the same rule. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that the Louisiana statute prohibiting race and sex discrimination in employment expressly provides for general damages while the LADEA does not. See La.Rev.Stat.Ann. Sec. 23:1006 D (West 1985). 43 Additionally, the district court concluded that liquidated damages were not recoverable under the LADEA because, while the ADEA expressly authorizes liquidated damages for willful violations, the LADEA conspicuously omits any reference to liquidated damages. Compare id. Sec. 23:973 with 29 U.S.C. Sec. 626(b). Deloach argues that in omitting specific reference to the types of relief available under the LADEA, the Louisiana Legislature intended a more expansive interpretation of the words legal or equitable relief than the ADEA provides. We are unpersuaded by this argument. The Louisiana Legislature has demonstrated its ability to specify the relief available under discrimination law. See La.Rev.Stat.Ann. Sec. 23:1006 (West 1985). Since the legislature could have authorized liquidated damages, but did not, we find that liquidated damages were properly denied. 44 Deloach additionally argues that he is entitled to general and liquidated damages under La.Rev.Stat.Ann. Secs. 51:2231-51:2265 (West Supp.1990) (1988 Statute). That statute created the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights and was enacted to safeguard all individuals within the state from discrimination because of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin in connection with employment and in connection with public accommodations. Id. Sec. 51:2231. Deloach acknowledges that the damages provisions of the 1988 Statute are not directly applicable to this case since the statute was enacted after the 1987 trial. Rather, he contends that as a remedial or curative statute its broadened remedy provisions apply retroactively. 45 The basis for this argument is Fullilove v. U.S. Casualty Co., 129 So.2d 816, 824 (La.Ct.App.1961), which held that remedial statutes are applicable not only to past transactions but also to pending cases, either in the trial court or on appeal. A statute is remedial if it confer[s] a remedy for the redress of wrongs which those already authorized to sue had sustained. Id. However, statutes conferring new substantive rights are not applied retroactively. See Baynard v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 399 So.2d 1200, 1202 (La.Ct.App.1981). 46 Deloach claims that the 1988 Statute did not create a new cause of action for age discrimination, since that claim could be brought under the LADEA. This argument, however, ignores the many substantive provisions created under the 1988 Statute. The statute primarily establishes the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights, which is authorized to perform certain functions to eradicate widespread discrimination. See La.Rev.Stat.Ann. Secs. 51:2233-51:2241, 51:2259-51:2263. The statute also allows persons who have been injured by an alleged violation of the statute to file a civil suit to enjoin further violations and to recover damages actually sustained. Id. Sec. 51:2264. As the statute creates new substantive rights, a new enforcement scheme, and new remedies, it does not apply retroactively. Thus, general and liquidated damages were properly denied.