Document: 532 U.S. 843121 S.Ct. 1946150 L.Ed.2d 62 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the preliminary print of United States Reports. Readers are requested notify Reporter Decisions, Supreme Court States, Washington, D. C. 20543, any typographical or other errors, order that corrections may be made goes press.SHARON B. POLLARD, PETITIONERv.E. I. du PONT de NEMOURS & COMPANY No. 00-763. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES Argued April 23, 2001Decided June 4, 2001 Syllabus Petitioner Pollard sued respondent, her former employer, alleging she had been subjected a hostile work environment based on sex, violation Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964. Finding was co-worker sexual harassment which supervisors were aware, and resulted medical leave absence for psychological assistance eventual dismissal refusing return same environment, District awarded her, as relevant here, $300,000 compensatory damages-the maximum permitted under 42 U.S.C. 1981a(b)(3). The court observed award insufficient compensate Pollard, but bound by an earlier Sixth Circuit holding front pay-money lost compensation during period between judgment reinstatement lieu reinstatement-was damages cap affirmed. Held: Front pay not element 1981a thus imposed Pp. 3-10. (a) Under 706(g) 1964, originally enacted, when found employer intentionally engaged unlawful employment practice, authorized such remedies injunctions, reinstatement, backpay, benefits. 2000e-5(g)(1). Because this provision closely tracked language 10(c) National Labor Relations (NLRA), 10(c)'s meaning 1964 enacted provides guidance 706(g)'s proper meaning. In applying 10(c), Board consistently "backpay" awards up date employee reinstated returned position he should have NLRA occurred, even if event occurred after judgment. Consistent with interpretation, courts finding intentional discrimination actions type backpay (known today "front pay" it occurs judgment) 706(g). After Congress expanded 1972 include "any equitable relief deems appropriate," endorsed broad view pay, included reinstatement. By 1991, virtually all appeals recognized remedy further available punitive damages, 1981a(b)(3)'s cap. 3-7. (b) 1991 Act's plain makes clear newly addition Thus, 706(g), excluded from would As original authorizing modeled NLRA, (now called VII) there no logical difference eventually those not, well. To distinguish two cases lead strange result employees could receive unavailable-whether because continuing hostility plaintiff its workers, injuries has caused plaintiff. most egregious offenders least sanctions. text does lend itself distinction. fit within authorization "order affirmative action appropriate." 8-10. 213 F.3d 933, reversed remanded. ON WRIT CERTIORARI TO APPEALS FOR SIXTH CIRCUIT Thomas, J., delivered Court, Members joined, except O'Connor, who took part consideration decision case. Opinion Justice Thomas Court. 1 case presents question whether 1991. We conclude not. 2 * Sharon E. Pont Nemours Company (DuPont), 78 Stat. 253, 2000e et seq. trial, aware. job environment. $107,364 benefits, $252,997 attorney's fees, and, statutory Appeals affirmed, concluding record demonstrated DuPont flagrant sex managers did take adequate steps stop it. 933 (CA6 2000). 3 issue presented review here constitutes "compensatory damages" section. Although defined numerous ways, simply money For instance, appropriate immediately without displacing incumbent employee, ordered upon opening paid until occurs. See, e.g., Walsdorf v. Comm'rs, 857 F.2d 1047, 1053-1054 (CA5 1988); King Staley, 849 1143, 1145 (CA8 1988). viable suffered discrimination, substitute Gotthardt R. Passenger Corp., 191 1148, 1156 (CA9 1999); Fitzgerald Sirloin Stockade, Inc., 624 945, 957 (CA10 1980). purposes opinion, necessary us explain remedy. only appropriate, damages. 4 Here, "the $300,000.00 is, fact, plaintiff," 16 F. Supp. 2d 913, 924, n. 19 (WD Tenn. 1998), stated Circuit's Hudson Reno, 130 1193 (1997), held On appeal, argued wrongly decided rather replacement situations inappropriate. She also 1981a, very terms, explicitly excludes traditionally VII, pay. agreed Pollard's arguments considered Hudson. declined rehear en banc. 5 one first appellate opinions decide set forth Contrary resolution question, Courts address concluded limitations Pals Schepel Buick GMC Truck, 220 495, 499-500 (CA7 2000); Kramer Logan County School Dist. R-1, 157 620, 625-626 1998); Gotthardt, supra, at 1153-1154; Medlock Ortho Biotech, 164 545, 556 EEOC W&O, 600, 619, 10 (CA11 Martini Federal Nat. Mortgage Assn., 178 1336, 1348-1349 (CADC 1999). granted certiorari resolve conflict. 531 1069 (2001). II 6 Plaintiffs allege basis entitled fees these plaintiffs permitting, time, recovery 1981a(a)(1) ("[T]he complaining party recover allowed subsection section, section 1964"). amount "future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss enjoyment life, nonpecuniary losses," however, exceed number people employed respondent. case, more than 500 employees. 7 future losses F.3d, 945; Hudson, 1203. reasons discussed below, we therefore, hold 1981a(b)(3) inapplicable 8 "enjoin respondent engaging include, limited to, hiring employees, back pay." 49 454, 29 160(c), similarly orders requiring employers remedial "affirmative action." 160(c) (authorizing "requiring person cease desist unfair labor including will effectuate policies subchapter"). See Albemarle Paper Co. Moody, 422 405, 419, 11 (1975). prior enactment gives VII. what Nathanson NLRB, 344 25, 29-30 (1952); NLRB Reeves Broadcasting Development 336 590, 593-594 (CA4 1964); Hill Truck Line, 266 883, 887 1959); Berger Polishing, 147 N. L. 21, 40 (1964); Lock Joint Pipe Co., 141 943, 948 (1963). Board's interpretation Culpepper Reynolds Metals 442 1078, 1080 1971); Georgia Power FEP Cases 767, 790 (ND Ga. 1971). context, form occurring known 9 1972, specify could, awarding previously listed provision, amendment Patterson American Tobacco 535 257, 269 1976) (stating where feasible, "should supplemented equal estimated present value earnings reasonably likely occur time can assume his new position"); Enterprise Assn. Steamfitters, 542 579, 590 (CA2 terminate actual remedying discrimination); Bush Lone Star Steel 373 526, 538 (ED Tex. 1974) (ordering fill vacancy racial reasonable probability reach rightful place). always option, "make whole" mandated Albemarle. Shore Express 777 1155, 1158-1159 1985) ("Front ... post-judgment effects past discrimination." It "to fully 'make whole' VII"); Brooks Woodline Motor Freight, 852 1061, 1066 1988) given substantial animosity parties parties' relationship improve, nature business required high degree mutual trust confidence"); 1980) (upholding existed parties); Cassino Reichhold Chems., 817 1338, 1347 1987) (same). 706(g).1 appears ever contrary.2 amending 1981a(a)(1). At Rev. 1977, 1981 unlimited race ethnic similar religious, disability discrimination. brought forms into alignment, respect successful plaintiffs. However, 1981a(b)(3), while statute. B abstract, term losses" statute, out ordinary payments monetary must analyze isolation. Gade Solid Wastes Management 505 88, 99 (1992) (" '[W]e guided single sentence member sentence, look provisions whole law' "). When read whole, better 12 determined victims additional remedies. expressly "additional law needed deter workplace," giving indication wished curtail 105 1071, 2. therefore through statute Section that, subjection [1981a], respondent." (Emphasis added.) And 1981a(b)(2) states "[c]ompensatory [1981a] shall interest 1964." According provisions, 1981a. 13 above, NLRA. construed allow Accordingly, 14 construe see not.3 Moreover, option-whether Had drawn line foreclosed certainly honor line. But, written, distinction, create one. authorizes term. 15 limit availability Instead, sought expand permitting remedies, 17 reversed, remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 18 so ordered. O'Connor NOTES: Barbano Madison Cty., 922 139, 146-147 1990); Blum Witco Chem. 829 367, 383 (CA3 1987); 1976); 1054 1159-1160 1985); Briseno Central Technical Community College Area, 739 344, 348 1984); Thorne El Segundo, 802 1131, 1137 1986); 1980); Nord 758 1462, 1473-1474 Thompson Sawyer, 678 292 1982). McKnight General Motors 908 104, 116-117 1990) (reserving VII); Wildman Lerner Stores 771 605, 615-616 (CA1 (holding Age Discrimination Employment 1967, relying law). addressed since joined Circuits Selgas Airlines, 104 9, 12-13 1997); Williams Pharmacia, 137 944, 951-952 1998). note federal ("A equivalent reinstatement"); 952 functional reinstatement").

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