Court Opinion

ID: 3012546
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 21:08:30.518529+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:30.486605
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
 

  NYGAARD, Circuit Judge.
 

  Tyrone A. Charles filed a complaint against appellants contending that they breached, or illegally ended, a contract with him because of his race. He is African American. A jury returned a verdict in favor of appellants and against Charles. Appellants filed a petition to amend the judgment to add an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988. The District Court denied their petition. We review this denial for an abuse of discretion. Finding none, we will affirm.
 

 
   *142
   
  The Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Award Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. § 1988, permits the court to award attorney’s fees to the “prevailing party” in suits brought under the federal civil rights statutes. The district courts have been given discretion to decide whether, in their judgment, a plaintiffs claim was frivolous or groundless. In this matter, the District Court compared the “thrust of the plaintiffs contention” with the evidence he adduced at trial, and concluded that attorney’s fees were not indicated. We believe the decision was within the Court’s discretion, see no abuse, and will affirm.