Court Opinion

ID: 9633333
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 11:43:41.975175+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:08:33.204172
License: Public Domain

Shearing, J.,
dissenting:
I do not agree that the University was entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the cause of action alleging that the University violated 29 U.S.C. Sec. 206(d), the Equal Pay Act. I would affirm the judgment in favor of Farmer on that cause of action.
This case was submitted to a jury which reached a verdict in favor of Farmer. As the majority stated, on review of a motion denying judgment notwithstanding the verdict, this court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the party against whom the motion is directed. Air Service Co. v. Sheehan, 95 Nev. 528, 530, 594 P.2d 1155, 1156 (1979). It is not this court’s prerogative to consider the weight of the evidence or the credibility of witnesses. Id. The question we must ask and answer is whether the evidence of record is such that reasonable people would have necessarily reached a different conclusion. Id.
Accordingly, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to Farmer. Regardless of our own inclinations, we must accept the fact that the jury believed that the disparity in pay between Farmer and her male colleague was based on gender discrimination. The University presented evidence that other factors were responsible for the disparity in pay between Farmer and her male colleague. Obviously the jury did not believe the University’s witnesses. The University does not dispute that the jury was correctly instructed on the requirements and the burdens of proof under the Equal Pay Act. Appellant’s only assignment of error in the instructions related to the allegations of violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Therefore, we are obligated to affirm the verdict and judgment of the trial court with regard to violation of the Equal Pay Act.