DeCorte v. Jordan
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
497 F.3d 433 (2007)
- Written by Jamie Milne, JD
Facts
When Eddie Jordan (defendant) was running for district attorney of the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office (defendant), he made a campaign promise to better align the office’s demographic profile with New Orleans’s racial demographics. After being elected and assuming office, Jordan terminated several White employees (plaintiffs), including Judith DeCorte. The 35 employees sued Jordan and the district attorney’s office for racial discrimination violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and sufficiently proved their claims. In addition to backpay, the employees sought compensatory damages for emotional distress and other intangible injuries. They individually testified to various personal difficulties they suffered because of their terminations, including stress, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, weight gain, depression, strained family relationships, and lack of confidence. A psychologist who had examined three of the employees attested that such symptoms could reasonably be attributed to job loss. The jury awarded compensatory damages to each employee in amounts ranging from $250 to $13,500. Jordan appealed the compensatory-damages awards, arguing that the employees’ testimony alone was insufficient evidence to support such awards.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Barksdale, J.)
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