United States Eighth Circuit

In a employment discrimination action, district court judgment for plaintiff is affirmed where: 1) the district court correctly applied the contributing factor standard to plaintiff's Missouri Human Rights Act retaliation claim; 2) judgment for plaintiff was supported by sufficient evidence; 3) the jury's finding with regard to lost wages and benefit, and future pecuniary and nonpecuniary losses, was supported by the evidence; and 4) evidence regarding punitive damages was sufficient to justify submitting the issue to the jury, but the award was excessive when viewed in light of prevailing due process limitations. Punitive damages award is reduced, and award of attorney's fees and costs is affirmed.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/17/2009
• Published 04/17/2009

Judges

• MELLOY, Circuit Judge., Before MELLOY, BEAM, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Kelly S. Moothart, argued, John D. Dunbar, on the brief, Kansas City, MO, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Lynne Jaben Bratcher, argued, Marie L. Gockel, Kansas City, MO, Elle J. Sullivan, on the brief, Independence, MO, for appellee.