Powell v. North Arkansas College

Filing 32

JUDGMENT in favor of Kelli S. Powell against North Arkansas College in the amount of $194,738.14, with interest thereon at the rate of.47% per annum, from the date of this Judgment until paid, for all of which execution may issue. Signed by Honorable Jimm Larry Hendren on May 27, 2009. (lw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS HARRISON DIVISION KELLI POWELL v. NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE JUDGMENT On the 14th day of May, 2009, the captioned case came on for trial. Both parties appeared, and were represented by counsel. Civil No. 08-3042 DEFENDANT PLAINTIFF

A jury of twelve was empaneled; heard opening statements, the testimony of witnesses, and closing arguments; reviewed

documentary evidence; and was instructed according to the law. The jury then retired to deliberate, and on May 15th, 2009, returned a Verdict into open court as follows: INTERROGATORY preponderance of 1: the Do evidence you that find North from the

Arkansas

College retaliated against Kelli Powell for use of Family and Medical Leave by not offering her an

employment contract for the 2007-2008 school year? ANSWER: Yes. 2: the Do evidence you that find North from the

INTERROGATORY preponderance of

Arkansas

College would have decided not to offer Kelli Powell an employment contract for the 2007-2008 school year

regardless of her exercise of rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act?

ANSWER:

No.

INTERROGATORY 3: State the amount of damages which you find from the preponderance of the evidence should be awarded to Kelli Powell as a result of retaliation by North Arkansas College: ANSWER: $94,873. INTERROGATORY preponderance of 4: the Do evidence you that find North from the

Arkansas

College reasonably believed that its actions complied with the Family and Medical Leave Act when it decided not to offer Kelli Powell an employment contract for the 2007-2008 school year? ANSWER: No. Based on the Answers to Interrogatories in the Verdict, the Court finds that plaintiff is entitled to an award of back pay in the amount of $94,873.00. Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 2617, plaintiff is also entitled to an award of prejudgment interest on the award of back pay. The

parties agree that the correct computation of this amount -- using the applicable federal interest rate for each month of back pay -is $2,496.07. Plaintiff is also entitled, under 29 U.S.C. § 2617, to an additional award of liquidated damages, equal to the sum of back pay and prejudgment interest on back pay, in the sum of

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$97,369.07. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiff have judgment against defendant in the sum of One Hundred Ninety-Four Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty-Eight and 14/100 Dollars ($194,738.14), with

interest thereon at the rate of .47% per annum, from the date of this Judgment until paid, for all of which execution may issue. IT IS SO ORDERED, this 27th day of May, 2009. /s/ Jimm Larry Hendren JIMM LARRY HENDREN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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