Jones v. Pate Rehabilitation
Filing
110
Memorandum Opinion and Order denies 107 MOTION for New Trial or to Alter or Amend the Judgment or grant Judgment as a Matter of Law. For the reasons herein stated, the court concludes that Plaintiff has not set forth sufficient legal or factual bases that would entitle him to a new trial, or that would cause the court to alter or amend the judgment. (Ordered by Judge Sam A Lindsay on 5/5/2017) (ndt)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
DALLAS DIVISION
HARDY JONES,
Plaintiff,
v.
PATE REHABILITATION
ENDEAVORS, INC.,
Defendant.
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Civil Action No. 3:14-CV-2218-L
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Before the court is Plaintiff’s Motion for New Trial or to Alter or Amend Judgment (Doc.
107), filed January 12, 2017. After careful consideration of the motion, response, record, and
applicable law, and for the reasons stated herein, the court denies Plaintiff’s Motion for New Trial
or to Alter or Amend Judgment.
I.
Background
Plaintiff Hardy Jones (“Plaintiff” or “Jones”) filed this action against Defendant Pate
Rehabilitation Endeavors, Inc. (“Defendant” or “Pate”) on June 17, 2014. Jones amended his
complaint on February 25, 2015, asserting claims for sex discrimination in violation of Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; age discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act (“ADEA”); and retaliation under the ADEA and Title VII.
On June 17, 2016, the court granted in part and denied in part Pate’s summary judgment
motion. Specifically, the court granted Pate’s summary judgment motion with respect to Jones’s
Title VII sex discrimination and retaliation claims, and his ADEA retaliation claim, and dismissed
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 1
these claims with prejudice. The court denied Pate’s summary judgment motion with respect to
Plaintiff’s ADEA discrimination claim, and it proceeded to trial.
The trial took place before the court and a jury on December 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and14, 2016.
The jury found in answer to Question No. 1 that Jones did not prove by a preponderance of the
evidence that, but for his age, Pate would not have discharged him on December 11, 2013. The
court entered a final judgment in favor of Pate in accordance with its Memorandum Opinion and
Order (Doc. 57) and the jury verdict. The judgment adjudged, ordered, and decreed that Jones
take nothing against Pate; that the action be dismissed with prejudice; that all allowable costs be
taxed against Jones; and that all relief not granted in the judgment was denied.
Jones states that his motion is brought pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 59(a),
59(e), and 60(b). Pl.’s Mot. for New Trial 1. Plaintiff also states that he is alternatively asserting
that judgment as a matter of law should have been granted in his favor. In his motion for new trial
or to alter or amend the judgment, Jones contends that: (1) the jury’s verdict is clearly contrary to
the evidence and that he proved his ADEA claim by a preponderance of the evidence; (2) the
evidence at trial established that Pate’s reasons for firing Jones were false and shown to be a pretext
for intentional age discrimination; and (3) the jury based its verdict on evidence not in the record
and was unduly influenced by pernicious comments made by the court. For the reasons that follow,
the court disagrees. Because Plaintiff misapprehends, misapplies, and misinterprets the evidence,
and takes matters out of context, the court will not expend scarce judicial resources addressing
each of his misconceptions and red herrings. The court devotes its attention to why Plaintiff’s
motion is without merit.
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 2
II.
Standards
A.
Motion for New Trial – Rule 59(a)
A court, upon motion, may “grant a new trial on all or some of the issues” to any party
after a jury trial, for any reasons for which a new trial has heretofore been granted in an action at
a law in federal court.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(a)(1)(A). New trials may be granted if a district court
determines that the “verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the damages awarded are
excessive, the trial was unfair, or prejudicial error was committed in its course.” Smith v.
Transworld Drilling Co., 773 F.2d 610, 613 (5th Cir. 1985) (footnote and citations omitted). The
appeals court reviews the denial of a motion for trial for an abuse of discretion. A “district court
abuses its discretion by denying a new trial ‘only when there is an absolute absence of evidence to
support the jury’s verdict.’” Wellogix, Inc. v. Accenture, L.L.P., 716 F.3d 867, 881 (5th Cir. 2013)
(citations omitted). If the evidence at trial is legally sufficient to support the jury’s verdict, a
district court does not abuse its discretion by denying a motion for new trial. One Beacon Ins. Co.
v. T. Wade Welch & Assocs., 841 F.3d 669, 676 (5th Cir. 2016) (citations omitted). The appeals
court is to view the evidence “in the light most favorable to the jury verdict.” Wellogix, 716 F.3d
at 881 (quoting Seidman v. American Airlines, Inc., 923 F.2d 1134, 1140 (5th Cir. 1991)). A
motion for new trial must clearly show that “a manifest error of law” occurred at the trial. Simon
v. United States, 891 F.2d 1154, 1159 (5th Cir. 1991) (citation omitted).
B.
Motion to Amend or Alter Judgment – Rule 59(e)
A motion to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 59(e) “calls into question the
correctness of a judgment.” Templet v. HydroChem Inc., 367 F.3d 473, 478 (5th Cir. 2004)
(citation omitted). Such motion “must clearly establish either a manifest error of law or fact or
must present newly discovered evidence.” Marseilles Homeowners Condominium Ass’n Inc. v.
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 3
Fidelity Nat’l Ins. Co., 542 F.3d 1053, 1058 (5th Cir. 2008) (citation omitted). It may not be used
to relitigate issues that were resolved to the movant’s dissatisfaction. Forsythe v. Saudi Arabian
Airlines Corp., 885 F.2d 285, 289 (5th Cir. 1989). A Rule 59(e) motion may not raise arguments
or present evidence that could have been raised prior to entry of judgment. Simon v. United States,
891 F.2d 1154, 1159 (5th Cir. 1990) (citation omitted).
District courts have “considerable discretion in deciding whether to grant or deny a motion
to alter a judgment.” Hale v. Townley, 45 F.3d 914, 921 (5th Cir. 1995). In exercising this
discretion, a district court must “strike the proper balance between the need for finality and the
need to render just decisions on the basis of all the facts.” Id. With this balance in mind, the Fifth
Circuit has observed that Rule 59(e) “favor[s] the denial of motions to alter or amend a judgment.”
Southern Constructors Grp., Inc. v. Dynalectric Co., 2 F.3d 606, 611 (5th Cir. 1993). Stated
another way, “[r]econsideration of a judgment after its entry is an extraordinary remedy that should
be used sparingly.” Templet, 367 F.3d at 479.
C.
Motion for Relief from a Judgment or Order – Rule 60(b)
The applicable federal rule provides as follows:
On motion and just terms, the court may relieve a party or its legal
representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding for the following
reasons:
(1)
mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect;
(2)
newly discovered evidence that, with reasonable diligence, could
not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b);
(3)
fraud (whether previously called intrinsic or extrinsic),
misrepresentation, or misconduct by an opposing party,
(4)
the judgment is void;
(5)
the judgment has been satisfied, released or discharged; it is based
on an earlier judgment that has been reversed or vacated; or applying it
prospectively is no longer equitable; or
(6)
any other reason that justifies relief.
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 4
Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(1)-(6). Although Jones cites this rule as a basis for bringing his motion for
new trial or to alter the judgment, he fails to cite the particular subsection on which he is relying.
Thus, the court does not know Jones’s basis for invoking Rule 60(b). As Jones fails to explain
why he is entitled to relief under this rule, the court will deny his motion insofar as he requests
relief under Rule 60(b).
D.
Judgment as a Matter of Law – Rule 50(a)
This rule provides in relevant part:
(a)
Judgment as a Matter of Law.
(1)
In General. If a party has been fully heard on an issue during a jury
trial and the court finds that a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient
evidentiary basis to find for the party on that issue, the court may:
(A)
resolve the issue against the party; and
(B)
grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law against the
party on a claim or defense that, under the controlling law, can be maintained or
defeated only with a favorable finding on that issue.
(2)
Motion. A motion for judgment as a matter or law may be made at
any time before the case is submitted to the jury. The motion must specify the
judgment sought and the law and facts that entitle the movant to the judgment.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a).
The court does not recall Plaintiff moving for judgment as a matter of law. In any event,
Jones did not satisfy the standard that would entitle him to judgment as a matter of law, as there
was no reason for the court to conclude that the jury would not have a legally sufficient basis to
find for Pate on the issue of intentional age discrimination. As the court later explains, this was a
classic jury case that largely turned on the credibility of the witnesses. The evidence was not so
convincing and strong that the court could have granted judgment as a matter of law on behalf of
either party, which is why the court denied Pate’s Rule 50 motion. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s
argument that the court should have granted judgment as a matter of law in his favor is without
merit.
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 5
III.
Discussion
A.
Motion for New Trial
1.
Whether the Verdict was Against the Great Weight of the
Evidence
In support of his contention that the jury’s verdict is clearly contrary to the evidence, Jones
discusses and summarizes what he believes the testimony of eleven witnesses establishes. These
witnesses are Omer Gurey, Hardy Jones, Joe Jones, Ferman Bell, Barbara Geising, Kent Hayden,
Anna McDonald, Jackie Graham, Sandra Gonzalez, Arrie Alberty, and Kent Bogdan. The
determination of whether Hardy Jones was a victim of intentional age discrimination turned on the
credibility or believability of the witnesses who testified. The reason the court denied Pate’s
summary judgment motion on Plaintiff’s age discrimination claim was because it determined that
Jones had raised a genuine dispute of material fact regarding pretext and that Pate would have to
convince a jury that the reason or reasons for Jones’s discharge were not a pretext for intentional
age discrimination.
In its Memorandum Opinion and Order regarding age discrimination and pretext, the court
held as follows:
The court now turns to the issue of pretext. The court has to decide whether
Pate’s stated reason was pretext for intentional age discrimination. A close and
plain reading of the Policy does not square with the actions taken by Defendant.
With respect to the section of the Policy that classifies a person who has three
accidents within a three-year period as “unacceptable,” a plain reading indicates
that it applies only to applicants and for a period of three-years “from the date of
application.” Nothing in the record states, or even intimates, that this Policy applies
to a driver who has worked for Defendant once the three-year period has elapsed.
In other words, Defendant has failed to explain to the court why its inartfully drafted
Policy even applied to Jones. In its reply, Pate makes a feeble attempt to do so by
stating that the Policy “contains ongoing requirements for drivers.” Def.’s Reply 1.
The Policy itself does not support Pate’s argument. Without explanation, Defendant
applies this Policy to a “moving” or “rolling” three-year period in which a driver
has three or more accidents, notwithstanding the absence of any support in the
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 6
record for this application and interpretation. Defendant states unequivocally that
Jones “was terminated for cause for a violation of company policy; namely, being
involved in three accidents within a three[-]year period of time.” Def.’s App. 6 ¶
13. There may be legitimate reasons for which Plaintiff was terminated, but the
reason relied on and explained by Defendant is not supported by the record.
Moreover, a younger driver, Alberty, had four accidents within a two-year period,
and he was not terminated by Defendant for violating the Policy. Pate’s averment
that Alberty was not discharged because it did not know that he had four accidents
within a two-year period may ultimately be believed by the trier of fact, but the
statement certainly raises issues of credibility at this stage regarding the real reason
for Jones’s discharge. Specifically, that an employer would not have knowledge of
its employment records is an explanation that requires examination by a jury.
In light of Pate’s wrongful interpretation and application of its Policy, and
its failure to discharge a younger driver with four violations in a two-year period,
a reasonable jury could disagree that Defendant’s stated reason for Plaintiff’s
discharge was the true or real reason for terminating him, and find that the stated
reason was pretext for intentional age discrimination. If the Policy had provided
that a driver would be classified as unacceptable for being involved in three
accidents in any three-year period, this might present a different result as to a
genuine dispute of material fact. Perhaps, this is how Pate has historically applied
and interpreted the Policy, but such application and interpretation are clearly
contrary to its plain language. Ultimately, Defendant may convince a jury that its
reason or reasons for discharging Plaintiff were not a pretext for intentional age
discrimination; however, since there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to the
true reason for Plaintiff’s discharge, summary judgment is not appropriate, and this
claim must be decided by the jury. Accordingly, the court will deny dismissal of
Plaintiff’s age discrimination claim.
Ct.’s Mem. Op. & Order 18-20 (Doc. 57) (footnote omitted). From the plain reading of this
language, it is obvious that the resolution of whether Jones was the victim of intentional age
discrimination rested primarily, if not solely, on whom the jury found to be more credible or
believable.
With respect to “Credibility and Number of Witnesses,” the court instructed the jury as
follows:
It is the function of the jury to determine the credibility or believability of
each witness and to determine the weight to be given to the witness’s testimony.
Consider all of the circumstances under which the witness testified: the relationship
of the witness to the parties in this case; the interest, if any, the witness has in the
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 7
outcome of this case; the witness’s appearance, demeanor, and manner of testifying
while on the witness stand; the witness’s apparent candor and fairness, or the lack
thereof; the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the witness’s testimony; the
opportunity of the witness to observe or acquire knowledge concerning the facts to
which he or she testified and the extent to which the witness is contradicted or
supported by other credible evidence. You will rely on your own good judgment
and common sense in considering the evidence and determining the weight to be
given it. You may, in short, accept or reject the testimony in whole or in part of
any witness.
Even though a witness may be a party to the action and, therefore, interested
in its outcome, the testimony may be accepted if it is not contradicted by direct
evidence or by any inference that may be drawn from the evidence, if you believe
the testimony.
The testimony of a single witness, that produces in your minds the belief in
the likelihood of truth, is sufficient for the proof of any fact, even though a greater
number of witnesses may have testified to the contrary, if you believe this witness
and have considered all the other evidence. In other words, the weight of the
evidence is not necessarily determined by the number of witnesses testifying as to
the existence or nonexistence of any fact. You may find the testimony of a smaller
number of witnesses as to any fact is more credible than the testimony of a larger
number of witnesses to the contrary.
A witness may be discredited or “impeached” by contradictory evidence,
by a showing that he or she testified falsely concerning a material matter, or by
evidence that at some other time the witness said or did something, or failed to say
or do something, which is inconsistent with the present testimony of that witness.
If you believe that any witness has been impeached, it is your exclusive province
to give the testimony of that witness such credibility or weight, if any, as you think
it deserves.
You should keep in mind, of course, that a simple mistake by a witness does
not necessarily mean that the witness was not telling the truth as he or she
remembers it, because people may forget things or remember other things
inaccurately; therefore, if a witness has made a misstatement, you need only
consider whether that misstatement was an intentional falsehood or simply an
innocent lapse of memory; and the importance of that may depend on whether it
has to do with an important factor or with only an unimportant detail.
Ct.’s Charge to the Jury 3-4 (Doc. 103).
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 8
Further, with respect to “Evidence and Inferences,” the court instructed the jury as follows:
Generally speaking, there are two types of evidence that a jury may consider
in properly finding the truth as to the facts in this case. One is direct evidence—
such as the testimony of an eyewitness. The other is indirect or circumstantial
evidence—the proof of a chain of circumstances that point to the existence or
nonexistence of certain facts. As a general rule, the law makes no distinction
between direct and circumstantial evidence but simply requires that the jury find
the facts from the evidence, both direct and circumstantial.
While you must consider only the evidence in this case, you are permitted
to draw reasonable inferences and deductions from the evidence. The expression
“to draw an inference” means to find that a fact exists based on proof of another
fact. An inference may be drawn only if it is reasonable and logical, not if it is
speculative. Therefore, in deciding whether to draw an inference, you must
consider all the facts in the light of reason, common sense, and experience. After
you have done that, the question whether to draw a particular inference is for you
to decide.
Id. at 5.
Finally, with respect to “Burden of Proof,” the court instructed the jury as follows:
The burden is on Hardy Jones in a civil action such as this to prove every
essential element of his respective claims by a “preponderance of the evidence,”
unless I direct you otherwise on a specific issue. A preponderance of the evidence
means such evidence that, when considered and compared with that opposed to it,
has more convincing force and produces in your minds a belief that what is sought
to be proved is more likely true than not true. In other words, to establish a claim
by a “preponderance of the evidence” merely means to prove that the claim is more
likely so than not so.
In determining whether any fact in issue has been proved by a
preponderance of the evidence, you may consider the testimony of all the witnesses,
regardless of whom may have called them, and all the exhibits received in evidence,
regardless of whom may have introduced them. If the proof should fail to establish
any essential element of Hardy Jones’s claim by a preponderance of the evidence,
you must find against him with respect to that claim.
Id. at 6.
In this case, the jury considered and weighed the evidence in favor of Pate and apparently
determined that Plaintiff’s witnesses were less credible than those of Defendant. Matters regarding
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 9
credibility and the weight to be given to exhibits and the testimony of witnesses are within the
exclusive province of the jury. In ruling on Pate’s summary judgment motion, the court explicitly
explained why summary judgment was not warranted. At trial, Pate’s evidence was much stronger
than that it presented at the summary judgment stage. Pate explained to the jury’s satisfaction why
another driver, Alberty, was not discharged for having four accidents in a two-year period and why
Jones was discharged for his accidents. The jury apparently accepted the explanation. Moreover,
the jury was convinced that Jones’s discharge did not occur but for his age.
This was a classic jury case with competing and conflicting testimony that the jury had to
resolve. The court cannot say that the jury’s verdict is against the great weight of the evidence,
and it concludes that the evidence was sufficient for the jury to render a verdict in favor of Pate.
To warrant the granting of a new trial, Jones must establish that “there is an absolute absence of
evidence to support the jury’s verdict.” One Beacon, 841 F.3d at 676. Jones falls woefully short
of meeting this standard, as the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the jury verdict, is
clearly not against the great weight of the evidence. Accordingly, this ground cannot serve as a
basis to grant a new trial.
Plaintiff contends that the evidence at trial established that Pate’s reasons for discharging
Jones were false and pretext for intentional age discrimination. The court rejects this argument,
as this is Jones’s take on what the evidence established. Jones apparently takes the position that
Pate’s application and interpretation were not consistent with the language of its Policy for drivers.
Even if this is true, a discharge that is arbitrary, erroneous, subjective, or unfair is not a violation
of the ADEA as long as the discharge was not because of the employee’s age. Bienkowski v.
American Airlines, Inc., 851 F.2d 1503, 1508 (5th Cir. 1988). Based on the evidence submitted
and the reasonable inferences that could be drawn from the evidence, the court has no pause in
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 10
concluding that the jury could have reasonably found that Plaintiff failed to establish that Pate’s
reasons for discharging him as an unsafe driver were pretextual. Accordingly, the court concludes
that the jury was well within its authority to find that Jones failed to establish pretext.
2.
Pernicious Comments by the Court and Objections of Defense
Counsel
Jones contends that the jury based its decision on evidence not in the record and that it was
unduly influenced by pernicious comments made by the court and objections made by defense
counsel. The court finds these arguments wholly lacking in merit, as they are not supported by the
record and are based on sheer speculation and conjecture.
Plaintiff accuses the court of instructing his counsel “to hurry up and to move faster” during
her questioning of the witnesses. Jones further contends that the jurors “missed a substantial part
of the testimony of the first set of witnesses and requested the court to instruct counsel for the
plaintiff to move more slowly so that they could understand.” Pl.’s Mot. 17. Other than Plaintiff’s
statement, there is nothing in the record that even intimates that the jury missed a substantial part
of the testimony of the first two witnesses. Once again, this is an unsupported assumption by
Plaintiff.
The court held a bench conference and informed Plaintiff’s counsel that the jury had
difficulty understanding her because of her accent and because she was talking “too fast.” The
court informed Plaintiff’s counsel of the jury’s concern so that she could rectify the situation.
Plaintiff’s counsel has an accent, and she had a tendency to talk rapidly. The court’s admonitions
to Plaintiff’s counsel to move the case along were not directed toward the pace of counsel’s speech
but the long delays, which are not reflected in the transcript, that often followed many of the
questions asked by counsel. The long pauses after many questions unnecessarily delayed the trial.
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 11
Plaintiff does not mention the long delays in which his counsel engaged after asking questions.
The court’s admonitions came only after this pattern had occurred over a period of time.
Moreover, the court specifically instructed the jury regarding objections by counsel and
any belief it may have thought the court had about the facts of the case. In this regard, the court
instructed the jury as follows:
You must not consider or be influenced by the fact that during the trial of
this case, counsel have made objections to some of the testimony, as it is their duty
to do so; and it is the duty of the court to rule on those objections in accordance
with the law. Any evidence to which an objection was sustained by the court, and
any evidence that was stricken by the court, must be entirely disregarded and not
considered by you for any purpose. You are not bound by any opinion that you
might think the court has concerning the facts of this case, and if I have in any way
said or done anything that leads you to believe that I have any opinions about the
facts in this case, you are hereby instructed to disregard it. Further, nothing in these
instructions to you is made for the purpose of suggesting to you what verdict I think
you should find.
Ct.’s Charge to the Jury 2 (Doc. 103). The court also instructed the jury that “the statements and
arguments of counsel are not in evidence.” Id. at 1. The court’s instructions to Plaintiff’s counsel
regarding the pace of the trial were not prejudicial and were only directed at his counsel so that the
trial could move along expeditiously. This action was not a complex case, and, contrary to
Plaintiff’s assertions, it should have taken no more than four days to try. The court knew from the
onset that Plaintiff’s counsel was not that familiar with trying cases in federal court. At the
beginning of the trial, Plaintiff’s counsel acknowledged that she had never selected a jury in federal
court and, per her request, the court patiently explained the process to her. Further, Plaintiff did
not file his exhibits in accordance with the court’s scheduling order. Plaintiff simply filed his
summary judgment exhibits as trial exhibits, which were filed not in accordance with the court’s
scheduling order. Despite this oversight, the court allowed Plaintiff to correct the error and file
his trial exhibits out of time, even though Plaintiff could not articulate a satisfactory reason for
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 12
failing to comply with the court’s scheduling order. In the final analysis, the court’s statements
were directed toward Plaintiff because the evidence discussed or sought to be introduced was not
relevant or violated Federal Rule of Evidence 403 in that it was unduly prejudicial, was cumulative,
caused undue delay, or wasted time. The court has a duty to control the presentation of evidence,
Fed. R. Evid. 611(a), and this is all that it did when it made evidentiary rulings regarding the
evidence. The alleged pernicious comments by the court and defense counsel’s objections are not
grounds to grant a new trial.
3.
Batson Challenge
In a declaration filed in support of the motion for new trial, Plaintiff complains that an allwhite jury rendered the decision against him and that he timely made a challenge pursuant to
Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986), that was erroneously rejected by the court. This argument
is without merit.
Under Batson and its progeny, “parties are constitutionally prohibited from exercising
peremptory challenges to exclude jurors on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex.” Rivera v. Illinois,
556 U.S. 148, 153 (2009). In Batson, the Supreme Court outlined a three-prong test that a district
court is to use to determine whether a peremptory challenge violates the Equal Protection Clause
of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Batson, 476 U.S. 93-98. As the
Fifth Circuit aptly explains:
[t]o raise a successful Batson challenge, a defendant must first make a prima facie
showing that the prosecutor used a peremptory challenge to strike a juror on the
basis of race. Second, if the defendant has made such a showing, the prosecution
must then offer a race-neutral basis for the strike. Finally, the district court must
determine whether the defendant has carried his burden of proving purposeful
discrimination.
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 13
United States v. Thompson, 735 F.3d 291, 296 (5th Cir. 2013) (citation omitted). Although Batson
is a criminal case, its holding applies equally to civil cases. Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Co.,
500 U.S. 614, 616 (1991).
After the parties exercised their strikes, the court showed counsel the persons who would
be on the eight-person jury and inquired whether there were any Batson challenges. The name of
each person to be on the jury was highlighted in green. Plaintiff’s counsel stated that she had a
Batson challenge regarding Jeremy Harden, an African American. Pate exercised a peremptory
strike and struck Harden. Harden was fired from his job because of a vehicle accident, which was
the same issue, or one substantially similar to that, involved in Plaintiff’s case. The court informed
Plaintiff’s counsel that Plaintiff had not met his burden to show that Defendant struck Harden
because of his race and effectively concluded that Plaintiff had not made a prima facie showing
that Harden was stricken because of his race. The court also held that a valid reason existed for
Pate to strike Harden and explained why Pate’s striking of Harden was not based on race.
Plaintiff’s counsel countered that Harden admitted that the accident for which he was fired
was his fault and stated that he could consider the evidence fairly. The court acknowledged that
Harden stated that he could be fair. The court pointed out that when it asked Harden whether he
believed that he had been treated fairly when he was discharged, Harden, after hesitating,
eventually answered “yes.” The court held that Pate’s striking of Harden did not violate Batson
and overruled Plaintiff’s objection to Harden’s exclusion from the jury. As Plaintiff made no
prima facie showing that Pate’s challenge to Harden was based on his race, no Batson violation
occurred, and Batson cannot serve as a basis to grant Jones a new trial.
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 14
4.
Supplemental Jury Instruction
The jury submitted two questions to the court during its deliberations. The questions were
set forth in the court’s Supplemental Jury Instruction:
Members of the Jury:
You have submitted the following questions to the court:
Question No. 1: “When was suit filed?”
Answer: The lawsuit was timely filed pursuant to federal law; therefore,
the date this lawsuit was filed is not relevant to any questions that you are required
to answer.
Question No. 2: “Can we get the board showing accidents?”
Answer: The jury may not obtain a copy of the board showing accidents.
That board is a demonstrative aid used by Pate Rehabilitation in closing arguments.
It was not admitted as an exhibit. Documentation showing the accidents was
admitted into evidence, and you may review that documentation as you deem
necessary.
The court directs you to resume your deliberations in accordance with the
Court’s Charge to the Jury and this Supplemental Jury Instruction.
Ct.’s Suppl. Instr. to the Jury 1 (Doc. 102).
After several minutes of discussion regarding Question No. 1, Plaintiff’s counsel stated,
“The court is right; we don’t have any objection to this instruction.” Having stated that she had
no objection with respect to Question No. 1, the court is at a loss as to why Plaintiff now objects
to the court’s decision not to inform the jury when this action was filed. Plaintiff waived any right
to object later to the court’s instruction regarding Question No. 1. Further, informing the jury
when the lawsuit was filed simply was not relevant. Finally, Plaintiff acknowledged that the
instruction was legally correct when Plaintiff’s counsel agreed with the court as to the
appropriateness of the instruction.
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 15
With respect to the board that showed the accidents, Plaintiff acknowledges that the court
“correctly refused the jury access to the board.” Pl.’s Mot. for New Trial 18. Moreover, during
the discussion of Question No. 2, Plaintiff never voiced any objection to the court’s proposed
answer to Question No. 2. Plaintiff’s objection appears to be how defense counsel used the
demonstrative exhibit in front of the jury. The court finds no merit to this argument, as the whole
purpose of using demonstrative exhibits is to assist the jury in understanding facts and issues in
the case. As the court explained during the trial, demonstrative exhibits are not available to the
jury for viewing during the course of its deliberations. Nothing the court did regarding its answers
to the jury’s questions is a basis to grant a new trial.
Jones also complains that the jury “rushed” its deliberations. In this vein, Plaintiff contends
that, because the court allegedly “kept hurrying” his counsel, the jurors “were in so much of a
hurry not to ‘waste time’ that they could not take the time to deliberate on the admitted evidence
but wanted to use the shortcut demonstrative aid of the defendant.” Pl.’s Mot. for New Trial 18.
This argument is without merit and based on rank speculation.
In the Supplemental Instruction, the court informed the jurors that the demonstrative
exhibit was not in evidence, that they could not view the demonstrative exhibit, that documentation
showing the accidents was admitted into evidence, and that they could review that documentation
as they deemed necessary. Finally, the court instructed the jury as follows: “Unless otherwise
directed by the court, during your deliberations you will set your own work schedule, deciding for
yourselves when and how frequently you wish to recess and for how long.” Ct.’s Charge to the
Jury 16 (Doc. 103).
Jones produces not even a scintilla of evidence to support his nonsensical argument that
the jury “rushed” its deliberations because of anything the court had done. As the argument lacks
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 16
any factual or legal support, it cannot serve as a basis for the court to grant Plaintiff a new trial, or
to amend or alter the judgment.
5.
Evidence not in the Record
Jones contends that the “jury improperly based its decision on information not in
evidence.” Pl.’s Motion for New Trial 2. Plaintiff does not identify the information to which he
is referring or provide the basis for this contention. This contention is based on conjecture and
speculation, and the record does not support it. Accordingly, this contention cannot serve as a
basis to grant Plaintiff a new trial.
B.
Motion to Amend or Alter Judgment
The court finds no basis exists to alter or amend the judgment. The court committed no
manifest error of law. Jones is dissatisfied with the result, and he seeks to relitigate the issue of
intentional age discrimination that was resolved to his dissatisfaction. The court concludes that
Plaintiff has set forth no basis that warrants altering or amending the judgment. As the court
previously noted, this case was a classic jury case with the parties vigorously presenting competing
and conflicting testimony. That a jury considers the evidence, assesses the credibility of the
witnesses, and comes to a decision contrary to what a party expects is not, standing alone, grounds
to grant a motion to amend or alter the judgment. Accordingly, the court will deny this motion.
IV.
Conclusion
For the reasons herein stated, the court concludes that Plaintiff has not set forth sufficient
legal or factual bases that would entitle him to a new trial, or that would cause the court to alter or
amend the judgment. Accordingly, the court denies Plaintiff’s Motion for New Trial or to Alter
or Amend Judgment (Doc. 107).
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 17
It is so ordered this 5th day of May, 2017.
_________________________________
Sam A. Lindsay
United States District Judge
Memorandum Opinion and Order – Page 18
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