GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A local judge has refused to grant the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office a new trial or to reduce a $15 million jury award in a racial discrimination case that concluded in February. The decision came after a court hearing on Tuesday, during which Sheriff Chad Scott and his legal team argued the jury’s findings were not supported by credible evidence.
Wes Gay, the attorney representing the sheriff’s office, claimed that no reasonable jury would have sided with the allegations of retaliation or discrimination, contending that the jury’s decision was influenced by emotional bias and prejudiced evidence. He called the financial award punitive and excessive based on the actual damages presented at trial.
Gay stated, “Given the relevant evidence specific to the plaintiff, no reasonable jury would have concluded that there was intentional retaliation.” Despite these assertions, Judge Gloria Walker ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the jury to make its decision, rejecting the motions to overturn the verdict or order a new trial.
In addition to contesting the total award, Gay sought to reduce the emotional damages from $15 million to $30,000, arguing that the jury’s decision for future wages was contrary to Florida law. He indicated that the only appropriate compensation should be grounded in actual lost wages, noting that the case represented a common employment dispute rather than one warranting the excessive damages awarded.
Conversely, attorney Brandon Vesely, who represents the plaintiff, countered Gay’s claims, stating that the case involved more than just typical employment issues. He pointed to the 19 weeks the plaintiff, known as Davis, endured a form of house arrest, requiring permission to leave home while the sheriff’s office conducted an internal investigation.
“This is not a case where the defendant merely chose one employee over another based on race,” Vesely argued. “This is a situation where they systematically abused the plaintiff for exercising his right to speak out.”
The jury’s decision reflected its assessment of the evidence and personal histories. While Gay criticized Davis’ legal team for seeking a lofty initial amount and encouraging the jury to exceed reasonable compensation, Vesely noted that the jury acted within its rights when it upped emotional damage claims by $4 million.
Judge Walker ultimately upheld the jury’s award for emotional damages but agreed with the sheriff’s office regarding the provision for future wages. Following an acknowledgment from Vesely and Davis’s team that Florida law restricts awards to actual lost wages, Walker adjusted the previously awarded amount of $115,724 down to $16,457.
The sheriff’s office had initially filed its appeals and motions in early May. However, the appeal to the First District Court of Appeals remains on hold while awaiting the final orders that will resolve the February trial’s outcomes.
This article was automatically written by Open AI, and the people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by emailing contact@publiclawlibrary.org.