Bill > S00017

This bill amends the Civil Practice Law and Rules and the Executive Law to provide that courts shall not reduce jury awards as excessive in employment discrimination actions, unless the court finds exceptional circumstances that compel the conclusion that the jury was influenced by partiality, prejudice, mistake, or corruption. The bill establishes a presumption that the jury's verdict is correct and requires the court to give primary weight to the remedial purpose of the law, rather than using precedents that rely on the concept of "material deviation from what would be reasonable compensation." This bill applies to all pending cases where a verdict has not yet been reached, as well as all claims filed on or after the effective date.