Freddie Douglas v. Metro Rental Services, Inc., 827 F.2d 252 (1987)

Citation: Freddie Douglas v. Metro Rental Services, Inc., 827 F.2d 252 (1987)
Parent Document: Freddie Douglas v. Metro Rental Services, Inc., 827 F.2d 252 (1987)
Jurisdiction: United States (federal)
Effective Date: 1987-08-26
Original Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/493300/freddie-douglas-v-metro-rental-s... ↗

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L.Ed.2d 632 (1983) (quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 908(1) (1979)). Wolf and Lester both can didly suggested to plaintiffs that the real reason the plaintiffs were denied the apartment was their color, Wolf even offering to help the plaintiffs in court if they decided to sue. It is clear, therefore, that there was no organized conspiracy by Metro and its employees to harm plaintiffs. The blame seems more likely to fall on the apartment owner. That Metro would have sustained any liability, punitive or otherwise, had it not deliberately defaulted, is questionable. In any event, an award of an additional $75,000 in punitive damages to plaintiffs in these circumstances is also unreasonable. The punitive damages award is therefore reduced to $20,000. That amount should be reasonably sufficient to warn others similarly situated and with similar discriminatory ideas that discrimination is too expensive to risk. Money damages, whatever the amount, however, are no substitute for fair and decent relationships between all citizens.

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