APPENDIX 5 • SAMPLE EMPLOYMENT LAW JURY INSTRUCTIONS

• Jurisdiction: Colorado

APPENDIX 5 • SAMPLE EMPLOYMENT LAW JURY INSTRUCTIONS

These jury instructions are a project of the Faculty of Federal Advocates and have not been approved by the District Court.

Faculty of Federal Advocates

Ad Hoc Committee

MODEL EMPLOYMENT LAW JURY INSTRUCTIONS

September 2013

Charlotte Sweeney, Esq., Chair
John Culver, Esq.
Carmen Danielson, Esq.
Chris Leh, Esq.
Mari Newman, Esq.
Brett Painter, Esq.
Dave Powell, Esq.
Susan Sperber, Esq.
Dave Stacy, Esq.
Marisa Williams, Esq.

Reprinted with permission of the Faculty of Federal Advocates, P.O. Box 12025, Denver, CO 80212-0025; www.facultyfederaladvocates.org.

Table of Contents

Page

Title VII and Section 1981:

Title VII - Statute Involved............................................................................................................1

[Title VII and/or 42 U.S.C. § 1981] - Statute Involved.................................................................2

Title VII - Discrimination Based On [Color] [Religion] [Sex] [National Origin].........................3

[Title VII and/or 42 U.S.C. § 1981] - Discrimination Based On Race..........................................4

Motivating Factor - Defined........................................................................................................... 5

Pretext ............................................................................................................................................. 6

Constructive Discharge ................................................................................................................... 8

Business Judgment.......................................................................................................................... 9

Stray Remarks...............................................................................................................................10

Mixed Motive................................................................................................................................11

Sexual Harassment:

Hostile Work Environment - Elements........................................................................................12

Hostile Work Environment - Defined .......................................................................................... 13

Reasonable Person - Defined.......................................................................................................14

Unwelcome Conduct - Defined ....................................................................................................15

Supervisor - Defined....................................................................................................................16

Tangible Employment Action - Defined......................................................................................17

Coworker Harassment...................................................................................................................18

Affirmative Defense - Supervisor Harassment............................................................................19

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Americans With Disabilities Act ("ADA") - Statute Involved....................................................20

Disparate Treatment - Elements ...................................................................................................21

Disability - Defined ......................................................................................................................22

Physical Or Mental Impairment[s] And Major Life Activities - Court Determination ............... 23

Substantially Limited - Defined...................................................................................................24

Qualified - Defined.......................................................................................................................26

Essential Function[s] - Defined....................................................................................................27

Motivating Factor - Defined.........................................................................................................28

Pretext ...........................................................................................................................................29

Reasonable Accommodation ........................................................................................................31

Failure To Accommodate - Elements........................................................................................... 32

Reasonable Accommodation[s] - Defined...................................................................................33

Affirmative Defense - Undue Hardship - Defined ...................................................................... 34

Affirmative Defense - Direct Threat ............................................................................................35

Age Discrimination in Employment Act:

Age Discrimination In Employment Act ("ADEA") - Statute Involved ..................................... 36

ADEA - Elements......................................................................................................................... 37

Pretext ........................................................................................................................................... 38

ADEA - Age-Related Remarks .................................................................................................... 40

ADEA - Age of Replacement....................................................................................................... 41

ADEA - Reduction in Force ......................................................................................................... 42

ADEA - Willful - Defined ...........................................................................................................43

ADEA - Affirmative Defense - Bona Fide Occupational Qualification.....................................44

ADEA - Affirmative Defense - Bona Fide Seniority System.....................................................45

ADEA - Affirmative Defense - Bona Fide Employee Benefit Plan............................................ 46

Retaliation:

Retaliation - Statute Involved.......................................................................................................47

Retaliation Elements .....................................................................................................................48

Title VII/ADA/§ 1981 - Retaliation - Materially Adverse Action..............................................50

Retaliation - Causation .................................................................................................................52

Freedom of Speech .......................................................................................................................53

Protected [Activity] [Activities] - Opposition (Mistaken But Reasonable Good Faith Belief) ... 54

Protected [Activity] [Activities] - Participation - Defined..........................................................55

Pretext ...........................................................................................................................................56

Damages:

Back Pay .......................................................................................................................................59

Compensatory Damages - ADA and Title VII/Section 1981 Cases Only...................................60

Failure to Mitigate.........................................................................................................................62

Unconditional Offer of Employment ............................................................................................ 64

Nominal Damages.........................................................................................................................65

Punitive Damages - ADA and Title VII/Section 1981 Cases Only.............................................66

Family Medical Leave Act:

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) - Statute Involved .............................................................. 67

FMLA - Definition - Covered Employer..................................................................................... 68

FMLA - Definition - Covered Work Location ............................................................................ 69

FMLA - Definition - "Eligible Employee".................................................................................. 70

FMLA - Definition - Intermittent or Reduced Leave .................................................................. 71

FMLA - Definition - Substitution of Leave.................................................................................72

FMLA - Definition - Serious Health Condition .......................................................................... 73

FMLA - Definition - "Son or Daughter" ..................................................................................... 74

FMLA - Definition - "Parent" ..................................................................................................... 75

FMLA - Definition - "Qualifying Exigency" .............................................................................. 76

FMLA - Definition - Notice To Employer (Leave Foreseeable)................................................. 77

FMLA - Definition - Notice to Employer (Leave Unforeseeable) .............................................. 78

FMLA - Right to Reinstatement .................................................................................................. 79

FMLA - Reinstatement - Equivalent Position ............................................................................. 80

FMLA - Exception to Reinstatement (Employment Unavailable at Time of Reinstatement) ..... 81

FMLA - Exception to Reinstatement (Employee Seeking Reinstatement is a "Key Employee")82

FMLA - Interference Claim - Elements...