James Walker is a resident of Baltimore, Maryland. He is a former employer of Johnson Electrical Co. of Baltimore. He was discharged from employment in 2016. He believes that his discharge was because of his religion. He is a convert to Islam.
Walker sued in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The basis of jurisdiction was Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prevents discrimination in employment on the basis of religion. He also asserted state law claims. He sought damages, back pay and injunctive relief, i.e., that he be reinstated to his old job and attorneys’ fees.
At trial the jury found that the employer had, in fact, discriminated against Walker on account of his religion, but it did not award damages. The judge entered judgment on the verdict. The judge ruled that in light of the lack of a damages award, Walker was not a prevailing party for purposes of an award of attorneys’ fees.
As noted above, Walker had sought injunctive relief. He had agreed to waive this claim at the time the pretrial order was created, just before trial.
He made a motion to amend the pretrial order to reinstate the claim for injunctive relief and the judgment to provide to for such injunctive relief reinstating him to his old job. He contended that this was an appropriate result in light of the jury’s finding that his termination was motivated by his religion.
Please explain fully whether the court should grant Walker’s motion.
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