The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a workplace discrimination case brought by a Muslim immigrant from Afghanistan. A federal jury previously found that Abdul Azimi experienced workplace harassment but refused to award compensation. Azimi worked for Jordan’s Meats Inc. in the state of Maine, and alleged that his harassment worsened after 9/11.

Azimi requested review by the Supreme Court of whether the U.S. District Judge erred in previously dismissing his claim that his firing was discriminatory. Attorneys for Azimi also sought review of whether the judge mistakenly refused to allow jury instructions on a punitive damages award where a jury does not return an award of compensatory damages. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that Azimi offered no evidence of any out-of-pocket medical or psychological treatment or counseling expenses or any loss wages evidence and that the jury was reasonable in rejecting the emotional distress testimony.

Azimi v. Jordan’s Meats, 06-916

See http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/03-19-2007/7a430006a1dd6888.html ;

http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=05-2602.01A