NY S00017

Prohibits courts from ordering new trials or reducing jury awards as excessive in employment discrimination cases under Executive Law Section 296 or analogous local/municipal human rights laws without finding exceptional circumstances of jury partiality, prejudice, mistake, or corruption.

Establishes that jury verdicts in employment discrimination cases are presumed correct and courts must review evidence in light most favorable to sustaining the verdict, giving primary weight to the remedial purpose of the law.

Prevents courts from using prior damage award precedents or the "material deviation from reasonable compensation" standard when reviewing jury awards in employment discrimination cases.

Requires that verdicts involving unlawful discriminatory employment practices cannot be subject to remittitur, additur, or new trial motions based on excessiveness unless exceptional circumstances compel conclusion of jury misconduct and remedy is necessary to avoid complete miscarriage of justice.

Applies immediately to all pending cases where verdicts have not yet been reached and all claims filed after the effective date.