USA Cycling appeals Haywood verdict

USA Cycling is appealing last month's verdict in a case in which American mountain bike racer Susan Haywood was awarded US$300,000 in damages by a US Federal Judge for being unfairly removed from the USA Olympic team in 2004.

A West Virginia jury had awarded her $318,647.14 in compensation, $18,647.14 of which were expenses incurred to fight USA Cycling's decision and the remainder in damages. However, USA Cycling filed the appeal stating that award was excessive according to WBOY.

In the appeal, dated December 1, and filed in the Northern District Court of West Virginia, the American governing body said the cyclist did not show evidence supporting the damages and asked for either a new trial or a reduction in the award to match similar emotional damage awards in West Virginia.

"USA Cycling now argues that the jury's verdict regarding the plaintiff's damages for annoyance and inconvenience and the emotional distress, humility, embarrassment and loss of personal dignity were excessive and contrary to the law as the Plaintiff [Haywood - ed.] failed to provide the necessary evidence to support the amount of damages awarded on these two claims," read the appeal.