After Nelson Brunnemann was terminated from his employment with Terra International Inc., he brought suit in district court for age discrimination and negligent infliction of emotional distress under Texas law. The district court dismissed the claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress and after a jury trial, the district court found in favor of Brunnemann, awarding him $100,000 in compensatory damages and an additional $100,000 in liquidated damages. The district court declined to grant Terra's motions for new trial, remittitur or modification of reinstatement. Terra appeals these rulings and contends that the damages awarded were excessive in light of the evidence presented during trial and that the district court abused its discretion in ordering reinstatement of the Plaintiff. Brunnemann cross-appeals on the district court's decision to dismiss his claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress. We affirm the dismissal of the claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress as well as Brunnemann's reinstatement, however, finding merit in Terra's claim that the damages were excessive, we reverse the denial of motion for remittitur and remand to the district court to give plaintiff an opportunity to remit. If plaintiff refuses to remit, a new trial will be held on the issue of damages.

In October of 1987, Plaintiff Brunnemann was the Location Manager for Terra International, Inc. ("Terra"), in Pearsall, Texas. Shortly thereafter, Brunnemann was given the opportunity to choose between being terminated or demoted to position of Senior Sales Representative until the end of June, 1988 when his retirement would vest. He chose the demotion and filed an action with the EEOC. Brunnemann was ultimately terminated on August 31, 1988.1 On September 21, 1989, Brunnemann filed suit in district court under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA"), 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq., seeking recovery for age discrimination in discharge. Brunnemann also raised a claim under Texas law for negligent infliction of emotional distress. This claim was dismissed by the district court as being preempted by the ADEA. After trial by jury, Brunneman was awarded $100,000 in compensatory damages and an additional $100,000 in liquidated damages because the jury found Terra's violation of the ADEA to be willful.2 Terra moved for a new trial arguing that the jury displayed passion and prejudice in reaching its verdict.3 Terra alternatively moved for remittitur arguing that the verdict was excessive in light of the evidence presented at trial. Terra also moved to modify the order of reinstatement which placed Brunnemann back in his former management position in Pearsall. Terra urged the court to allow reinstatement in a comparable but not identical position of employment. The district court denied the motions and both Terra and Brunnemann appealed.

Terra contends that the district court erred in denying its motion for new trial or in the alternative, its motion for remittitur, because the jury award was so excessive and against the great weight of the evidence as to indicate bias or prejudice by the jury. We review the denial of a motion for new trial or motion for remittitur under an abuse of discretion standard. Deloach v. Delchamps, 897 F.2d 815, 820 (5th Cir.1990); See Sam's Style Shop v. Cosmos Broadcasting Corp., 694 F.2d 998, 1006 (5th Cir.1982). In determining whether a new trial or remittitur is the appropriate remedy, this Circuit has held that when a jury verdict results from passion or prejudice, a new trial, not remittitur is the proper remedy. Wells v. Dallas Independent School District, 793 F.2d 679, 683 (5th Cir.1986) (citing Westbrook v. General Tire and Rubber Co., 754 F.2d 1233, 1241 (5th Cir.1985). Damage awards which are merely excessive or so large as to appear contrary to right reason, however, are subject to remittitur, not a new trial. Id. "When a jury's award exceed[s] the bounds of any reasonable recovery, we must suggest a remittitur ourselves or direct the district court to do so. Our power to grant a remittitur is the same as that of the district court. We determine the size of the remittitur in accordance with this circuit's "maximum recovery rule," which prescribes that the verdict must be reduced to the maximum amount the jury could properly have awarded." Hansen v. Johns-Manville Products Corp., 734 F.2d 1036 (5th Cir.1984) (quoting Caldarera v. Eastern Airlines, Inc., 705 F.2d 778, 784 (5th Cir.1983). With this in mind, we conclude that the district court abused its discretion when it denied Terra's motion for remittitur because the damages were excessive as a matter of law. A verdict is excessive as a matter of law if shown to exceed "any rational appraisal or estimate of the damages that could be based upon the evidence before the jury." Kolb v. Goldring, Inc., 694 F.2d 869, 871 (1st Cir.1982) (quoting Glazer v. Glazer, 374 F.2d 390, 413 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 389 U.S. 831, 88 S. Ct. 100, 19 L. Ed. 2d 90 (1967)). Although the jury award in the present case is excessive, the defects in the award are readily identifiable and measurable, and do not seem to be the product of passion or prejudice, therefore remittitur would be more appropriate than a new trial on damages. Kolb, 694 F.2d at 875. However, if plaintiff refuses to remit, a new trial should be limited to the question of damages.

A plaintiff suing under the ADEA may recover only pecuniary losses such as wages and fringe benefits. Kolb, 694 F.2d at 872. Punitive damages are not allowed because damages are meant to put the plaintiff in the economic position he would have occupied but for the discrimination. Id. From plaintiff's wages and fringe benefits, post-termination economic benefits must be subtracted. Id. The jury may select the highest figures that the evidence will support, however, the jury may not speculate on damages where the calculation of the damages is definable. Id. "Flexibility beyond the range of the evidence will not be tolerated." Id. (quoting Jamison Co. v. Westvaco Corp., 526 F.2d 922, 936 (5th Cir.1976).

The jury in this case found compensatory damages in the sum of $100,000.4 This amount exceeds any rational appraisal based on the evidence presented at trial. The following totals based on monthly values from the date of termination until judgment were the maximum permissible inferences from the evidence adduced at trial:5

Terra is entitled to the following off-setting post-termination earnings and deductions:7

These figures justify a maximum compensatory award of $31,375.34. Following the "maximum recovery rule" recognized in this circuit, we direct the district court to file a remittitur of $68,624.66. If the plaintiff refuses to remit, we order a new trial on damages only.

Brunneman argues that he is entitled to recover for additional benefits lost after his termination from Terra which would support the jury's verdict of $100,000. These benefits are dental insurance premiums and the face value of a life insurance and accidental death policy provided by Terra.8 We find no merit in these claims. First of all, Brunnemann failed to supply evidence concerning the cost of the dental insurance premiums. He also failed to provide evidence of any out-of-pocket expenses paid for dental services which he incurred because he no longer had dental insurance. If Brunneman had provided such evidence, he was only entitled to recover those expenses actually incurred by either replacement of the lost insurance or dental expenses actually incurred that were covered under his former dental insurance plan. Pearce v. Carrier Corporation, 966 F.2d 958, 959 (5th Cir.1992). Brunneman provided no such evidence, however. Likewise, Brunneman cannot recover the face value of the life and accidental death policy. An ADEA claimant is limited to recovery of those expenses actually incurred by either replacement of the lost insurance or occurrence of the insured risk. Pearce, 966 F.2d at 959. Brunneman produced no evidence that he incurred expenses for substituted coverage, and Brunneman is not dead, therefore the insured risk has not occurred and he cannot recover the value of the policy or substituted premiums he never paid. We find no merit in any other claims that Brunnemann presents to support the $100,000 verdict.

Appellant contends that the district court abused its discretion when it reinstated Brunnemann in his former position in Pearsall, Texas because that position was already held by another employee. Appellant states that it is more than willing to reinstate Brunnemann into a management level position in the Waco region. Appellant asks for reasonable latitude in reinstating Brunneman to a job comparable to his former manager job in salary and prestige. A determination for reinstatement made by the district court is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Deloach v. Delchamps, Inc., 897 F.2d 815 (5th Cir.1990). In Hansard v. Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan, 865 F.2d 1461, 1469 (5th Cir.1989), this Circuit recognized the decided preference by the courts to award reinstatement instead of front pay. Reinstatement is generally the preferred remedy for a discriminatory discharge. Deloach, 897 F.2d at 822. This is consistent with the ADEA's "make whole" philosophy. Hansard, 865 F.2d at 1469. Generally, if reinstatement is not feasible, front pay will be awarded. Id. There are some instances when reinstatement would not be feasible, for example, when there is discord and antagonism between the parties. Deloach, 897 F.2d at 822. Terra's counsel told the district court that Terra felt reinstatement would be an unworkable situation, but stated that there was no great hostility or animosity held by Terra. The selection between reinstatement and front pay is discretionary with the trial court so long as the relief granted is consistent with the purposes of the ADEA. Goldstein v. Manhattan Industries, Inc., 758 F.2d 1435, 1448-49 (11th Cir.1985). The district court was entitled to rely on Terra's statements that there was no animosity or hostility between the parties as well as Brunnemann's testimony that he was willing to return to Terra to work. The district court was in a much better position to determine whether or not reinstatement was feasible based on the testimony and evidence at trial. Based on the record before us, we find no abuse of discretion in ordering reinstatement to the Pearsall Manager's position.

C. Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

Finally, Appellee contends that the district court erred in dismissing his negligent infliction of emotional distress claim. The district court's judgment states that the plaintiff's claim was dismissed because the claim was "preempted" by the ADEA. While we affirm the dismissal of this claim, we do so for a slightly different reason. When the word "preempted" is used in a legal sense, it generally means that one act takes precedence over another. The ADEA does not take precedence over the pendent state law claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress9, rather, a cause of action for negligent infliction of emotional distress in the employer/employee context has yet to be recognized by the Texas Supreme Court. Conaway v. Control Data Corp., 955 F.2d 358 (5th Cir.1992). We affirm the dismissal of plaintiff's claim for emotional distress.

After reviewing the record we cannot say that the district court erred in denying a modification of reinstatement or in dismissing plaintiff's claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress; however, the district court's award must be modified to conform with this opinion or a new trial must be held on the issue of damages.

Based on the foregoing, we affirm in part and reverse in part, and remand to the district court for the appropriate modifications.