Court of Appeals for the First Circuit January 22, 2016, No. 15-1424 (Carrasquillo-Ortiz v. American Airlines, Inc.)

BARRON, Circuit Judge.

Article 3 of Puerto Rico’s Law No. 80 (“Law 80”) requires companies that operate in Puerto Rico to pay a statutory severance, called a “mesada,” to their employees in Puerto Rico who are terminated as part of a downsizing or restructuring. The mesada must be paid only if those employees were terminated even though less senior employees within their job category remain.