Christian employer loses lawsuit because he doesn't understand the Constitution

[BOSSHOG]

Huntsville, Alabama. A federal jury has awarded a Huntsville woman $115,000 after finding she was fired for not discussing her relationship with God with a Doctor. The medical clinic office manager said Dr Dean Willis told her he was concerned about her performance because he did not know WHERE SHE STOOD WITH GOD. The plaintiff told the doctor that her relationship with God was her business. The jury returned the verdict 20 December after deliberating two hours.

15 thousand bucks for mental anquish and a hundred thousand in punitive damages (seems a little low to me.)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. more than his malpractice premium.

good for the justice system.

[DaveinMD]

2. not the constitution

The Civil Rights Act.

[BOSSHOG]

9. Its such a shame

that documents such as the constitution and the Civil Rights Acts exist to prevent "christians" from forcing their religious beliefs on others and codifying the bible. No wonder they say they are being persecuted. :sarcasm:

[ThomCat]

3. That seems very low to me

especially if there's any chance she's been "blacklisted" locally over this.

[jgraz]

4. link?

[BOSSHOG]

6. Read it in

The Religion section of the New Orleans Times Picayune www.nola.com. The Saturday 30 December 2006 edition.

[jgraz]

8. thanx!

[meegbear]

5. Unbelievable ...

un-fucking-believable.

[shrdlu]

7. delete

[chefgirl]

10. Thats nice to hear

The amount of punitive damages does seem low to me too, but, as it stands, its still a pretty significant win against the radical religious right.

One of the most insidious things the religious wingnuts have been doing in recent years is to people their companies with "believers" at the exclusion of non-believers. Not only is this illegal but makes NO business sense whatsoever.

I'm very glad to hear someone finally took one of them to task, and the LAW carried the day.

Good for her!

-chef-

[BOSSHOG]

11. It really was

a heartwarming story so to speak. I wonder if he is guided by JAMA or the Bible when "doctoring."

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Good to know there's one jury in Alabama that understands freedom.

[no_hypocrisy]

13. Judge Roy Moore would've ruled the other way . . . n/t

[William769]

14. Thats why he's not a Judge anymore.

[eppur_se_muova]

15. link to H'ville Times story ... HOLY CRAP ... talk about abuse ...

http://www.al.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1167214830194330.xml?huntsvilletimes?nlocal&coll=1

In court filings, Arnston argued that Hall was terminated for poor job performance.

Hall was hired by the clinic as an insurance specialist in July 2002 but was quickly promoted to insurance supervisor and then office manager, Saxon said. At the time of her firing in February 2004, she was making about $37,000 a year, he said.

In her complaint, Hall said Willis led a daily prayer meeting for employees at the Whitesport Drive medical office. She said the sessions, which lasted up to an hour, were held in a small chapel with stained-glass windows that is part of the business.

Hall said she felt that Willis expected her to attend the prayer meetings. The lawsuit says she went occasionally in an effort to "appease" the doctor.

Saxon said Hall believes in God and attends church. But he said she felt uncomfortable talking with Willis about her religious preferences.

on edit: Thanks to BOSSHOGG for airing this!

[BOSSHOG]

16. Proud to serve teammate

I'll take advantage of every opportunity to expose domestic enemies of the constitution. And in this veterans head and heart radical "christian" zealots in this country are most definitely domestic enemies of our constitution. Ironic though that they scarf up any and every constitutional liberty for themselves.

[Mikey929]

17. Excellent!

Excellent result! One should not have to declare one's love for God at work upon penalty of firing or demotion. I thought that was just common sense nowadays.

One picky point -- the Constitution does not apply in this case. That only appies to GOVERNMENT conduct, not private citizens. Sorry, that's just the lawyer in me. It's a civil rights issue.

[BOSSHOG]

20. Lawyers up to their necks in cement

what's wrong with that picture? No enough cement.

Thanks Mikey, I love you guys. I worked security in the Navy and had to deal with the legal beagles almost every day. Life with them was indeed a circus.

[Pragmatic Pilgrim]

18. Saw a great quote the other day:

I've forgotten the precise circumstances, but it was a Senator or Congressman speaking to a government regulator who was advocating support for some gospel-based idea. He said, "Ms. ___________, it seems to me you put your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You didn't put your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

I loved it!!!

[BOSSHOG]

19. I humbly draw

your attention to my signature line.

[Pragmatic Pilgrim]

22. Saw it, Bosshog, but after I had posted. Seems like

great minds (yours and the Congressman's) think alike!

It's an elegant way to make a powerful point!

[BOSSHOG]

23. Dupe - Please delete

[BOSSHOG]

24. Dupe - Please delete

[BOSSHOG]

25. Great to have you with us Pilgrim

Allow me to offer a belated welcome. I'm not sure how great my mind is but I tend to know the difference between right and wrong and know exactly where my freedom comes from. It sure as hell doesn't come from Leviticus.

[eppur_se_muova]

21. That happened right here in MD. That's Jamin Raskin in the excerpt ...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/raskin.asp

"As I read Biblical principles, marriage was intended, ordained and started by God — that is my belief," said. "For me, this is an issue solely based on religious principals ."

Raskin shot back that the Bible was also used to uphold now-outlawed statutes banning interracial marriage, and that the constitution should instead be lawmakers' guiding principle.

"People place their hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution; they don't put their hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible," he said.

Some in the room applauded, which led committee chairman Sen. Brian E. Frosh, a Democrat from Montgomery County, to call for order. "This isn't a football game," he said.