Insurer Pays Settlement for Discrimination Against Atheists and Agnostics

[Ian David]

Insurer Pays Settlement for Discrimination Against Atheists and Agnostics

Last Friday the DeMoines, Iowa-based insurance company GuideOne Mutual agreed to pay a $74,000 settlement for a claim that it violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against atheists and agnostics. The federal government's lawsuit against GuideOne and two of its offices followed complaints filed by two individual plaintiffs - an atheist and an agnostic - and the Lexington, Kentucky Fair Housing Council. According to the complaint, GuideOne and co-defendants the Young Insurance Agency and Robert and Charolottea Lee, doing business as Lee Insurance Agency, offered a "FaithGuard" policy that was available solely to churchgoers.

FaithGuard policy aplications included a space for the applicant's religious denomination. Under the policy, insurance deductibles were waived if property was lost while in the care, custody or control of the policyholder's church. The policy also paid church tithes or donations of up to $740 in the event of a loss of income or a disability caused by an accident in the home. Medical limits for injuries were doubled for those who suffered injuries - but only for those sustained while attending a church-related activity. These benefits were not offered to policyholders who suffered a loss or disability while engaged in non-religious activities, or who did not attend church.

The two individual plaintiffs, agnostic Nicolas Valenzuela and atheist Anthony Baize, refused to buy a policy from GuideOne after learning that it "expressed a preference for religious persons in general, and Christians in particular."

More:
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blog/insurer_pays_settlement_for_discrimination_against_atheists_and_agnostics/

[MineralMan]

1. But....wouldn't Jebus protect them from such things?

Why would they need insurance? :bounce:

[jgraz]

3. Oh, come on. Can't we at least spell his name right?

It's Jeebus. With two e's.

Show a little respect.

[DeSwiss]

2. While I agree that this is great news......

...I'm still trying to figure out how this works:

"...insurance deductibles were waived if property was lost while in the care, custody or control of the policyholder's church."

- I'm trying to think of scenarios where something like this would happen under normal circumstances. Does this mean -- for example -- that the policy-holder would pay no deductible for losses incurred say to one's car or to the clothes one is wearing, while one is on one's knees in church praying to one's god who has sent a tornado at one to kill one's worthless and undeserving ass, but HE misses you but still gets your raggedy car and stuff? Or what?



K&R

[BR_Parkway]

4. It "works" to fleece the flock - that's really the only purpose it has

Money-changers in the Temple, not much has changed in all these years

[struggle4progress]

5. Justice Department Settles Allegations of Religion Discrimination Against Guideone Mutual Insurance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 18, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced a settlement that, pending court approval, will resolve allegations that the GuideOne Mutual Insurance Company and two authorized agents discriminated because of religion when they advertised special benefits and discounts only to "churchgoers" and "persons of faith." Under the settlement, the defendants must pay a total of $29,500 to three victims of discrimination, an additional $45,000 to the government as a civil penalty and stop the alleged discriminatory practices.

The complaint, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in conjunction with a proposed consent decree, alleges that the defendants offered a special endorsement to their homeowners and renters insurance policies at no extra charge called FaithGuard, which provides special benefits and discounts only to "churchgoers" and "persons of faith." GuideOne offered the FaithGuard endorsement in at least 19 states and used an application form that included a space for applicants to indicate their "denomination."

"Discrimination on the basis of someone’s religious faith is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act," said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "All individuals have the right to secure homeowners and renters insurance without regard to their religious beliefs, and the Civil Rights Division will continue to ensure those rights are protected."

The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants’ conduct constitutes a pattern or practice of discrimination or a denial of rights to a group of persons. The suit arose as a result of complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by two individuals, one an atheist and one an agnostic, and by the Lexington Fair Housing Council, a non-profit fair housing organization. After investigating the complaints, HUD issued a charge of discrimination, and after one of the complainants elected to have the case heard in federal court, the case was referred to the Justice Department ...

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2009/September/09-crt-1000.html