Woman gets $115,000 in religion bias lawsuit
Woman gets $115,000 in religion bias lawsuit:
Worker at medical office cited pressure to talk about God
A federal jury has ordered a Huntsville medical practice to pay $115,000 to a former employee who claims that she was fired for refusing to discuss her feelings about God.
Carolyn S. Hall, 48, of Paint Rock sued Alabama Pain Center for religious discrimination under the federal Civil Rights Act in January. The trial was held last week in the federal court here.
Hall claims that Dr. Dean Willis, the clinic's owner, told her in late 2003 that he was concerned about her job performance because he did not know where she stood with God. Hall declined to talk with Willis about her religious views and was fired as office manager several weeks later, she testified.
"The jury obviously agreed with our position that one's religious views are personal," Hall's attorney, John D. Saxon, said Tuesday. "No employer should impose his or her religious views on an employee."
Jurors deliberated for about two hours last Wednesday before siding with Hall. She was awarded $15,000 in damages for mental anguish and $100,000 in punitive damages.
U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith could also order Alabama Pain Center to pay Hall's attorney fees.
Because Congress capped jury awards in civil rights lawsuits, Saxon said, the clinic will probably be able to get the damages reduced to $50,000.
Alabama Pain Center attorney Phillip Scott Arnston said Tuesday that he does not discuss ongoing cases. However, he did say the clinic is considering an appeal.
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.
"She just thought it was personal," Saxon said.