Court Rules that Case of Employees Fired For Being "Too Religious" Should Go to Jury

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2010

www.LC.org




Atlanta, GA - "A federal court of appeals has ruled that the case of two employees who were fired for being 'too religious' should go to a jury. 

In doing so, the court reversed a ruling in favor of The Hallmark Companies (no relation to the greeting card company) involving former employees Daniel and Sharon Dixon. The Dixons are represented by Liberty Counsel.

Harry Mihet, Senior Litigation Counsel for Liberty Counsel, presented oral argument at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.


The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling stated,

'Because the Dixons have raised genuine issues of material fact as to whether Hallmark intentionally discriminated against them on the basis of their religious beliefs, we conclude that the district court erred by granting summary judgment.'

........The Dixons filed a federal action charging Hallmark with religious discrimination, but the lower court judge ruled summarily against them, concluding incredibly that no reasonable jury could find that Hallmark discriminated against the Dixons based on their religious views. That decision has been overturned now, and the Dixons will present their case before a jury.


Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented:

"'The Hallmark Companies cannot sweep religion from the workplace. While The Hallmark Companies can choose the décor of the workplace, their supervisors cannot fire employees solely because they are 'too religious.'  We look forward to presenting this case to the jury. The Hallmark Companies will not find much sympathy for firing an entire family and throwing them out in the street.'"

Background: "Apartment managers fired because of the artwork they displayed," click here.