Legal Question in Employment Law in District of Columbia

Re: Religious Institution's Rights and Laws

The discharge is arguably in violation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, but the Church would argue they had a valid reason to take the action - their religious beliefs. I would have to research this situation to see if a legitimate claim exists. (In the same vein, there might be a wrongful discharge/breach of contract claim since there are contracts involved that did not specify the pregnancy issue as justifying the discharge.)

I think the "preaching" part is not only deplorable, assuming the Church either named the person or spoke in a manner that identified her, but is also an actionable violation of privacy and possibly also defamatory.

Please call for a free consultation to review the facts and see if a claim exists. If so, the employee would probably have to sue the Church, which is no picnic, but it may be worth the fight. It's also possible that an administrative claim could be filed, for free, with the EEOC regarding the potential pregnancy discrimination.

Jeff Sheldon

Jeffrey L. Sheldon, Esquire

The Sheldon Law Firm

17804 St. Lucia Isle Drive

Tampa, FL 33647

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Disclaimer: This posting does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. It is not confidential, nor is it privileged, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please consult with an attorney for advice specific to the facts of your case.