Restaurant Wins in Employee's Religious Accommodation Lawsuit

A jury in a Nueces County, Texas trial court yesterday ruled in favor of the restaurant chain, Texas Roadhouse, in a case in which a former employee charged religious discrimination.  According to a press release from defendant's attorneys, the employee claimed that management of the Corpus Christie (TX) Roadhouse forced him to work on Sundays in violation of his religious beliefs.  While the employee was given most Sundays off, he was required to work on Mothers Day and Fathers Day-- two of the restaurant's busiest days of the year.  He was fired for refusing to come in on Fathers Day 2008. Defendants claimed the employee abandoned his job and was not terminated.