5th Circuit Allows Religious Discrimination Claim To Proceed

In Dediol v. Best Chevrolet, Inc., (5th Cir., Sept. 12, 2011), the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a Louisiana federal district court and refused to dismiss a Title VII discrimination claim by a former employee of an auto dealership alleging a hostile work environment based on both age and religion.  Milan Dediol's manager refused to permit him to take off work to volunteer at a church event, and subsequently made a string of harassing remarks directed at Dediol's religious beliefs. The court also for the first time in the Circuit held that a hostile work environment claim may be based on age-related harassment.