Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Damage Award Against Diocese Reduced In In Vitro Fertilization Firing
In Herx v. Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Inc., (ND IN, Jan. 12, 2015), a federal judge reduced a jury's verdict against a Catholic diocese in a Title VII sex discrimination case from $1.95 million to $543,803. The case, involving a suit by a Catholic school teacher fired for becoming pregnant through in vitro fertilization, has been widely followed. The reduction is largely the result of applying a $300,000 statutory cap on punitive and most compensatory damages imposed in employment discrimination cases by 42 USC 1981a(b). Yesterday's Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports on the decision. (See prior related posting.)