Archdiocese Must Go To Trial On Teacher's Hostile Work Environment Claims

In Bohnert v. Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco, (ND CA, Sept. 25, 2015), a California federal district court refused to dismiss a hostile work environment and emotional distress suit by by a former biology teacher in a boys' Catholic high school.  As described by the court, male students at the school sexually harassed the teacher, including disseminating several "upskirt" photos and videos of her.  In a 38-page opinion, the court rejected the Archdiocese's  motion for summary judgment on its "ministerial exception" and "church autonomy" defenses, finding that numerous factual issues remain.