CINCINNATI (AP) -- A jury has found an Ohio archdiocese discriminated against a teacher fired after becoming pregnant via artificial insemination. And legal experts expect an appeal they say could have legal impact beyond the jury decision.
Christa Dias was fired from two schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in October 2010. A federal jury on Monday awarded her more than $170,000 in her anti-discrimination lawsuit against the archdiocese.
Dias' attorney argued she was fired simply because she was pregnant and unmarried, violating state and federal law.
The attorney for the archdiocese and the schools argued Dias was fired for violating her contract requiring compliance with Catholic church teachings. The church considers artificial insemination a violation of church doctrine.
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JUNE 3: Pregnant Teacher Wins Lawsuit Against Church
CINCINNATI (AP) -- A jury has sided with a teacher who sued a Catholic archdiocese in Ohio, saying it violated anti-discrimination laws by firing her after she became pregnant via artificial insemination.
The federal jury found the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati discriminated against Christa Dias by firing her in 2010. The panel awarded her more than $170,000.
Dias says she was "very happy and relieved" with the verdict.
Her attorney had argued she was fired simply because she was pregnant and unmarried.
The archdiocese's attorney said Dias was fired because artificial insemination violated church doctrine and a contract requiring her to follow Catholic teachings.
The jury said the archdiocese should pay $51,000 in back-pay, $20,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages.
Dias had sued the archdiocese and two of its schools. The jury didn't find the schools liable for damages.
Christa Dias was fired from two schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in October 2010. A federal jury on Monday awarded her more than $170,000 in her anti-discrimination lawsuit against the archdiocese.
Dias' attorney argued she was fired simply because she was pregnant and unmarried, violating state and federal law.
The attorney for the archdiocese and the schools argued Dias was fired for violating her contract requiring compliance with Catholic church teachings. The church considers artificial insemination a violation of church doctrine.
Previous coverage:
JUNE 3: Pregnant Teacher Wins Lawsuit Against Church
CINCINNATI (AP) -- A jury has sided with a teacher who sued a Catholic archdiocese in Ohio, saying it violated anti-discrimination laws by firing her after she became pregnant via artificial insemination.
The federal jury found the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati discriminated against Christa Dias by firing her in 2010. The panel awarded her more than $170,000.
Dias says she was "very happy and relieved" with the verdict.
Her attorney had argued she was fired simply because she was pregnant and unmarried.
The archdiocese's attorney said Dias was fired because artificial insemination violated church doctrine and a contract requiring her to follow Catholic teachings.
The jury said the archdiocese should pay $51,000 in back-pay, $20,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages.
Dias had sued the archdiocese and two of its schools. The jury didn't find the schools liable for damages.
