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BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb 16, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A federal judge in Alabama reversed a jury's award of damages to a teacher fired by a Christian school after officials learned she was pregnant.
U.S. District Judge William Acker Jr. found that the Covenant Classical School of Trace Crossing in Hoover is exempt from anti-discrimination claims because of its religious status, the Birmingham News reported.
Lawyers for the school argued that Tessana Lewis was not dismissed in 2003 because of her pregnancy but because she had clearly had sexual relations outside of marriage and refused to guarantee that she would not continue to do so.
Lewis's lawyers suggested that the school policy in practice only applied to women.
Jurors awarded her $600 in back pay and $15,000 for mental anguish. But the judge said that damages were inconsistent with findings made in favor of the school, even though jurors also found that the pregnancy was a reason for Lewis's dismissal.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
