Posted on 06/09/2010 10:00:05 AM PDT by inflorida
Fourth-grade teacher Jarretta Hamilton was newly married and expecting a baby when she went to speak with her supervisors in April of last year.
But the administrators at Southland Christian School in St. Cloud parried her query about maternity leave with a query of their own: When did she conceive?
After Hamilton admitted that her child had been conceived about three weeks before her February 20, 2009, wedding, the school fired her.
Now she's suing in federal court.
"She wants compensation for the loss of the job, and she's seeking compensatory damages for emotional distress," said Edward Gay, Hamilton's attorney who filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Orlando.
In the complaint, which asks for a trial by jury, Hamilton alleges her termination was based on the fact of her pregnancy — and that the school offended her by disclosing the information about when she conceived to other school staffers and the parents of students Hamilton taught during the 2008-2009 school year.
Hamilton did not authorize the school to reveal that information, according to the complaint.
She also tried to keep the matter from getting to this point, Gay said. She filed discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations, but has since exhausted her options.
A July 20, 2009, letter signed by school administrator Julie Ennis explains why the school's administrators thought they had to fire Hamilton:
"Jarretta was asked not to return because of a moral issue that was disregarded, namely fornication, sex outside of marriage," the letter reads. "The employment application, which she filled out, clearly states that as a leader before our students we require all teachers to maintain and communicate the values and purpose of our school."
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
If you’ll read the story, you’ll discover that she approached school officials to ask about maternity leave. So, she initiated the thing, telling the school officials she was pregnant.
I’m guessing her dates she said she would be needing leave didn’t jive with her wedding date plus X weeks and they got curious.
Anyone employed by the sponsor of the plan who has access to PHI is covered, doesn’t matter what your job is.
I work for a health insurer, and while I am not in an area that has access to PHI, I absolutely am accountable for its provisions, should I somehow come into possession of PHI.
HIPAA regs don’t just cover the plan administrators.
It is nonetheless ridiculous that a teacher was fired because of the school’s rules about sex with your fiance’. Employers, even Christian ones, should know when to mind their own business.
SnakeDoc
Yep, one wonders if the school really has a problem with something else here.
LOL, I didn’t mean it that way...
God taught in person and gave folks a choice as to what they would value. In fact salvation is based on what one values, not on anything else. God values forgiveness and as it is written and as I said He championed it. Your testimony about Him conflicts what He did in person at Jacob's well, the wall and from the cross. He did what was written about Him and what His Father values.
How many folks did He incinerate, or order incinerated?
Yes, words do have meanings.
Here’s something I dug up on the first try:
“A medical condition is a broad term that includes all diseases and disorders, but can include [injuries] and normal health situations, such as pregnancy, that might affect a person’s health, benefit from medical assistance, or have implications for medical treatments. While the term medical condition generally includes mental illnesses, in some contexts the term is used specifically to denote any illness, injury, or disease except for mental illnesses.”
Ooops! They included pregnancy.
As others have rightfully indicated, we are discussing 2 entirely separate issues.
The firing for breach of contract, the school was within its rights to do so, agreed, tactless but legal.
On the use of the teacher’s PHI, the quote you provided specifically mentions employer sponsored health plans. Now, this is all theoretical, as the story does not make clear whether the employer is the sponsor of the health plan. I have been operating under the assumption that the school is the sponsor, but that is only an assumption on my part.
Speaking of amazing.... what a truly amazing comment. You are truly, truly, more righteous than the rest of us. Congratulations.
Unfortunately, you completely misrepresent the points being made.
Who are these morons that demand and dictate what constitutes repentance and equate it to vengeance?
Thanks. That was implied.
I did not know you were allowed to ask a woman if she was pregnant. Thought that was verbotten.
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Certainly not on a job interview, but this is different as I think I read that the teacher was discussing her maternity leave.
We agree; but to be complete, we have to say that God also values repentence. Jesus was kind to those who acknowledged their sins, and very harsh on those who would not do so.
If we go by the example of what Jesus said to the thief on the cross, forgiveness comes to those who recognize that they need it.
The school probably knows more about this lady than we do, so I'm not necessarily ready to condemn them for their actions; I have a sense that she's much better off away from them, however.
I'm more interested by what's on display on this thread.... those who clearly reject the path of forgiveness, on the assumption that they know the facts well enough to conclude that she's an unrepentent sinner (based on a news article, no less).
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
I agree. Other than my doctor, absolutely nobody ever asked me when I conceived (and it could only be a guess anyway). It has never entered my mind but I would never ask such an intrusive question! I'm not suggesting the school was not within its right to let her go but just seems very odd to ask that particular question. JMHO.
Exodus gives several examples where people where swallowed up in a fiery pit, killed or bitten by snakes as part of God's judgment.
" I'd be careful with the name calling simply because someone has a different viewpoint than yourself. "
I was referring to those that run the school from hell and their supporters. Keep in mind that no one is justified in besmiching anyone by bearing false witness regarding their values, especially God's values.
Exodus was written by Moses. That's the same guy that gave you the divorce laws out of the hardness in your hearts. God's day of vengeance was written about in Isaiah 63. It is an account of the crucifiction.
That's correct. That is between her and God though.
"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." ...
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