Posted on 04/01/2014 6:54:50 AM PDT by JoeProBono
A New York appeals court has affirmed a lower courts 2012 ruling that a lesbian chef is owed $1.6 million for being forced to attend weekly prayer meetings where her boss would regularly warn that "gay people" were "going to go to hell."
Mirella Salemi sued Gloria's Tribeca Inc., Gloria's Tribecamex and principal owner Edward Globokar for violations of the New York City Human Rights Law after a string of incidents that occurred between 2004 and 2007. Gloria's Tribeca is a Mexican restaurant.
Salemi was awarded $400,000 in compensatory damages and $1.2 million in punitive damages in what her lawyer, Derek Smith, called "the largest employment verdict in 2012 in New York." A three-judge panel of the Appellate Division's Manhattan-based First Department affirmed the verdict for Salemi.
He not only threatened her soul, but he also threatened her livelihood, Smith told the New York Post in 2012. He thought praying might cure her of her sexuality, but she is someone who didnt need to be saved.
Globokar had attempted to argue that he was simply exercising his right to free speech.
"The trial court properly protected Globokar's First Amendment rights by instructing the jury that he had 'a right to express his religious beliefs and practice religion, providing that he does not discriminate against his employees based on religion or sexual orientation,'" the judges wrote in their ruling.
Soon, only the queers and their quislings will be able to own any business or even have employment.
Does a lesbian chef make lesbian food?
Nobody should be forced to go to worship services against their will. I would like to sue the next time I’m required to take ‘diversity-sensitivity training’.
Bet it tastes fishy.
My sympathies aside, no one should be forced to worship a deity they don’t believe in but, $1.6 million? Wow.
New York, New York
All companies have stupid meetings, many of which must be attended as a condition of employment.
I've had to attend company meetings which preach doctrines I do not believe in (such as diversity for the mere sake of diversity).
How is this situation any different? Other than it going against ruling class norms?
That’s OK. Andy Cuomo declared the whole state “konservativrein” back in January, so all those pesky religious folk will self-deport . . . along with their money.
Just wondering if Globokar is a mooselum but on second thought, if so, he would have simply beheaded her.
I wonder what “force” was used to compel her attendance...
She couldn’t quit?
Carpet au jous and rare beaver.
Obviously the amount of the lawsuit is over the top, but unless the workplace is a church or other religious organization, no supervisor should ever require any employee to attend a prayer service.
Well put. That would make a great tag line.
Technically this was settled OoC....so, I guess, it doesn't count... Mario Batali to Settle Restaurant Lawsuit for $5.25 Million
I think pretty much everyone believes in hell/death.
Christian version: He not only threatened her soul, but he also threatened her livelihood, Smith told the New York Post in 2012. He thought praying might cure her of her sexuality, but she is someone who didnt need to be saved.
Muslim version: He not only threatened her soul, but he also threatened her life, Smith told the New York Post in 2012. He thought killing might cure her of her sexuality because she is someone who didnt need to be converted.
In states that have “human rights” boards or anything similar it is extremely dangerous to hire a person of “diversity.” You never know when you will be dragged in front of a witch trial.
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