The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit ruled Tuesday that an Indiana school district must face a jury for the way it treated former high school music teacher John Kluge. The district could be held liable for damages and substantial attorney fees for its religious discrimination. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent Kluge after Brownsburg Community School Corporation fired him for his religious beliefs.
“Title VII requires the government to accommodate its employees’ freedom to live and work according to their religious beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman, who argued before the court. “The Brownsburg school district ignored this right, deciding instead that Mr. Kluge’s religious views couldn’t be tolerated. It revoked his religious accommodation based on the complaints of a few, forcing him to resign or be fired. The 7th Circuit reversed the district court’s ruling against Mr. Kluge and sent the case back down for trial. We look forward to proving at trial that Brownsburg discriminated against Mr. Kluge.”
