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A former teacher at a Montana Catholic school who was fired for being pregnant and unmarried is suing the school district.
Shaela Evenson filed the case against Butte Central Catholic School in federal court. Evenson worked at Butte Central Junior High under the Diocese of Helena from 2005 until January 2014 teaching literature and physical education.
Evenson who is in a committed, same-sex relationship became pregnant through artificial insemination.
One of Evenson’s attorneys Brian Gallik says, “obviously she wanted to have children. She wants to enjoy the same basic opportunities that other people have her employment shouldn’t have been terminated on the basis of her pregnancy.”
When the school received an anonymous letter about the pregnancy, Evenson was asked to resign. She said no and then was fired from her job for what the school considered a breach of contract.
“It’s reflected in the contract to be excellent examples of living a Catholic lifestyle and that includes moral teachings of the church,” said Dan Bartleson of the Diocese of Helena.
In the complaint, Evenson sues for both pregnancy and gender discrimination, breach of contract and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. She is seeking damages for lost wages and benefits, emotional distress and an award of punitive damages plus attorney fees.
The Catholic Church did file bankruptcy, so it’s not clear just yet whether this case will be heard in the federal court or whether it will be an adversary proceeding in the bankruptcy court.
The lead attorney on this case, Robert Klinger who is based out of Ohio, won a lawsuit almost identical to this one back in 2010. The plaintiff in that case was awarded more than $170,000.
Agencies/Canadajournal
