By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The lawsuit filed by a former Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center employee who contended he was fired because of his religion has been dismissed by the court.
A summary judgement was issued today by the judge in the case of Geoff Nelson of Rochester.
Nelson and his attorney said he was ordered not to bring a Bible to work, “harassed” for being Christian and treated differently repeatedly because of his beliefs.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
Today’s decision means, in lay person’s terms, the court decided Nelson had no basis to sue the county, according to Lewis County RIsk Manager Paulette Young.
Nelson has 30 days in which to appeal, if he chooses.
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For background, read “Christianity at work: Rochester man seeks $3 million in suit against Lewis County” from Friday April 6, 2012, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I can ASSURE Mr. Geoff Nelson was just after a payday. DCE, you need to READ the documents before you post comments. If you did this you would see he was fired for watching TV when told not to and talking back to his superiors. Nothing to do with his bible. This guy was written up several times and even suspended a few times due to his attitude and behavior. He just saw a way to get a payday and went for it. Now his lawyer is laughing all the way to the bank! If I sat on my keister like that at work I’d expect to get canned jut like he did. And I wouldn’t sue… Trust me guys this is the best decision the “kangaroo court” could have made. It’s money that can stay in the community instead of going in the pockets of a greedy man looking for a handout.
The only global warming is in Tommy Boys bong!
Global Warming a “belief system”?
Yeah, ok it’s YOUR choice to believe FACTS.
This guy was just looking for a ‘payday’ in my opinion! Read all the court papers, I do not feel it was all about religion. This joker thought he could do whatever he wanted, he didn’t listen to any of his superiors, and was warned and suspended from work countless times, he should have been fired long before he was! GLAD to see the courts saw through this guys bs! Well Mr. Nelson guess you better go look for a job since you won’t be seeing the payday you thought you had coming!
Religion is a collection of belief systems, cultural systems, and worldviews that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.[note 1] Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature….The word religion is sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system, but religion differs from private belief in that it has a social aspect. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
Think what you want about Wikipedia, Religion is still a set of beliefs that dictate one’s life, and that would mean how they are at work, grocery store, sports field, and home.
Sports is a religion, global warming, worshiping well-known deities, etc., etc.. Should a football fanatic not be allowed to bring his sports magazines to work? How about a porn addict? Or Sierra Club member? NRA? Show a video about the polar bears and their shrinking ice bergs? How about a Fast and Furious DVD? Good or bad, religion isn’t just being Catholic, Muslim, or ?? It is a set of beliefs that dictate your life, and it’s not just Christianity.
Honestly, I am glad this was dismissed. We all have a right to our own religion, but it does not belong in the workplace. He doesn’t need to bring a Bible to work. Keep it in the car if you can’t stand to leave it at home, but don’t bring it into a professional situation. Religion is not something that should be discussed in a workplace setting, it is a personal choice and inappropriate at work. And before someone accuses me of being Atheist and looking down on anyone with a religion, I am not. $3 million is ludicrousness anyway and I am sure, because he feels that he was harassed for being Christian, he never once thought about how he was making other people feel. It is something that seems to happen a lot, people saying they are being discriminated against for having religion when really they are harassing and annoying others with their religion. Keep it to yourself, your home, your church, whatever. You don’t see me on a corner telling you how to have faith, don’t tell me how to have faith either. That includes in the workplace.
I see the Lewis County Kangaroo Court is in Session. This Guy probaly has a case but what can you expect from Corruption. The guy has a right to bring his Bible to work, I hope he appeals and gets the Justice he deserves. The Lewis County System is rigged.