News Release
For Immediate Release: 1.29.26
Contact: Natalie Konstans, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
First Liberty Invited to Advise Florida Court of Appeals on Religious Liberty Rights for Employees
The Florida court is currently deciding how to interpret its employment discrimination statute.
Lakeland, FL– Law firm Lawson Huck Gonzalez PLLC filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of First Liberty Institute at the Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal enumerating the ways that the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) corresponds with and differs from federal civil rights law Title VII. Because of its religious liberty expertise, the Florida court specifically asked First Liberty to write a brief on this matter along with other subject matter experts.
You can read the brief here.
“Florida’s employment discrimination statute prohibits religious discrimination and therefore includes a duty for employers to accommodate the religious beliefs and practices of their employees,” stated First Liberty’s Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub. “We are honored the Court asked for our opinion, and we are hopeful this brief will give them important insight for their decision.”
Justice Alan Lawson, Founding Shareholder of Lawson Huck Gonzalez PLLC said, “The Court’s interpretation of this statute is vitally important for all employees of faith in Florida. We are grateful to provide our view of the law to help the Court as they determine the proper application.”
The discussion surrounding Florida’s employment discrimination statute comes from a current ongoing case at the Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal concerning Christian Marin, a former HVAC technician at Nemours Children’s Hospital, who was fired for refusing a Covid-19 vaccine in accordance with his religious beliefs.
In the brief, attorneys conclude, “Title VII authorities should be considered persuasive in the FCRA context only when they are interpreting or applying Title VII’s text that overlaps with the FCRA’s text, and where they properly examine the text to determine its meaning. But where the texts depart, Title VII authorities are inapposite—including when they are applying an ‘undue hardship’ defense that the Florida Legislature omitted from the FCRA.”
# # #
About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Natalie Konstans at media@firstliberty.org.
 |
|
|
