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Diaz
v. Riverside Health Services
A
U.S. District Court jury in Riverside, Calif., ruled that
Riverside County violated the constitutional rights of a nurse
who was fired from her job after she refused to dispense medication
known as a "morning-after" pill. The case began
in December 2000 when the American Center for Law & Justice
(ACLJ) filed suit against the Riverside Neighborhood Health
Center on behalf of Michelle Diaz, who worked as a Clinic
Health Nurse at the center. Following a four-day trial in
federal court that ended May 24th, the jury found the county
was liable on all three counts presented: violated her First
Amendment rights of free speech; violated her rights of freedom
of religion; and, failed to reasonably accommodate her religious
beliefs. The jury also awarded damages totaling more than
$47,000 - including $19,000 in damages for back pay, and more
than $28,000 in damages for emotional distress.
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