Two former Alaskan flight attendants who filed a lawsuit after they were fired for expressing their faith-based opinions could likely find a jury to rule in their favor, an appellate court decided.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit maintained that a jury trial may find sufficient evidence to rule that Alaska Airlines had discriminated against the employees’ Christian faith, First Liberty Institute, which is representing the flight attendants, announced in a press release.
Stay updated on stories like this — Get news delivered to your inbox
Lacey Smith and Marli Brown were flight attendants for Alaska Airlines, which in 2021 announced its support for the federal Equality Act, a bill that would have extended favored rights to LGBTQ people. The company announced its support in an online forum and invited employees to comment on the decision.
Opponents of the bill say the Equality Act invalidates major parts of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act while prioritizing LGBTQ rights over constitutional religious freedom and free speech rights.
This latest decision did not establish that the airline company wrongfully fired Smith and Brown, but instead, allows the case to be heard in a jury trial for a decision. The trial is predicted to begin in a few months, Taub said. Smith and Brown are seeking compensation for loss payments and reinstatements to their position.
Full story.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Hannah Davis and originally published by Decision Magazine.
