“The essence of Title VII is not to mandate an employer to sustain an accommodation that leads to substantial student harm and elevates the risk of legal liability, both of which starkly contradict the school’s educational objectives,” Judge Magnus-Stinson explained in her decision.
School Religious Bias Suit : Legal Backdrop and the Groff Standard
The case reemerged in the Southern District of Indiana after the Seventh Circuit’s decision to revisit the trial court’s application of the Groff standard. This standard scrutinizes the undue hardship on businesses when accommodating religious practices, suggesting that accommodations should not interfere with a business’s operational mission.
Despite Kluge’s argument that using last names avoided undue hardship, the court found that his approach conflicted with the school district’s mission to create a supportive educational atmosphere. “Businesses, including educational institutions, have the right to define their missions, and hardships must be assessed in the context of the organization’s overall objectives,” Judge Magnus-Stinson stated, referencing the Supreme Court’s guidance.
School Religious Bias Suit : No Immediate Response from Involved Parties
Representatives for both Kluge and Brownsburg Community School Corp. have not provided comments following the court’s decision.
