http://www.sbj.net/weekly_article.asp?aID=49697642.1043603.984204.84505502.1600445.311&aID2=75699

Woman sues former employer for religious discrimination;
Plaintiff claims she was fired for refusing to convert to Scientology
By Matt Wagner
Springfield Business Journal Staff 12/4/2006

A Springfield woman has alleged in a federal lawsuit that she was fired in 2004 from a Branson West company for refusing to convert to Scientology, the chosen religion of her boss and several co-workers.

Brianne Shahan filed the suit against Richmond Monroe Group Inc. in U.S. District Court last month. Shahan claims her former employer violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by allegedly pressuring her to divorce her husband and become a Scientologist.

According to its Web site, the Church of Scientology is based on the writings and philosophy of the late L. Ron Hubbard, who believed that humans are "immortal, spiritual beings" with unlimited capabilities.

The church has targeted Hollywood celebrities and converted such actors as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

Defendant: It's groundless

Richmond Monroe's attorneys - Paul King of Springfield and Jay Kirksey of Bolivar -denied Shahan's claims in a formal response filed Nov. 30 and characterized the suit as "frivolous, unreasonable and groundless."

According to its Web site, Richmond Monroe retrieves lost documents for the mortgage loan service industry along with its partner companies, American Release Corp., also in Branson West, and software manufacturer Rekon Technologies, in Valencia, Calif.

Shahan claims in the suit she was subjected to a "field auditor," who attempted to convert her to Scientology on a daily or almost daily basis while working at the Branson West office, 15511 State Highway 13.

Shahan also claims she was forced by her employer to attend daily "church" sessions at work and that she was urged to divorce her husband.

Springfield attorney Eric Jensen of O'Reilly & Jensen LLC is representing Shahan.

"The defendant tried to force the plaintiff to divorce her husband because they believed he was a 'suppressive personality,' meaning in their view, he was possessed by an evil alien life form," Jensen stated in the suit.

Neither Kirksey nor Jensen returned Springfield Business Journal's calls before press time.

From: "Eldon" <EldonB123@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Scn employer sued for religious discrimination
Date: 6 Dec 2006 03:45:35 -0800
Message-ID: <1165405535.109137.124310@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com>

> According to its Web site, Richmond Monroe retrieves lost documents for
> the mortgage loan service industry along with its partner companies,
> American Release Corp., also in Branson West, and software manufacturer
> Rekon Technologies, in Valencia, Calif.

And sure enough, Rikon Technologies is a WISE company. Who woulda guessed?

> "The defendant tried to force the plaintiff to divorce her husband
> because they believed he was a 'suppressive personality,' meaning
> in their view, he was possessed by an evil alien life form," Jensen
> stated in the suit.

Hahahaha. This is an interesting legal strategy. Do you do you suppose the defendant will deny any knowledge of the allegation?

> Neither Kirksey nor Jensen returned Springfield Business Journal's
> calls before press time.

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