Jewish Professor Discriminated Against and Wrongfully Fired for Jewish Faith

The ACLJ filed a Title VII lawsuit against the University of Maryland, alleging that the university illegally discriminated against a Jewish professor based on her religion and then illegally fired her after she filed a grievance complaint. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) advised the university to settle the case. They refused, so we filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Maryland.

Our lawsuit charged the university with unlawful discrimination against Dr. Melissa Landa through its creation of a "hostile work environment" and with "retaliatory termination" of her employment for the illegal firing after she complained. Among other things, we asked the court to grant an injunction ordering the restoration of Dr. Landa to her salary and teaching position, as well as an order enjoining the school and its officials to accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of its employees.