Court Rejects Major University's Attempt To Throw Out ACLJ Lawsuit Alleging Religious Discrimination Against Jewish Professor – Title VII Case Moves Forward

In January 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.

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.

The University responded by filing a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that some of Dr. Landa’s claims might be time-barred. The court, however, agreed with our response and said, “Even if certain discrete acts asserted in her Amended Complaint are time-barred, these acts might serve as evidence to support her timely-asserted claims. And because at least part of her hostile work environment claims are timely, any acts that are part of that claim—even if they precede the date of her EEOC charge by more than 300 days—may properly be considered as part of the claims.”

The University also argued that the hostility Dr. Landa experienced, while unwelcome, might not have been “severe or pervasive” enough to meet the standard for a hostile work environment claim. Having reviewed the allegations though, the court found that “Taken together, at this stage of the case, these circumstances plausibly suggest that Dr. Landa was subjected to a hostile work environment because of religious discrimination or in retaliation for engaging in protected activity.” The case will now move forward on the merits.

At the ACLJ, we stand with students, faculty, and anyone else facing illegal and unlawful discrimination. No one should be treated differently because of their beliefs, and we are proud to stand in the gap.