Michigan Dentist Sued by Former Employees for Playing Christian Music in Own Clinic
A Michigan dentist is being sued by four of her former employees for continuously playing Christian music and holding prayer meetings for all her staff in her own dental clinic.
In August 2015, Tina Marshall's employees filed a lawsuit against her for allegedly forcing her Christian faith on them. They claim that the Michigan dentist either reprimanded or fired them for objecting to her religious practices, according to The Washington Post.
On Wednesday, the plaintiffs' legal representatives told the Post that the jury trial could commence in summer. Atty. David Kotzian says his clients are seeking an unspecified amount in damages over the loss of income and benefits, not to mention the humiliation and anxiety they experienced, The Global Dispatch reports.
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"We were all on edge. We were trying to be nice to the patients and do good dental work, but she kept forcing the music and her beliefs on us," Nancy Kordus, one of the plaintiffs, told Clarkston News in an interview. "Several patients questioned the music, and I turned it off and turned on the TV. So I was 'disobedient.'"
Based on the complaint filed, Kordus said the dentist wanted to play Christian music in her clinic all the time to "ward off demons." Marshall also allegedly conducted optional prayer meetings with her staff every morning, but the gather later on became mandatory, the report details.
Aside from Kordus, the other former employees suing Marshall are Kimberly Hinson, Sara Bambard, and Tammy Kulis. The four allege that the dentist violated Michigan's Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act.
When she wrote to Marshall to ask her to stop forcing her religious practices on the staff, she got fired on Aug. 21, 2014. Kulius, on the other hand, said she resigned in October 2014 due to religious harassment.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tina Marshall's camp has denied the allegations against her and said she only played the Christian music because it was "soothing" and many patients had also given positive comments on it.
The Michigan dentist's legal representatives have also requested for the lawsuit to be dismissed. Atty. Keith Jablonski said his client is only being attacked for practicing her Christian beliefs in her own dental office in Lake Orion.
