Adventist School Sued in Pregnancy Firing
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SAN BERNARDINO — A $10-million lawsuit was filed against Loma Linda University by a former library employee who claims the Seventh-day Adventist school fired her for becoming pregnant while unmarried.
Bethsaida Arriaga, now 21, became pregnant two months after she was hired in December, 1985. She was fired in July, 1986.
Her suit, filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court, contends that she was terminated because university officials disapproved of her sexual life style.
The lawsuit alleges discrimination, unlawful employment practices, wrongful termination, breaches of good faith, contract and public policy and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Kent A. Hansen, a Corona lawyer who represents the university, said federal and state law allows nonprofit religious corporations such as Loma Linda to set religious requirements for their employees.
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