Months after a U.S. District Court dismissed a former employee’s discrimination lawsuit against Christian Financial Guru Dave Ramsay over Covid protocols and poor working conditions, a federal appeals court reversed that decision, ruling that his claims were wrongfully dismissed and that a trial could proceed.
Brad Amos was a Senior Video Editor hired in 2019. Once the pandemic hit, he told his bosses that he wanted to work from home to protect his health and that of his family, which he says was in accordance with his “religious beliefs.” His request was denied, and he was ultimately terminated in July 2020.
According to Amos, his six-year-old son has Coats disease, a rare disorder involving an over-abundance of blood vessels in the eye, and his wife is ‘predisposed to pneumonia’ and therefore, he took measures to ensure their safety; all the while, Ramsay was publicly berating anyone taking preventative measures in the office.
Amos said he was “harassed” about his personal and family life and ridiculed for insisting on wearing a mask during the pandemic and for suggesting better protocols. His lawsuit also repeatedly alleged that leadership promised him a “drama-free, family work environment” and that rumors the company was “cult-like” were untrue and made up. RNS explains:
On Thursday, the Sixth Circuit ruled that the district court had erred in dismissing Amos’ discrimination claim. The court ruled that federal law protects employees from discrimination based on “religious non-conformity” — also known as reverse discrimination, or requiring an employee to follow a religious belief or practice.
The Sixth Circuit Court also ruled that a belief in the Golden Rule qualified as a religious claim and was protected from discrimination.
With the court higher court ruling that the lower court was wrong to dismiss Amos’ claims, the case has been bumped back down to the lower district court, where a trial is expected to commence.
While it is a blow for Ramsay, he received some good news. The appeals court upheld the ruling that dismissed the fraud allegations, saying that Ramsay did not commit fraud by failing to have a drama-free workplace, ending that particular line of argumentation and claims.
For more on Ramsey:
Hypocrite Dave Ramsey Under Fire For Allowing Some Sex Outside of Marriage
Dave Ramsey Staffers Talk BLM and Racism. It gets Woke Really Fast
