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Federal suit filed for alleged religious discrimination
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| Thornwood Terrace Apartments of Lake City is the scene where a couple allegedly had their civil rights violated in 2007, when they were fired as apartment managers. A federal civil suit was filed Friday in Jacksonville. JEFF M. HARDISON/Lake City Reporter |
Couple allegedly fired, evicted over religious beliefs.
By JEFF M. HARDISON
jhardison@lakecityreporter.com
A Lake City man and his wife were allegedly fired and evicted because of their religious beliefs, according to a federal suit filed Friday in Jacksonville.
Daniel and Sharon Dixon managed Thornwood Terrace Apartments in Lake City when they lost their jobs and were thrown out on the street in September 2007, according to Mathew D. Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law.
Liberty Counsel represents the Dixons in the case of “Dixon v. Hallmark Companies,” which is the management company for the apartment complex.
The company being sued, Hallmark Companies and Hallmark Management, should not be confused with Hallmark Real Estate of Lake City. The two are separate companies owned and operated by different individuals.
For at least eight years before they were fired and evicted, Staver said, the Dixons had a 50-inch by 25-inch piece of stained glass artwork with flowers depicted on it. The stained glass was hanging in the management office of the apartment complex where they worked.
“Consider the Lilies ... Matthew 6:28,” are the words on the stained glass, attributed to the Holy Bible, that caused the issue, Staver said.
In September 2007, according to the suit, Christina Saunders, then a regional manager for Hallmark, asked Sharon Dixon if the words on the art were from scripture. Dixon confirmed this. Saunders told her to remove the artwork, according to the suit.
Dixon replied that she would have to confer with her co-manager husband, according to the suit. Saunders reportedly consulted with her supervisor Norine Lewis, and then removed the artwork and put it in the Dixons’ apartment. Rent for the apartment was part of the compensation from Hallmark Companies and Hallmark Management, which was paid to the couple for managing the apartments, Staver said.
The couple was told the art was “too religious,” Staver said, and they were fired and told to vacate the apartment within 72 hours.
The Dixons won their state unemployment claim, where Hallmark had alleged they were fired for “misconduct,” according to records.
The suit claims Hallmark violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for discrimination against employment based on religion. The suit also alleges Hallmark violated the Dixons’ civil rights, because Title VIII of Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against housing based on religion.
Hallmark owns and manages the apartment complex, Staver said, and it contains units that are government-subsidized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program. Under the USDA, Staver said, Hallmark must comply with antidiscriminatory rules related to employment and housing.
“There must be room in the inn for religious viewpoints,” Staver said.
When contacted Friday, Saunders said she was unable to comment about the allegation that Hallmark violated the civil rights of the Dixons.
Daniel and Sharon Dixon managed Thornwood Terrace Apartments in Lake City when they lost their jobs and were thrown out on the street in September 2007, according to Mathew D. Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law.
Liberty Counsel represents the Dixons in the case of “Dixon v. Hallmark Companies,” which is the management company for the apartment complex.
The company being sued, Hallmark Companies and Hallmark Management, should not be confused with Hallmark Real Estate of Lake City. The two are separate companies owned and operated by different individuals.
For at least eight years before they were fired and evicted, Staver said, the Dixons had a 50-inch by 25-inch piece of stained glass artwork with flowers depicted on it. The stained glass was hanging in the management office of the apartment complex where they worked.
“Consider the Lilies ... Matthew 6:28,” are the words on the stained glass, attributed to the Holy Bible, that caused the issue, Staver said.
In September 2007, according to the suit, Christina Saunders, then a regional manager for Hallmark, asked Sharon Dixon if the words on the art were from scripture. Dixon confirmed this. Saunders told her to remove the artwork, according to the suit.
Dixon replied that she would have to confer with her co-manager husband, according to the suit. Saunders reportedly consulted with her supervisor Norine Lewis, and then removed the artwork and put it in the Dixons’ apartment. Rent for the apartment was part of the compensation from Hallmark Companies and Hallmark Management, which was paid to the couple for managing the apartments, Staver said.
The couple was told the art was “too religious,” Staver said, and they were fired and told to vacate the apartment within 72 hours.
The Dixons won their state unemployment claim, where Hallmark had alleged they were fired for “misconduct,” according to records.
The suit claims Hallmark violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for discrimination against employment based on religion. The suit also alleges Hallmark violated the Dixons’ civil rights, because Title VIII of Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against housing based on religion.
Hallmark owns and manages the apartment complex, Staver said, and it contains units that are government-subsidized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program. Under the USDA, Staver said, Hallmark must comply with antidiscriminatory rules related to employment and housing.
“There must be room in the inn for religious viewpoints,” Staver said.
When contacted Friday, Saunders said she was unable to comment about the allegation that Hallmark violated the civil rights of the Dixons.
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Go get em wrote on Jun 21, 2008 9:01 AM: