A federal jury awarded a Fort Wayne teacher almost $2 million Dec. 19 after finding that she was a victim of discrimination by her employer.
Emily Herx taught for seven years at St. Vincent de Paul School before the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend declined to renew her contract because she was undergoing in vitro fertilization.
In the lawsuit, the diocese argued that in vitro fertilization violates Catholic teachings, which say in vitro fertilization can never be justified.
But Herx sued the diocese claiming discrimination based on the fact that male coworkers had also violated moral teachings of the church and had been allowed to keep their jobs.
Herx's attorney, Kathleen Delaney, says they were pleased with the outcome of the suit.
"The jury clearly understood that federal law prohibits an employer from forcing an employee to choose between having a baby and keeping her job," Delaney says.
The lawsuit has been going on since 2012.