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CONFIDENTIAL

Aug. 30, 2001

Employment Law
Wrongful Termination
Religious Discrimination

Confidential

Settlement –  $56,000

Court

Orange Superior


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Leslie Keith Kaufman

Jeffrey S. Kaufman


Experts

Plaintiff

David Eliezrie
(technical)

Defendant

Ben Zion Bergman
(technical)

Facts

The plaintiff took time off from work after his mother passed away. On his return to work, the
plaintiff was fired for refusing to travel to Hawaii for his employer, which was a routine for his
position with the company. The plaintiff did not go to Hawaii because it would have been during
the Jewish mourning period when travel is prohibited. After his mother passed away, the plaintiff
informed his supervisor that he intended to follow his religious beliefs and would be out for seven
days and could not travel for 30 days but he would return to work following the seventh day of
mourning. The plaintiffsÆ employer refused to make reasonable accommodations to allow the
plaintiff to observe his religious practices. On his return to work, the employer terminated the
plaintiffÆs employment.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff demanded $100,000. The defendant offered $2,500.

Other Information

The case settled prior to commencement of binding arbitration before retired judge Theodore E. Millard of Judicate West.


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