Abortion Covered Under Anti-Bias Law but Barkeep Loses Suit (1)

A Louisiana bartender stated a viable claim under federal and state job discrimination laws when she alleged she was fired for terminating her pregnancy, a federal judge ruled.

But Crescent City Deja Vu LLC was still entitled to dismissal of Nicole Ducharme’s sex discrimination claims because she failed to show the bar’s explanation that she was fired for drinking while on the job was a cover for anti-abortion bias, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana said.

The May 13 ruling addresses the novel question of whether abortion is a protected characteristic under Title VII of the ...