A Muslim woman is suing her former employer, claiming she was fired because of her faith.
Terry Ali's lawyer said the firing came just two days after the San Bernardino, Calif., shooting rampage.
According to the complaint filed last week in Wayne County Circuit Court, Ali was hired in November for a $14-an-hour full-time receptionist job at Livonia Dermatology on Farmington Road.
Her first day on the job was Dec. 1. The very next day, news broke about the California terrorist attack that left 14 people dead and more than 20 injured. On Dec. 3, Shereef Akeel said his client was summoned by her supervisor for what he called an odd question.
"She was asked by her supervisor, 'Are you sure you like your job? Is there anything you're unhappy with?' And she goes, 'No, I'm fine. everything is fine,'" Akeel said.
Akeel said something was brewing then, because Ali was moved to a back room that day and the next.
Ali was fired on Saturday, Dec. 5, in an email. The email, attached to the complaint, stated:
"My dear Terry,
Let me start by saying you are a wonderful person. I can't say that enough. You are a job (sic) and your smile is infectious. I wish I had the opportunity to sit down with you and I feel awful even being so impolite and sending you an email.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to keep your employment with us. With the cosmetic center going down to part-time, we are going to be bringing over the full time employee to work the front desk here. She has been with the company about 3 years so I have to go with the person with the lowest seniority to let go.
I apologize for this but can only hope this is an "opportunity" as we discussed to spend more time with your family. The world does, indeed, work in ways beyond our understanding.
Terry, you are a joyful person and it comes off in your attitude. I have enjoyed getting to know you for the short amount of time but unfortunately, I can't keep you on with us."
Akeel pointed out earlier emails implied the clinic was in dire need of immediate help at the front desk.
Office manager Jennifer Couturier wrote in a Nov. 5 email:
"The front area is hemorrhaging at this point and I need to bring in some positive, energetic people who actually care about patients. As we talked about, I am planning to expand the roles of those up front and there are lots of opportunities, be it the lab, the front, billing, and all others."
"Their own documents, the defendant's own documents and the emails attached to the complaint speaks for themselves," Akeel said.
Couturier told 7 Action News the clinic has a non-discrimination policy and declined to comment any further. But she told the Detroit Free Press that Ali was fired because she couldn't type fast enough. Akeel said that smells like another excuse.
"There's no requirement for her to type. Her main job was to greet people in the front. There's no question in my mind here that they wanted to have her out of view of the customers up front because of her faith and because she wears the hijab which is really unfortunate," Akeel said.
The lawsuit is seeking damages for religious discrimination.
