Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Filed by Wiccan
Gina Uberti a Wiccan, says she worked for Bath and Body Works for 8 years, and for 6 years had been allowed to make the annual trip in October celebrate the Wiccan holiday of Samhain.
Uberti says she was granted her request to take vacation the week of Oct. 31, 2008 by her boss at the time, regional manager Scott Kerby. But Kerby was replaced by Sandra Scibelli, whom Bath and Body Works hired in 2008, according to the complaint. Uberti was fired in November 2008 and as a result filed a religious discrimination lawsuit and is seeking lost wages and punitive damages.
According to the lawsuit many Wiccans go to Salem, Mass. to celebrate their new year, which begins at sundown on Oct. 31. In the lawsuit Uberti says Scibelli told her that she should get her priorities straight.
Ubertia the self proclaimed Wiccan claims her boss told her, "You will need a new career in your new year. ... I will be damned if I have a devil-worshipper on my team."
A sales manager says she was fired unfairly for making her annual religious pilgrimage to Salem, Mass., to celebrate the Wiccan New Year. Peter LaSorsa handles cases like this in Illinois and appointments can be set for his Chicago office by calling.
