Diverse Docket: Former Academic Adviser Loses Religious Bias Suit

A former academic adviser at Utah Valley University has lost a suit alleging religious harassment, discrimination and retaliation based on her Mormon faith.

U.S. District Judge David Nuffer in Salt Lake City dismissed the case, finding no issues for a jury to resolve at trial.

According to the decision, Laura Bushman complained to the university’s human resources office in February 2012 about a supervisor’s comments that demonstrated “dislike of and displeasure with the Mormon religion and culture.” The comments stopped after the university counseled the supervisor.

Two months later, Bushman received a written warning for what the decision described as “a historical lack of cooperation with other counselors and not being a team player, causing negative atmosphere and tension.” It also cited complaints from students and the IT department,

A few months later, she received a final written warning for insubordination, calling her supervisor a liar and refusing to accept responsibility for problems she created.

The university terminated her in 2013.

She admitted that nobody other than her former supervisor had harassed or discriminated against her based on her religion, and acknowledged that the associate dean and dean who decided to warn and then terminate her also were Mormon.