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Sports Television Personality Craig James Brings Religious Discrimination Suit Against Fox Sports


Early last month, former football player and sports television personality Craig James ("James") brought a religious discrimination lawsuit against Fox Sports in Dallas County District Court.  

Fox Sports had hired James in 2013 as a sportscaster then allegedly terminated him shortly thereafter for his religious beliefs.  In his complaint, James alleged that Fox Sports fired him because of his comments about marriage and his expression of those beliefs when he ran for the United States Senate in 2012.  During a Republican primary debate in 2012, James had indicated that his religious beliefs guided him to the ideal that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.  Consequently, James had stated that he did not support same sex unions.  

In bringing his religious discrimination suit against Fox Sports, James contended that he was terminated solely because of his religious beliefs.  Bear in mind that at the time James had been hired, he had already made these comments.  It will be interesting to see how a religious discrimination plays out accordingly.

Note, this case is pending in the 192nd District Court in Dallas before Judge Craig Smith.  I have been before him several times before over the years and have found him to be even handed.  He is a straight shooter and I think will move this case along towards a final resolution sooner rather than later.  Of course things can get bogged down as litigation progresses, but Judge Smith tends to run a tight ship.  This is certainly one to keep an eye on.


A copy of the complaint can be found here:  https://www.libertyinstitute.org/document.doc?id=473



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