Did abortion views lead to firing?

Austin, TX

Driver wouldn't take woman to Planned Parenthood

Updated: Friday, 16 Jul 2010, 6:28 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 16 Jul 2010, 3:26 PM CDT

• Reagan Hackleman

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A federal lawsuit filed on Wednesday claims that a former driver for the Capital Area Rural Transportation System was fired because he refused to drive a passenger to Planned Parenthood .

According to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court , the former driver, Edwin A. Graning, was instructed to pick up a woman on January 29 at 7:30 a.m. and take her and another woman to Planned Parenthood in Austin.

The lawsuit claims Graning is an ordained minister who is “strongly opposed to abortion.”

According to the lawsuit , Graning told his supervisor that he could not “in good conscience” take someone to have an abortion.

Graning’s supervisor allegedly responded by saying, “Then you are resigning.” Graning said he was not resigning. According to the lawsuit, Graning was later told to drive his bus back to the yard and park it. He was then fired.

“I think we have a very good case,” said one of Graning’s attorneys, Edward White with the American Center for Law and Justice . “Once Mr. Graning expressed his religious objection to his employer, his employer had an obligation to attempt to accommodate Mr. Graning.”

The lawsuit does say that Graning did not know if the client was going to get an abortion, only that he thought she might.

Graning and his legal team are claiming CARTS violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 .

In the lawsuit Graning seeks reinstatement, back pay, and damages for pain, suffering and emotional distress.

A lawyer representing C.A.R.T.S said they are looking forward to responding to the lawsuit. She also denies that Graining was discriminated against.