EAST ST. LOUIS – Edwardsville lawyer Todd Sivia responded to a lawsuit filed by former employee Calley Mize, of Bunker Hill, which alleges she was fired for lacking faith and complaining about the inclusion of a Bible verse in an email.
“Todd is openly religious in the workplace,” her counsel Nathan Volheim of Lombard wrote in a discrimination complaint he filed at U.S. District Court in June.
“All of defendant’s team meetings started with prayer and at least one firm-wide meeting was held in a church,” he wrote.
Sivia issued a press release on July 12, stating the firm held a meeting in a church common area not used for religious practices.
“As a company that exercises its right to publicly profess a business that aligns with principles of faith, Sivia Law stands firmly behind its practices of upholding the rights and respecting the beliefs of all employees,” he wrote.
“Although our firm is founded on godly values, we have established policies and procedures that are in compliance with the law and respect the beliefs of all employees,” he added.
He stated Sivia Law encourages open dialogue and urges employees to report any incidents of discrimination promptly.
He assured employees and clients that the firm remains dedicated to the highest standards of fairness, respect and inclusivity.
“We will continue to exercise our right to reflect matters of faith within our firm, working to strengthen our policies, practices, and training programs to protect the rights and beliefs of every individual,” he wrote.
Volheim claimed Sivia made Mize uncomfortable throughout her employment with “overbearing religious (Christian) rhetoric and proselytizing.”
He claimed Sivia terminated her after she complained about an email from the firm’s accountant.
“The email contained an unsolicited Bible verse,” he wrote.
The Illinois Supreme Court admitted Mize to practice in 2017.
According to Volheim, Sivia’s firm hired her in 2021.
Volheim claimed she was a member of a protected class because of her religion or lack of religion.
He claimed she met or exceeded performance expectations.
He also claimed severe and pervasive discrimination occurred on a daily basis.
Volheim alleged Mize endured humiliating comments that made the environment hostile.
He claimed that after she received the Bible verse last November, she complained to chief operating officer Jill O’Connell.
Mize allegedly told O’Connell that religious teachings and pressure of not being religious should not be part of her employment.
Volheim wrote that O’Connell agreed the email was inappropriate.
He claimed O’Connell terminated her a week later and said there was “conflict with Todd.”
Volheim claimed Mize suffered humiliation, degradation, anguish, and loss of income, benefits, and enjoyment of life.
He demanded trial by jury.
Sivia retained Ryan Mahoney of Glen Carbon, who answered the complaint on July 11.
He admitted Sivia is religious.
“Plaintiff’s claims are barred in whole or in part as plaintiff failed to perform her job to meet defendant’s expectations,” he wrote.
Mahoney claimed the firm employed her at will, and her employment ended for legitimate reasons.
He claimed Sivia didn’t require employees to pray before meetings or be religious in the workplace as a requirement of employment.
He added Mize couldn’t demonstrate that a religious observance or practice conflicted with her employment or that she informed Sivia of a conflict.
He admitted his accountant Anthony Grecco sent all employees the verse found in First Thessalonians 18:5.
“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” the verse states.
The court clerk randomly assigned Magistrate Judge Gilbert Sison, who will preside unless a party declines consent to magistrate jurisdiction. If that happens the clerk will assign a district judge.