Warrior, Alabama - A Warrior dentist has denied a Pinson woman's allegations that she was fired after telling a radio talk show that Scientology was forced on her when she went to work at the dentist's office.
Dr. Susan Wells released a statement Monday saying the claim made by Cortnie L. Beasley in a religious discrimination lawsuit was "completely baseless."
Wells said religion played no part in Beasley's employment and dismissal.
Beasley, hired as an insurance billing clerk, said in the suit filed in Birmingham federal court last week that she was fired Oct. 22 after she said on the "Rick and Bubba" morning radio show that on her first day of work she was required to read a book by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology.
Beasley said she was asked to sign a staff training waiver allowing her to be trained on the teachings during work hours.
Wells said she has employees who are of different religions and that she uses a nonreligious management system that helps the staff to be more organized and efficient.
According to the suit, Beasley told the radio show she was Baptist and objected to Scientology being forced upon her. The radio show was playing in the dentist's office when she got to work and she felt a "coolness" from the staff, the suit says.
She was fired from the $11.50-an-hour job almost immediately after reporting to work and was told, "This is not working out," according to the suit.
