Employee Fired Over Piercing Seeks Supreme Court Appeal

April 21, 2005 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A woman fired by Costco for refusing to remove an eyebrow ring has accused the company of discriminating on religious grounds and is asking the nation's highest court to hear the case.

Saying that she is a member of the Church of Body Modification, Kimberly Cloutier has sued Costco for firing her for wearing the eyebrow ring, which she claims she wears as a sign of faith. She has asked the US Supreme Court to consider hearing the case, according to the AP.

The Church of Body Modification was established in 1999. It has about 1,000 members who participate in practices such as piercing and tattooing, according to First Circuit Court of Appeals. This appeals court upheld a lower court’s ruling, which was in Costco’s favor (See Ex-Costco Employee Sues over Eyebrow Ring ).

The company has argued – and won in the two courts – that Cloutier’s beliefs are political or social instead of religious.

Cloutier’s lawyer filed a petition Monday asking the nation’s highest court to consider hearing the case.

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