University of Michigan Health-West agreed to pay $410,000 to settle a federal religious discrimination lawsuit brought by Valerie Kloosterman, a Christian physician assistant fired after seeking religious accommodations regarding gender transition procedures and preferred pronouns. The settlement resolves legal action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Background of the Termination
Kloosterman worked for 17 years at the hospital system, formerly known as Metro Health, in Wyoming, Michigan. In May 2021, during a mandatory diversity training module, she requested an exemption from referring patients for gender transition surgeries or prescribing puberty blockers. She stated that participating in those procedures violated her Christian beliefs.
Hospital administrators denied the accommodation request during subsequent meetings in July 2021. According to court records, human resources officials cited policy compliance mandates and terminated her employment on August 24, 2021.
Federal Lawsuit and Legal Representation
First Liberty Institute and the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher filed a federal lawsuit on Kloosterman’s behalf in October 2022. The complaint alleged Title VII violations, free speech infringement, and failure to provide reasonable religious accommodations under federal employment law.
U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering presided over the case in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The court denied the health system’s motion to dismiss, advancing the case through discovery before settlement negotiations commenced.
Terms of the Financial Settlement
The $410,000 payment covers back wages, damages for emotional distress, and accrued attorney fees. University of Michigan Health-West signed the agreement without admitting legal liability or administrative fault.
Healthcare organizations across the United States operate under heightened legal scrutiny regarding conscience protection provisions and Title VII requirements. Federal labor standards require employers to accommodate religious practice unless doing so imposes an undue hardship on operations.
The lawsuit is settled. The payment is issued. The standard remains contested. Medical conscience cases continue to reshape federal employment law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Valerie Kloosterman fired from University of Michigan Health-West?
Valerie Kloosterman was fired in August 2021 after requesting religious accommodations to excuse her from referring patients for gender transition procedures and using preferred pronouns.
How much was the settlement in the Valerie Kloosterman lawsuit?
University of Michigan Health-West agreed to pay $410,000 to resolve the federal discrimination lawsuit.
Who represented Valerie Kloosterman in court?
First Liberty Institute along with the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher provided legal representation for Kloosterman.
Which court handled the Kloosterman v. University of Michigan Health-West case?
The case was filed and litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in Grand Rapids.
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