FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): After Emily Herx was fired from the Fort Wayne-South Bend Catholic Diocese due to in vitro fertilization (IVF), she went to court and was awarded nearly $2 million.
Now, the diocese want to pay her just over $300,000.
According to the Journal Gazette, paperwork was filed Monday in U.S. District Court to reduce the damage payments, due to the number of staff at the diocese.
Lawyers with the diocese argue the total amount of rewards should be reduced, mainly due to the size of the diocese's workforce and the state law that caps pain-and-suffering damages at $300,000 for employers with more than 500 employees.
Herx's legal team argues she is owed at least $125,000 in medical care costs, including jaw surgery due to stress, depression, and anxiety. Herx would also like another $135,303 in lost wages, bringing her total up to $560,303.
Herx was fired from the diocese in 2011 after going through with IVF treatments to help her get pregnant. IVF is banned under Catholic Doctrine and after the diocese became aware, Herx was let go from her teaching job at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School.
