Tampa university settles religious discrimination lawsuit

A state university in Tampa has settled religious discrimination lawsuits brought by two faculty members who were pressured to follow the religious exercises of a supervisor.

Eye surgeon James Rowsey, who served as chairman of the ophthalmology department at the University of South Florida (USF), drew the ire of subordinates by encouraging them to pray for departmental needs, including medical equipment. Rowsey, an evangelical Christian, also delayed making decisions until he could pray with his wife, whom he considered to be a prophet.

Steven Gross and Robert Urban, USF doctors who worked with Rowsey, filed suit against the university, alleging religious discrimination, harassment and retaliation. They also insisted that Rowsey favored those who "shared, adopted or mimicked" his religious practices.

Urban, for example, said necessary equipment was withheld when he refused to follow Rowsey's religious directives. Similarly, Gross alleged Rowsey punished him by assigning him to examination rooms that lacked running water. In September, USF settled out of court with the doctors. Each will receive $269,000.

Rowsey, meanwhile, is no longer with the university. In 1999, he was forced out when an investigation exposed the fact that he was accused of experimenting on patients without their consent.

Copyright Americans United for Separation of Church and State Nov 2001
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