Former Teacher Alleges She Was Forced Out Of Catholic School Because She Was Pregnant But Unmarried
LEIMERT PARK (CBSLA.com) — A former Catholic school teacher claims she was forced out of Transfiguration School in Leimert Park for being pregnant while single.
Kourtney Liggins spoke out for the first time about a lawsuit in which she claims she was fired from the school on Roxton Avenue, while the Archdiocese of Los Angeles says her contract was not renewed.
"To be fired because I was morally corrupt and could not teach is absolutely amazing to me," Liggins told CBS2's Jennifer Kastner.
The lawsuit alleges Liggins was discriminated against and harassed because she was teaching in her late 30s and pregnant but not married.
She blames the school and some of its officials and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The case is still in litigation, although it was filed in 2013.
Court documents accuse the school pastor of saying: "Liggins' pregnancy would morally corrupt impressionable teenagers."
Liggins told Kastner that she went to the bishop and complained. She said: "He told me I should pray and sent me on my way."
Liggins says her maternity leave was cut short and she was later terminated after complaints came in from parents that she was often late and on her cellphone during school hours, which she denies.
Liggins explained that in her employee file, "There were documents that I had never seen before, documents that were fabricated, I know were fabricated."
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles sent CBS2 a statement that read in part: "The decision to not renew her contract for another year was the result of performance and classroom management matters separate from and unrelated to her leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act."
Liggins says she decided to come forward because she believes this is happening to other educators who are being silenced. She is no longer teaching.