A man who believed his company’s time-keeping scanners were the Mark of the Beast has won a lawsuit for forced early retirement.
In a hearing this week, the jury in Clarksburg, West Virginia, awarded Beverly Butcher $150,000 in compensatory damages, ruling he was forced to retire for his religious beliefs.
Butcher worked at Consol Energy in West Virginia until he complained Consul’s biometric scans for time and attendance violated his Christian beliefs, according to the Associated Press.
The Exponent Telegram reports Butcher wrote to his employers, asking to be exempt from scanning his left hand.
A letter in the lawsuit “discussed the vendor’s interpretation of Chapter 13, Verse 16 of the Book of Revelation contained in the Bible; pointed out that the text of that verse references the Mark of the Beast only on the right hand and forehead; and suggests that persons with concerns about taking the Mark of the Beast ‘be enrolled’ (meaning, use the hand scanner) with their left hand and palm facing up. The letter concludes by assuring the reader that the vendor’s scanner product does not, in fact, assign the Mark of the Beast,” according to The Exponent Telegram.
When the company refused to compromise with Butcher, he was forced into early retirement.
The jury found Butcher had sincere religious beliefs and had properly informed his employer.
The $150,000 is for salary, pension and court costs.
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