Business Briefcase
Staff report Portland Press Herald Saturday, May 5, 2007

Rights commission to hear bias case against DeCoster
A Maine Human Rights Commission investigator has found reasonable grounds for a manager's claim that he was fired from his job at DeCoster farms because he's an atheist.
The backing of the investigator bolsters Cacy Cantwell's case, which is expected to go before the full commission, said Patricia Ryan, executive director.
Cantwell was working for Maine Contract Farming, a DeCoster subsidiary where he was hired as a manager in 2003. DeCoster is the region's largest brown egg producer.
The official reason for Cantwell's firing in November 2006 was "poor job performance," but the commission's investigator, Barbara Lelli, said Cantwell received no written warnings about performance problems.
Cantwell, who was provided housing he shared with a non-married partner, said he was criticized by Austin "Jack" DeCoster, a devout Christian, who didn't approve of the living arrangement.
On another occasion, DeCoster brought up God, and Cantwell said he was an atheist. Cantwell told the investigator that DeCoster put his hand on his shoulder and told him: "I can't have someone like you here. We might need to part ways."


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Janet West of Ellenboro, NC
May 5, 2007 3:55 PM
My remark to this is if Cantwell did his job and was a good employee, what right does Austin "Jack" DeCoster have to fire him over his reglious beliefs. I know he didn't say that but if you read between the lines that is what he met. I know it as DeCoster Egg Farms years ago as I am from Waterville, graduated in 1959 from Waterville Senior High School. Also Jack should not bring up talking about God to anyone because not everyone has his believes. Also Cantwell isn't the first man to live with a non-married partner. There have probably many employees doing the same thing in the length of time of DeCoster Egg Farms.
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