Kumar v Gate Gourmet, Inc., 180 Wn.2d 481, 325 P.3d 193 (2014) (View WELA?s Brief)
The plaintiffs, members of various religions, filed a class action claiming their employer?s policy that prohibited them from bringing their own food violated their sincerely held religious beliefs.? The trial court, relying upon Short v. Battle Ground School District, 169 Wn. App. 188, 279 P.3d 902 (2012), ruled that the WLAD did not provide a claim for religious accommodation and dismissed the lawsuit for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.? The Supreme Court granted direct review and held that an action may be brought against an employer under Washington Law Against Discrimination for failure to accommodate employees religious practices, and that the plaintiffs? allegations that a facially neutral meal policy fell more harshly on them was sufficient to state a claim for disparate impact employment discrimination.