Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 18, 2024
Jeanette Layton, Appellant, vs. Mercy Hospital East Communities, et al., Respondents.
Jeanette Layton sued Mercy Hospital East Communities and other entities, alleging age discrimination in employment under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA). The circuit court granted summary judgment for the employers, finding them exempt from MHRA liability as corporations "owned or operated" by a religious organization. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the employers were indeed operated by a religious organization as a matter of undisputed fact, and that the employers complied with Supreme Court Rule 74.04 regarding summary judgment procedures.