Melissa Nelson Photo Surfaces: 'Irresistible' Dental Assistant Fired Gets National Attention [PHOTO]
Melissa Nelson's photo surfaced online over the weekend as the Iowa Supreme Court's decision drew more attention to her case, when it ruled that her former boss was right to fire her citing "irresistible attraction."
Her case has been making headlines online over the weekend. Nelson, a 32-year-old former dental assistant and mother of two, has blonde hair, blue eyes and a big smile, according to a photo obtained by CNN. She and her former boss reportedly never engaged in a sexual relationship nor she flirted with her boss and after the Supreme Court ruling, Nelson's lawyer said the decision is disheartening..
"We are appalled by the court's ruling and its failure to understand the nature of gender bias," her attorney Paige Fiedler told CNN. "For the seven men on the Iowa Supreme Court not to 'get it' is shocking and disheartening. It underscores the need for judges on the bench to be diverse in terms of their gender, race and life experiences."
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that Nelson was fired legally because she was an "irresistible attraction" for her boss at work.
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled 7-0 over a case concerning Nelson and her employee James Knight, 53. The ruling says that bosses can fire employees whom they find "irresistible attractive" even if the employees have not engaged in wrong behavior, according to the Associated Press.
According to reports, Nelson worked for Knight for ten years as a dental assistant.
In the last months of her employment, Knight complained that Nelson's clothing was distracting. He reportedly told her once that if he saw his pants were bulging that was a sign her clothes were too revealing.
According to various reports, Knight also made frequent comments about Nelson's sex life. When she said it was not frequent, he said: "That's like having a Lamborghini in the garage and never driving it."
During the last six months of Nelson's employment, she and Knight reportedly started texting each other outside of work. Knight's wife found out about them texting each other and asked him to fire her.
Knight fired her in 2010 saying she had become a "detriment" to his family and that he was firing her for the sake of their families. Both were married with children, reports CNN.
The Associated Press says Nelson viewed Knight as a father figure and was shocked when she got fired. Nelson sued him for gender discrimination.
But Knight said it was not because of gender and said that he always employed a woman as his assistant.
The issue in the case, according to experts, was whether Knight engaged in gender discrimination against the law when he fired Nelson.
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