The jury ruled against Consol Energy/Consolidated Coal Co. on January 15 in a religious discrimination lawsuit filed against it by a former employee.

The Exponent Telegram reported that the jury has awarded $150,000 in compensatory damages to Beverly R. Butcher Jr., who was fired from his job after he refused to use the company's hand scanner for his time and attendance tracking on the grounds that his religious beliefs forbid it.

According to the Exponent Telegram, Mr. Butcher claimed in his lawsuit that he made the effort to submit a letter to Consol Energy explaining his reasons for refusing to use the biometric hand scanner. Through the letter, Butcher presented to Consol Energy "his genuinely held religious beliefs about the relationship between hand scanning technology and the Mark of the Beast and Antichrist discussed in the Bible."

The company allegedly responded by sending him a letter from Recognition Systems Inc., the vendor that provided the hand scanner, telling him that, according to the Book of Revelation, the Mark of the Beast is found only on the right hand and the forehead. The letter then suggested that "persons with concerns about taking the Mark of the Beast 'be enrolled'... with their left hand and palm facing up".

The suit which was filed on his behalf by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, went on to claim that Mr. Butcher suggested alternatives like keeping a written record of his hours, or to check in and out with the supervisor but Consol Energy rejected the offers. Instead, the company fired him from his job.

The jury ruled that Mr. Butcher "had a sincere religious belief that conflicted with an employment requirement." It noted that the general labourer had informed the company beforehand.

EEOC lawyer Ron Phillips told the Exponent Telegram that they will seek an injunction to prevent further religious discrimination in Consol Energy.

Consol Energy's counsel Jeff Grove said that they intend to appeal the ruling.