Winnebago County Health Department

401 Division Street, Rockford, IL 61104

Appeals court: Rockford nurse can only get $2,500 from her lawsuit win, even though county health department violated her abortion conscience rights

By Dan Churney | Monday, Feb 27, 2023 @ 7:10pm

An Illinois appeals panel has ruled a nurse, who left her Winnebago County job because she would not refer females for abortions, did not deserve a larger award in her lawsuit against the county, because judges said she could have accepted a similar county post that did not involve abortion referrals
County health dept owes $374K to lawyers who represented nurse forced from job for refusing to refer abortions

By Jonathan Bilyk | Wednesday, Feb 23, 2022 @ 6:14pm

The lawyers said they hope the ruling and resulting payout will send a message to other Illinois governments and health care employers who might try to force workers to choose between their religious beliefs and their jobs.
Appeals panel: Civil rights law doesn't let Winnebago Co. avoid nurse's discrimination suit, but job transfer may not violate religious freedom law

By D.M. Herra | Monday, Mar 9, 2020 @ 8:09pm

The Catholic nurse had sued after the public health department had refused her request to remain in pediatrics to avoid referring patients for abortion or distributing contraceptives.