Ark. man claims he was fired for not attending church

Bentonville, USA - A Benton County man has sued his former employer, claiming that he was fired for not attending a specific church as ordered by his boss.

Clifford D- Randel filed the lawsuit yesterday in Benton County Circuit Court against Allied Plumbing and Drain Service in Siloam Springs.

According to the lawsuit, Randel went home sick on a day he was supposed to take a drug test. The suit says company owner Dan Mallory accused Randel of being a drug addict the following day.

According to Randel's lawsuit, Randel volunteered to take a drug test, but Mallory instead required the apprentice to attend either an Assembly of God, Baptist or Seventh-Day Adventist church. Randel claims he offered to attend a Catholic church, but that Mallory refused and suspended Randel.

Randel was fired March 15th.

But Mallory disputed Randel's claim that he was fired for not attending a specific church. Mallory says Randel was fired because he refused to take a drug test.

According to drug tests paid for by Randel and submitted with the complaint, Randel tested negative for drugs on March 15th and March 24th.

Randel is seeking 60-thousand dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.