Croydon, England – A woman who endured seizures has succeeded in a harassment claim against her supervisor after receiving a disturbing photo of the possessed girl from the film The Exorcist. The case, heard at an employment tribunal, involved Charlene Friend, who was referred to as ‘Regan’ by her manager, Lisa Gilbert, drawing parallels to the infamous character who suffered from demonic possession in the 1973 horror classic.
Friend, a housing officer with a traumatic head injury from a prior violent assault, expressed feeling belittled and distressed by the inappropriate reference. The situation took a toll on her mental health, especially as a Christian, where the association with an ‘evil spirit’ had a lasting psychological impact.
The tribunal uncovered further misconduct by Gilbert, who allegedly made derogatory remarks about individuals with mental health issues, branding them as attention-seekers. Friend, who was off work due to her seizures, ultimately lost her job after two years on the grounds of being unable to return to work.
Despite the challenges faced, Friend’s ordeal culminated in a favorable ruling at the tribunal, which deemed Gilbert’s behavior as utterly inappropriate and distressing. The panel acknowledged the harmful impact of the discriminatory actions on Friend’s well-being, leading to a determination in her favor for disability discrimination and harassment claims.
In addition to the distress caused by the harassment, Friend also contended with dismissal on health-related criteria. Although some claims were not upheld, the tribunal recognized the severity of the situation, condemning the manager’s actions as offensive and unwarranted. The compensation for Friend’s suffering is yet to be determined, outlining a form of reparation for the distress she endured.