Mnelsondental

"Irresistible" dental assistant speaks out on her firing

Dec. 27, 2012
After working for dentist James Knight for 10 years, dental assistant Melissa Nelson speaks out on what she deems a wrongful termination.

December 27, 2012

After working for dentist James Knight for 10 years, dental assistant Melissa Nelson speaks out on what she deems a wrongful termination. After working for Knight for a decade, the two started exchanging text messages and Knight allegedly made sexual comments to Nelson in the work place. When Knight's wife, who also worked in the office, found out about the messages, she demanded that Nelson be fired. Soon thereafter, Nelson filed a lawsuit, saying that Knight fired her because of her gender, although Knight employs other women and, in fact, replaced her with a woman. The Iowa supreme court ruled that the termination was not unlawful.

Editor's opinion on the dentist who fired a dental assistant for being "irresistible"

In an interview with CNN, Nelson said she had no idea what changed at the end of those 10 years. "I have no idea [what changed]. Um, I thought everything was still the same. I went to work the same as I did every day. I worked hard, enjoyed my job, and one day it just came to a screeching halt."

What do you think? Check out the videoin which Knight expresses her opinion on the matter.

Lauren Burns is the editor of Proofs magazine and the email newsletters RDH Graduate and Proofs. She is currently based out of New York City. Follow her on Twitter: @ellekeid.