Melissa Nelson worked as a dental assistant for Dr$.$ James

Knight for more than $10$ years. During the last year and

a half of Nelson$$s employment, the dentist began complaining to Nelson that her clothes were tight, revealing,

and distracting. Knight and Nelson also began to text one

another on work$-$related matters as well as personal matters. Some of the texts included sexual references. The dentist$$s wife, who worked in the dental office, became aware

of the situation and insisted that her husband fire Nelson

because she was a threat to their marriage. Knight subsequently fired Nelson, telling her it was because their relationship was a $$detriment$$ to his family and $$that for the

best interests of both $[$him$]$ and his family and Nelson and

her family, the two of them should not work together.$$

Nelson received one month$$s severance pay. Nelson$$s husband called Knight to talk about the firing, and Knight

told him that Nelson had not done anything $$wrong or

inappropriate and that she was the best dental assistant

he ever had$$; however, Knight said he was afraid he was

getting too personally attached to Nelson and $$feared he

would try to have an affair with$$ her at some point. Nelson then sued Knight alleging that he had $$discriminated

against her on the basis of sex.$$

Is a male employer who fires a female worker because

his wife thinks their consensual relationship threatens

their marriage liable for sex discrimination? Is it relevant

that the dentist has never had a male dental assistant?

Would it matter if Nelson had been a yoga instructor

instead of a dental assistant? Does $$sexual favoritism$$ constitute sex discrimination? If Nelson had instituted a sexual harassment claim or a hostile work environment claim,

what would the outcome have been? $[$Nelson v$.$ James H$.$

Knight DDS$,$ P$.$C$.,834$ N$.$W$\mathrm{.}2$d $64($Iowa $2013).$ See also

Edwards v$.$ Nicolai, No$.160830/2013($N$.$Y$.$ Sup. Ct$.$ May

$13,2016),$ reversed in part, No$.06235,$ slip op$.($N$.$Y$.$ App.