Sophia Apessos was employed as a newspaper reporter in Plymouth, Massachusetts. On Saturday, July 29, 2000, her day off from work, her then-husband assaulted her in her home. The police immediately arrested her husband, charged him with assault and battery, and helped Ms. Apessos obtain a temporary restraining order. Because the temporary restraining order could not be extended unless Ms. Apessos appeared in court during regular business hours, and because her husband’s arraignment was scheduled for Monday, July 31, she called her work supervisor and left a message that she would be absent on Monday to attend court proceedings relating to domestic violence. When she reported to work on Tuesday morning, the human resources director called her into her office and fired her.