Washington, D.C. — A Michigan woman, Lisa Domski, was awarded $12.7 million in damages following a religious discrimination lawsuit against her former employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). The jury ruled that BCBSM improperly dismissed Domski after denying her a religious exemption from its COVID-19 vaccination policy.
Domski, a devout Catholic and former IT specialist with BCBSM, had requested the exemption based on her religious beliefs opposing abortion. She argued that the vaccines in question used cell lines derived from aborted fetuses in their development or testing. Expressing that receiving the vaccine would violate her religious convictions, Domski’s application for an exemption was, however, rejected by BCBSM — determining that her situation did not qualify under the company’s set criteria for exemptions.
Having been an employee of BCBSM for nearly 15 years, Domski was working remotely when she sought this accommodation, which involves minimal direct contact with other employees. Her employment was terminated on January 5, 2022.
This case emerges against the backdrop of ongoing theological discussions. The Catechism of the Catholic Church staunchly opposes abortion. However, in December 2020, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared it morally acceptable for Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines, despite their developmental ties to abortion-derived cell lines, clarifying that such use did not equate to complicity in abortion.
Further emphasizing freedom of conscience, the Vatican stated that vaccinations should be voluntary and people who choose not to vaccinate for conscientious reasons should take measures to avoid transmitting the virus.
Jon Marko, the representing attorney from Marko Law, depicted BCBSM’s response to exemption requests as largely dismissive, indicating a broad inattentiveness to employees’ religious concerns, particularly regarding fetal cell line objections. Marko shared that BCBSM denied three out of every four such exemption requests.
The lawsuit concluded with the jury affirming that BCBSM’s actions constituted unlawful religious discrimination. The jury awarded nearly $1.7 million to Domski in compensation for lost wages and emotional distress, as well as an additional $10 million in punitive damages. These punitive amounts are intended to deter the defendant from future violations and set a public example through the substantial financial penalty.
BCBSM has expressed disappointment in the ruling, defending its vaccination mandate and exemption process as compliant with federal and state law, and respectful of genuinely held religious beliefs. The company is currently evaluating its legal options moving forward.
Meanwhile, similar cases have proliferated across the United States. Many employees have brought lawsuits against their employers after being denied religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. For instance, in 2022, a $10.3 million settlement was awarded to 500 workers of the Illinois-based NorthShore University Health System under analogous circumstances. Additionally, last month, Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco was mandated by a court to pay $1 million to each of six employees denied religious accommodations.
As legal challenges continue nationwide, this case represents a significant precedent in the ongoing debate over religious freedom and public health mandates.
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