COVID19

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit After Denver Employee Fails to Properly Request Religious Exemption for COVID-19 Vaccine

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DENVER — A federal judge has determined that a former Denver International Airport supply specialist, who challenged the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate by filing an incomplete request for a religious exemption, did not have his rights violated when the city denied his application. The judge’s decision underscores the importance of adhering to established protocols when seeking exemptions for mandatory health measures. In summer 2021, Denver mandated that all city employees must be inoculated against COVID-19 unless they obtained an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Of the 297 requests for religious accommodations filed, the city … Read more

Jury Selection Set to Start in Minnesota for Suspected Mastermind Behind $250M COVID-19 Fraud Case

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Minneapolis, MN — Jury selection is set to commence this week in the trial of a Minnesota man accused of orchestrating a massive $250 million fraud scheme targeting federal pandemic aid. The alleged mastermind, Kyle Gossett, faces serious charges for his role in swindling COVID-19 relief funds intended for small businesses struggling during the pandemic. According to authorities, Gossett led a complex operation that manipulated the Small Business Administration’s Emergency Injury Disaster Loan program. Prosecutors allege that he and his accomplices fabricated businesses and submitted over 400 fraudulent applications, successfully siphoning millions from the relief … Read more

Court Upholds Hearst’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Against Ex-Employee’s Religious Discrimination Claim

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In a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, two divisions of Hearst Corp. were found to have justifiably mandated COVID-19 vaccinations based on sound medical evidence, effectively quashing a former employee’s bid to overturn a dismissal of his religious discrimination lawsuit. The decision underscored the court’s support for employer vaccination policies amidst an ongoing pandemic. The former employee, George Rodrique II, contended that Hearst failed to sufficiently demonstrate that the COVID-19 vaccine reduced virus transmission, arguing that a religious exemption would not have placed undue hardship on the company. … Read more

Detroit Casino Worker Wins $133K in Landmark COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal Case

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Detroit, MI — A Detroit casino worker was awarded $133,000 by a jury after she refused to comply with her employer’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate due to her religious beliefs. The verdict marks a significant legal stance on the intersection of workplace policies, individual rights, and public health amid the ongoing pandemic. The casino worker, Leah Snyder, had filed a lawsuit against MGM Grand Detroit, contending that the company had infringed on her religious freedoms. According to court documents, Snyder, who was employed at the casino for over ten years as a cashier, declined the COVID-19 … Read more