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

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

Madison Community Members and FFRF Challenge Religious Tax Exemptions in Court

Madison, WI — A legal challenge is fermenting in the heart of Madison where a lawsuit was initiated on Jan. 14 by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) along with three city residents. The suit aims to eliminate the religious tax exemptions granted to two student housing centers, citing a potential breach of the Wisconsin Constitution. At the center of this controversy are the Presbyterian Student Center Foundation and St. Raphael’s Congregation. The Presbyterian Student Center Foundation runs the Pres House Apartments located on East Campus Mall, while the St. Raphael’s Congregation operates the Lumen … Read more

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

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 Jury Awards $133,000 to Man Fired Over Vaccine Mandate Due to Religious Beliefs

Detroit, MI – A Canton man recently received a $133,000 jury award, concluding a legal battle that highlights persistent tensions between employer vaccine mandates and individual religious beliefs. The verdict, issued in Detroit on Thursday, ruled in favor of 56-year-old Harry Yeremian, who was dismissed from his managerial position at the MGM Grand Detroit casino due to his refusal to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Yeremian, a devout Catholic, argued that his dismissal from the gaming venue was a case of religious discrimination. He claimed his faith prevented him from receiving the vaccine and … Read more