Terminated

Polk County’s Costly Fallout: Jury Awards $4 Million to Wrongfully Terminated HR Director Amid Political Turmoil

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DES MOINES, Iowa — A jury in Dallas County has awarded former Polk County Human Resources Director Jim Niehaus more than $4 million in a wrongful termination lawsuit. The ruling opens the door for taxpayers to potentially shoulder part of this substantial financial burden. The jury found that several Polk County officials were liable for libel when they terminated Niehaus’s employment in 2020. The circumstances surrounding Niehaus’s firing are emblematic of a larger pattern of internal disputes among the Polk County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Matt McCoy commented on the ongoing turmoil, acknowledging the challenges … Read more

Michigan Jury Awards Over $12 Million to Employee Terminated for COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal on Religious Grounds

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Detroit, MI — A federal jury in Detroit has awarded over $12 million to a former Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employee who was terminated for not complying with the company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, citing religious beliefs. The verdict arrived Friday afternoon, marking a significant case in the ongoing discussions surrounding employer vaccine mandates and religious exemptions. Lisa Domski, a Wyandotte resident and a devout Catholic, had worked for Blue Cross for 32 years, primarily in their IT department. She was dismissed on January 5, 2022, after she refused the COVID-19 vaccine on the … Read more

Judge Orders ACLU to Reinstate Worker Terminated Over Use of Controversial Language

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Washington — A federal judge has ordered the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to reinstate a former employee who was dismissed for using offensive language during a webinar. The decision, rendered on Thursday, underscores a complex issue of balancing workplace conduct standards with the principles of free speech, particularly within organizations devoted to the defense of civil liberties. The case arose when the employee, a noted civil rights advocate whose identity remains undisclosed due to the sensitivity of the termination process, used a racially charged term during a discussion on racial equality. This incident, which … Read more

Tennessee Jury Awards $687K to Woman Terminated for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine

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Nashville, Tennessee — A Tennessee jury has awarded a woman nearly $700,000 after she was fired from her job due to her refusal to comply with her employer’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The verdict comes amid ongoing debates over workplace mandates and personal freedoms. Jean Marie Wilson, formerly an events manager at Ramsey Solutions, claimed she was wrongfully terminated after expressing religious objections to receiving the vaccine. The company, led by personal finance advisor Dave Ramsey, had implemented a vaccination requirement for its employees, citing health and operational reasons. The jury sided with Wilson, ruling that … Read more