Vaccine

Jury Grants $12 Million to Employee Dismissed for Declining COVID-19 Vaccine

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Livingston, TN — In a landmark decision, a Tennessee jury awarded $12 million to a former Tennessee Department of Human Services employee who was terminated after she declined to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The verdict, delivered in the Overton County Chancery Court, highlights the ongoing legal debates surrounding employer-mandated health measures. The plaintiff, Jeanna Norris, contended that the vaccine mandate violated her rights, as she had consulted with her healthcare provider who advised against the vaccination due to her specific health conditions and her natural immunity from a previous COVID-19 infection. The lawsuit emphasized the … Read more

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

Federal Court Rejects Canadian Armed Forces’ Vaccine Mandate Challenge Over Lack of Factual Basis

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In a recent ruling by the Federal Court of Canada, a lawsuit led by over 300 current and former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members was dismissed. The lawsuit challenged the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, arguing it violated their constitutional rights. Associate Judge Catherine Coughlan found the lawsuit’s allegations lacked the necessary factual support and employed inappropriate language, resulting in the case being struck down without an opportunity for amendment. The suit, officially titled Qualizza v. Canada, claimed the vaccination directive mandated in 2021 by the CAF overstepped legal bounds set by the Canadian Charter of … 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