Liberty Counsel, the legal group representing 13 plaintiffs, said the settlement should “serve as a strong warning to employers across the nation that they cannot refuse to accommodate those with sincere religious objections to forced vaccination mandates,” according to a statement from Horatio Mihet, vice president of legal affairs at the group.
Workers who refused the vaccine, as well as those who received the vaccine despite raising religious objections, would be eligible for compensation. Those who were fired due to their refusal due to religious beliefs would also be eligible for reemployment by the healthcare system.
The settlement also slates 2 million dollars for attorney fees.
U.S. District Judge John Kness presided over the case. Judge Kness, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, sided with the claims that the healthcare system violated the workers’ rights by going against Title VII of the Civil Rights Act due to being denied religious accommodations.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Starver stated, “We have been working with thousands of employees across the country. Many of them face the same jab-or-job mandate that is that issue in NorthShore. Let this case be a warning to employers that violated Title VII. It is especially significant and gratifying that this first classwide COVID settlement protects healthcare workers.”
Staver went on to say that the battle is far from over. They have been working with people all over the country that are battling this same issue from airline to healthcare industries.
