Health care workers file suit over religious accommodation
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Litigation over the issue of religious accommodation with respect to COVID-19 vaccines includes the Nov. 8 lawsuit filed by a group of current and former health care workers against Northfield Hospital and Clinic in Northfield, Minnesota, who had sought both religious and medical exemptions.
The plaintiffs contend that, with one exception, everyone who applied for a religious exemption was denied in a form letter, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis in John Collingham, M.D. et. al. v. City of Northfield, d/b/a Northfield Hospital and Clinic, et. al.
The hospital “took the effective position that any accommodation would automatically constitute an undue burden,” the lawsuit said.
The suit charges the defendants with discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination and failure to accommodate under the Americans with Disabilities Act and violations of state law. It seeks damages and to enjoin the defendants from further legal action.
A hospital spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.
Separately, in David Samrano et al. v. United Airlines Inc., on Nov. 8 a U.S. District Court judge in Fort Worth, Texas, denied the preliminary injunction sought by employees who were put on unpaid leave when they asked for either a religious or medical exemption from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
In its ruling, which is being appealed, the court said United had granted about 80% of the requests for religious exemptions and that plaintiffs had not established the airline’s actions constituted irreparable harm.
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