Sunday, July 31, 2022

Class Action Settlement Reached In Religious Challenge To Vaccine Mandate

 A 24-page class action Settlement Agreement (full text) was filed last week in an Illinois federal district court in Doe 1 v. NorthShore University HealthSystem, (ND IL, filed 7/292/2022).  The suit was brought on behalf of approximately 523 employees who requested, but were denied, a religious exemption or accommodation from the hospital system's COVID vaccination mandate. If the settlement is approved by the court, the hospital system will pay $10,330,500 in damages. Most former employees will receive $25,000 each.  $2,061,500 of the settlement amount will go to plaintiffs' counsel. Liberty Counsel issued a press release announcing the settlement and National Catholic Register reported on the settlement agreement.