Jury fines BlueCross for firing worker over COVID-19 vaccine mandate

https://www.timesfreepress.com ^ | July 1, 2024 | Dave Flessner

[Enterprise]

A Tennessee jury has awarded a former research scientist at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee $687,000 in back pay and damages after she was fired in 2021 for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Following a three-day jury trial in Chattanooga last week, a federal jury decided BlueCross failed to provide reasonable accommodation for Tanja Benton, who did most of her work from home and claimed a religious exemption to the company's vaccine mandate.

Chattanooga Attorney Doug S. Hamill, who represents Benton, said the biostatistical research scientist was fired in November 2021 in violation of her religious beliefs after working for the Chattanooga-based health insurer for nearly six and a half years. Benton said she believed the COVID-19 vaccines are derived from aborted fetus cell lines.

"Because of her sincerely held religious beliefs concerning abortion, (Benton) cannot in good conscience consume the vaccine, which would not only defile her body but also anger and dishonor God," Hamill said in his lawsuit against BlueCross.

[Enterprise]

Good on ya, ya petty bureaucratic wankers.

[mikey_hates_everything]

If only the petty bureaucratic wankers had to pay out of their own pockets.

[Reno89519]

At the time I said that people should force companies to fire them over this, instead of quitting and cowering. It left those fired with standing in court despite the immunity offered to the drug companies. I cheer every time I see someone win, and win big. Every company that fired someone for refusing to take the experimental vaccines should be sued and forced to pay big.

[Grampa Dave]

” Every company that fired someone for refusing to take the experimental vaccines should be sued and forced to pay big.”

We have a few relatives and younger friends, who are frontline health care workers.

Basically, everyone refused to get the shots except a few, who got one or two of the first shots. They claimed that their religion kept them from getting the jabs.

Even then their bosses refused to fire or threaten them.

[taxcontrol]

We need more of this.

[HandBasketHell]

It's all well and fine to make a stand for your beliefs, but people with families to support, a mortgage, car payments, utilities, gas, and food don't have that luxury when it came to choosing their job or the jab.

She had a great day in court, but it took 3 years to happen, and the company has deep pockets and will most likely appeal.

[Revel]

BlueCross Deserves this and criminal charges as well. They will only pass these costs onto their customers.

[Reno89519]

So, it was better to quit & cower instead of being fired? Both results meant being left out of work. At least those being fired have had recourse in the courts, are now winning their cases. Those that quit have gotten absolutely nothing.

[Svartalfiar]

So, it was better to quit & cower instead of being fired? Both results meant being left out of work.

And that is why a lot of people took the jabs, even though they really didn't want to.

[Reno89519]

And too bad for those people as well. They have no recourse as they were too weak to say No. And what do they have to do with this article—it is about the people that said No, stood their ground, got fired, and are now winning in court. This is being repeated over and over again.

[Svartalfiar]

And what do they have to do with this article—it is about the people that said No, stood their ground, got fired, and are now winning in court. This is being repeated over and over again.

Your comment is the one that said they only had two options. I provided a third, one which the majority of the populace chose.