A Federal Court jury in Chattanooga, Tennessee, awarded a local woman $687,240 in a case against BlueCross BlueShield. The jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Tanja Benton, after determining that the company failed to accommodate her religious beliefs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Benton, a former statistical research scientist at BlueCross, was terminated in November 2021 for refusing the vaccine. The jury found BlueCross did not provide a reasonable accommodation or demonstrate undue hardship in accommodating Benton’s beliefs.
The jury awarded Benton $177,240 in back pay, $10,000 in compensatory damages, and $500,000 in punitive damages. Benton had stated in her lawsuit that she did not regularly interact with others at work, as she had been working from home during the pandemic for a year and a half. This case sheds light on the complex issues surrounding vaccine mandates in the workplace, particularly when conflicting with an individual’s religious beliefs.
Following Benton’s case, several other former BlueCross employees have filed a class-action lawsuit citing similar concerns about accommodations and terminations related to the vaccine mandate. The termination of 41 employees between October and November 2021, as a result of the vaccine mandate for certain roles, has sparked debates and legal actions within the company.
Presiding over the case was Judge Charles Atchley, who played a crucial role in overseeing the proceedings and ensuring a fair trial for both parties involved. This verdict sets a precedent for future cases involving vaccine mandates in the workplace and the need for employers to consider religious accommodations for their employees. The outcome of this case highlights the importance of balancing public health measures with individual rights and beliefs in the workplace.