A woman who was fired for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine has been awarded more than $12 million in damages after suing her former employer.
Lisa Domski, 66, who worked at the health insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) for more than 30 years, said she was a victim of religious discrimination.
In October 2021, the company did not grant an exemption from its vaccine policy, despite its insistence that it clashed with its Catholic beliefs.
The insurance company implemented a vaccine policy that required staff to be fully vaccinated or request a medical or religious accommodation.
According to the Catholic heraldMs Domski applied for the religious exemption following guidelines, which included submitting a written statement explaining her beliefs and providing contact details for her priest.
The report notes that Ms Domski had “requested a religious exemption based on her belief that all Covid vaccines in circulation at the time were tested or developed using fetal cells that originated from an abortion”.
Despite following protocol, BCBSM rejected Ms. Domski’s request and allegedly threatened to fire her if she did not comply.
His attorney, Jon Marko, said the decision to deny his request was even stranger since he worked 100 percent remotely as an IT specialist during the pandemic and 75 percent before COVID-19 hit in 2020.
Lisa Domski, 66, worked at the health insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) for more than 30 years. Pictured with her husband Larry
Even without the vaccine, “she posed no danger to anyone,” Marko said in an interview after the trial.
Ms. Domski refused BCBSM’s request to be vaccinated and was subsequently fired.
Much of the award — $10 million — is for punitive damages against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, according to the verdict.
In addition to punitive damages, the federal court jury in Detroit awarded Domski about $1.7 million in lost wages and $1 million in noneconomic damages.
Blue Cross denied any discrimination.
In a court filing filed earlier in the case, the insurer said Ms. Domski lacked a sincere religious belief.
However, in the end the jury foreman returned a verdict in favor of Mrs Domski.
After the verdict, Mr Marko spoke on behalf of Ms Domski, telling reporters: ‘Lisa refused to give up her faith and beliefs and was unfairly fired from the only job she had ever known.
“Today’s jury verdict tells BCBSM that religious discrimination has no place in America and affirms every person’s right to religious freedom.”
Blue Cross issued a statement but did not make a spokesperson available for comment.
“While Blue Cross respects the jury process and thanks each juror for their service, we are disappointed in the verdict,” the health insurance giant said.
“Blue Cross is reviewing its legal options and will determine its path forward in the coming days.”
Referring to religious beliefs linked to the Covid vaccine, the Catholic Herald notes: ‘Some Catholics have expressed strong opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine, citing that cell lines from aborted fetuses were used in the development of some vaccines.
In addition to punitive damages, the federal court jury in Detroit awarded Domski about $1.7 million in lost wages and $1 million in noneconomic damages. Cruz Azul denied any discrimination
‘However, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified in December 2020 that it is “morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process” if no other options exist.
‘However, the same note made it clear that vaccination should not be mandatory, stating that “vaccination is not, as a general rule, a moral obligation and should therefore be voluntary.”‘
Johnson & Johnson used lab-grown fetal cell lines when developing and producing its vaccine, while Pfizer and Moderna used fetal cell lines to test their vaccines to make sure they worked.
None of the fetal cell lines used were the result of an abortion.
The payment comes months after Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee paid a woman nearly $700,000 in a settlement after she was similarly fired for refusing to comply with her COVID-19 vaccine requirement for religious reasons.
Tanja Benton, 52, who worked as A biostatistical research scientist at BSBST from 2005 until she was laid off in November 2022, she received a total of $687,000 in her July settlement.
This broke down to more than $177,000 in back wages following his termination, $10,000 in compensatory damages, and $500,000 in punitive damages.
In her lawsuit, the scientist noted that she did not come into regular contact with other staff members during her daily duties and never interacted with hospital patients.
Benton said she submitted a religious exemption request that was denied by the company because it told her they would let her go unless she complied.
The company also allegedly told him there were no vaccine exemptions for anyone with his job title and suggested he look for another job.
Marko, Ms. Domski’s attorney, said he represents about 170 other people in separate wrongful termination cases who are taking similar action against Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan over the 2021 vaccine mandate.