Michigan Jury Awards $12M to Woman Fired for Refusing to Get COVID Vaccine

By | November 12, 2024

DETROIT (AP) — A jury awarded more than $12 million Friday to a woman who lost her job at a Michigan insurance company after declining to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Much of the award — $10 million — is for punitive damages against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, according to the verdict form.

Lisa Domski, who worked at Blue Cross for more than 30 years, said she was a victim of religious discrimination. The company in 2021 did not grant an exemption from its vaccine policy, despite her insistence that it clashed with her Catholic beliefs.

Domski’s attorney, Jon Marko, said she worked 100% remotely as an IT specialist during the pandemic; 75% before COVID-19 hit in 2020.

Even without the vaccine, “she wasn’t a danger to anybody,” Marko said in an interview after the trial.

Besides punitive damages, the jury in Detroit federal court awarded Domski about $1.7 million in lost pay and $1 million in noneconomic damages.

Blue Cross denied any discrimination. In a court filing earlier in the case, the insurer said Domski lacked a sincerely held religious belief.

An appeal is possible. Blue Cross released a statement but didn’t make anyone available for comment.

“While Blue Cross respects the jury process and thanks the individual jurors for their service, we are disappointed in the verdict,” the health insurer said. “Blue Cross is reviewing its legal options and will determine its path forward in the coming days.”

Topics Michigan COVID-19

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Latest Comments

  • November 18, 2024 at 10:37 am
    DJD says:
    The religious reason shouldn't even matter. The US Supreme Court ruled that a vaccine mandate was unconstitutional! If this happened before that ruling the company should ha... read more
  • November 13, 2024 at 1:26 pm
    JCW says:
    If she identifies as religious, then who is her employer to say she isn't?
  • November 13, 2024 at 11:58 am
    PolarBeaRepeal says:
    Hooray for the Michigan Jury Practicing Common Sense!

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