2/17: The Fifth Circuit ruled for a United Airlines pilot and flight attendant placed on unpaid leave after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine for religious reasons, finding that the plaintiffs had suffered irreparable harm, and remanding back to the trial court for consideration of other factors necessary to determining whether an injunction should issue. Plaintiffs sued the company for their vaccine mandate under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Judge Smith issued a 58-page dissent, describing the ruling as an “orgy of jurisprudential violence” and requesting en banc review.
2/17: A citizens group filed a lawsuit in federal court to block enforcement of San Diego’s vaccine mandate for city employees.
2/16: The Supreme Court will consider a renewed request from New York City teachers and staff to block a state vaccine mandate due to their religious objections. After Justice Sotomayor, who has jurisdiction over lower courts in New York, denied their request, plaintiffs directed a new request to Justice Gorsuch, who referred it to the full court for consideration.
2/16: Texas filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas against the CDC to end mask mandates on planes.
2/15: A federal judge granted an injunction ordering the Air Force to let an officer stay unvaccinated without penalties, until a final ruling is made.
2/15: A Massachusetts appellate judge granted an injunction blocking Boston’s vaccination mandate for city workers.
2/14: The New Jersey Supreme Court rejected police unions’ request for an emergency stay on Governor Murphy’s vaccine mandate for state and county correctional officers.
2/14: A UPS employee sued the company over its vaccine mandate in the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
