Today, federal Judge John F. Kness entered the final judgment approving the $10.3 million class action settlement for more than 500 current and former health care workers who were unlawfully discriminated against and denied religious exemptions from the COVID shot mandate. 

Liberty Counsel settled this historic, first-of-its-kind class action settlement against a private employer who unlawfully denied hundreds of religious exemption requests to COVID-19 shots. As a result, NorthShore will pay $10,337,500 to compensate these health care employees who were victims of religious discrimination, and who were punished for their religious beliefs against taking an injection associated with aborted fetal cells.

Judge Kness granted verbal approval on December 19 in Jane Doe 1, et al. v. Northshore University Healthsystem. Now the settlement checks will be sent out within 60 days. In addition, employees who were terminated because of their religious refusal of the COVID shots will be eligible for rehire if they apply within 90 days of final settlement approval by the court, and they will retain their previous seniority level. In fact, many previously terminated employees already have been rehired, and others will continue to be reinstated at NorthShore. 

As a result of this settlement agreement, NorthShore changed its unlawful “no religious accommodations” policy to make it consistent with the law, and to provide religious accommodations in every position across its numerous facilities. No position in any NorthShore facility is considered off limits to unvaccinated employees with approved religious exemptions. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “Liberty Counsel is honored to defend these health care workers who were unlawfully discriminated against and denied religious exemptions from the COVID shot mandate. This case should set a precedent for other employers who have violated the law by denying religious exemptions for their employees.”