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MGM lawsuit overview:
- Who: A former MGM Resorts International employee is suing Aria Resort & Casino.
- Why: The plaintiff says he was discriminated against for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine due to his religious beliefs.
- Where: The Aria lawsuit was filed in a Nevada federal court.
A former MGM Resorts International employee is suing the company he worked for, alleging he was discriminated against and fired for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine due to his religious beliefs.
Plaintiff Matthew Backes filed the complaint against Aria Resort & Casino LLC on Jan. 5 in a Nevada federal court, alleging violations of employment laws.
According to the lawsuit, Backes started working for Aria on June 18, 2012, as an assistant beverage manager and was later promoted to beverage manager. Backes says he was an exemplary employee for nearly 10 years.
On Aug. 16, 2021, he says, MGM Resorts International announced all salaried employees of its properties, including Aria, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 15, 2021.
Backes sought an exemption based on his religious beliefs that the vaccine contains aborted fetal cells, “that the body is the temple of the lord, and that he is Christian,” the lawsuit says.
However, Aria denied Backes’ request for religious exemption and disputed his beliefs, the lawsuit states.
Aria denied exemption, saying it would interfere with work, lawsuit states
Aria allegedly told Backes it could not grant the religious exemption because it would interfere with his guest and employee interactions.
“Due to his sincerely held religious beliefs, Mr. Backes did not get vaccinated and was subsequently terminated based on the same,” the lawsuit states.
“Aria subjected Mr. Backes to disparate treatment because of his religion that unvaccinated hourly Aria employees were not subject to.”
As a result, Backes is suing for religious discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII and Nevada employment law. He seeks damages, lost wages, back pay, fees and costs.
MGM Resorts International has been named as the defendant in another recent class action lawsuit alleging the company refuses to refund cash change to individuals gambling at its casinos.
What do you think of the allegations in the Aria lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
Backes is represented by Adam R. Fulton and Logan G. Willson of Jennings & Fulton LTD.
The Aria Resort lawsuit is Matthew Backes v. Aria Resort & Casino LLC, Case No. 2:23-cv-00021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
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One thought on Aria Resort & Casino worker files lawsuit alleging he was fired for refusing COVID vaccine
So he was fired for refusing to take an experimental vaccine? He was denied religious exemption and was segregated and also denied weekly Covid testing on Aria property while the same hourly colleagues in his own department that work closer to the public may I add ,he was denied the same opportunity that his unvaccinated colleagues were able to practice instead of getting the experimental vaccine?? Why is no one mentioning this is the same experimental vaccine that is also proven to not even protect from covid 19… And the final smack in the face is Aria no longer require any of their employees or new hires to get this experimental vaccine that doesn’t even work? When did MGM become so sloppy and careless and develop this untouchable invincible mentality? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot MGM… it’s time MGM gets made an example of and a reminder that there’s consequences to your sloppy foolish actions