Court Reporters Class Action Alleges Constitutional Rights Violated Over Vaccine Mandate

New York Court Vaccine Mandate Class Action Overview:

• Who: Employees of the New York State Unified Court System are suing the court over the implementation of its vaccine mandate.
• Why: The employees, mostly court reporters, say their constitutional rights to religious expression were violated when their vaccine exemptions were denied by the court.
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in New York.

The New York court system has violated some of its employees’ rights to religious expression by rejecting their applications for exemption from its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Four court reporters and a reporting assistant filed the class action complaint against the State of New York Unified Court System (NYUCS) Jan. 25 in a New York federal court, alleging violations of the constitution. 

In the complaint, the court reporters say that they each applied for an exemption from the system’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate based on their religious views. Each of the employees is a “devout Christian,” they say.

However, each of the plaintiffs allegedly had their applications denied without a statement of reasons. In standing with the mandate, each of the employees was given until Jan. 18, 2022, to be vaccinated or face termination. 

The plaintiffs argue that the system should have allowed them to stay working, as they offered to wear a mask at work and practice social distancing or to carry out their future work remotely. 

“Defendants well knew that Plaintiffs could carry out their duties via videoconferencing, entirely eliminating the risk of virus transmission,” the class action states. “In response, Defendants disparaged and rejected the religious beliefs of Plaintiffs and forced them to accept vaccination or give up their employment and careers.”

Plaintiff Says She Was Interrogated As To “Legitimacy and Sincerity” Of Her Religious Beliefs

The plaintiffs are suing for deprivation of constitutional right to religious expression. 

They are seeking compensatory damages, damages for emotional distress, damages for physical pain and suffering and punitive damages, as well as fees, costs and a jury trial.

Plaintiff Linda Rukavina said she was also interrogated as to “legitimacy and sincerity” of her religious beliefs.

“Plaintiff was embarrassed, humiliated and intimidated by NYUCS’ aggressive actions challenging the validity of her religious beliefs, which demonstrated clear hostility to and bias against her because of her deeply and sincerely held religious beliefs,” the lawsuit states.

The case comes several months after a federal appeals court halted a temporary injunction for New York health care workers who requested religious exemption from the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

What do you think about the court’s response to those seeking religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Sheldon Karasik.

The NY Unified Courts Vaccine Mandate Class Action Lawsuit is Cheryl Ferrelli et al. v. State of New York Unified Court System et al., Case No. 5:00-at-99999, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. 

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