--- title: "Religious Exemption Victory: Awards $12M in Vaccine Case" meta: "og:description": "A federal jury awarded Lisa Domski $12.69 million after Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan denied her religious vaccine exemption and terminated her career." "og:title": "Religious Exemption Victory: Awards $12M in Vaccine Case " description: "A federal jury awarded Lisa Domski $12.69 million after Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan denied her religious vaccine exemption and terminated her career." --- April 2, 2026 # **Religious Exemption Victory: Awards $12M in Vaccine Case ** A federal jury awarded Lisa Domski $12.69 million after Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan denied her religious vaccine exemption and terminated her career. [**Labor and Employment Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/religious-exemption-victory-awards-12m-in-vaccine-case-/jury-verdict/category/labor-and-employment-law) [**Discrimination**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/religious-exemption-victory-awards-12m-in-vaccine-case-/jury-verdict/category/discrimination) ### **Outline** Author ![](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/profile_images/shared_image_1.webp) **Sohini Chakraborty****Sohini Chakraborty is a lawyer, with over two years of experience in legal research and analysis. She specializes in working closely with expert witnesses, offering critical support in preparing legal research and detailed case studies.** ![Article Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/Domski.webp) After three decades of service as an IT specialist, Lisa Domski faced an ultimatum from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan: receive the COVID-19 vaccine or lose her job. Despite working 100% remotely and citing sincerely held religious beliefs that guided her medical decisions through prayer, the company denied her request for an accommodation. Following what was described as an "ambush" interview regarding her faith, the company terminated her in January 2022. A federal jury in Detroit ultimately found the company’s actions were discriminatory, concluding that the insurer failed to provide a reasonable accommodation and wrongfully fired Domski based on her religion. The resulting $12.69 million verdict included $10 million in punitive damages, sending a significant message regarding workplace religious protections. ## **Case Background** Lisa Domski worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for over 30 years, most recently serving as an IT Process Specialist II. On October 31, 2021, the company announced a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy that applied to all employees and contractors, including those who worked entirely from home. Domski, a remote worker, sought a religious exemption from this mandate based on her sincerely held religious beliefs. She explained that she made all medical decisions, including those regarding vaccinations, through prayer. Despite her request, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan denied her accommodation after conducting what Domski described as an "ambush-style" interview. The company placed her on unpaid leave in December 2021 and officially terminated her employment on January 5, 2022. ### **Cause** The legal dispute centered on religious discrimination under federal and state law. Domski alleged that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. She argued the company failed to provide a reasonable accommodation for her religious beliefs and terminated her because of her religion. ### **Injury** Domski suffered significant financial and emotional harm following her termination. She lost her long-term livelihood and the benefits associated with her 30-year career. The complaint also noted that she suffered non-monetary losses, including the "crisis of conscience" caused by being forced to choose between her faith and her job. ### **Damages Sought** In her original complaint, Domski requested compensatory damages for both monetary and non-monetary losses. She also sought exemplary and punitive damages, prejudgment interest, and reimbursement for her attorneys’ fees and costs. ## **Key Arguments and Proceedings** The trial took place in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan under the honorable David M. Lawson. ### **Legal representation** - **Plaintiff(s)**: Lisa Domski - **Counsel for Plaintiff**: Brendan John Childress | Grant Michael Vlahopoulos | Jonathan R. Marko | Noah S. Hurwitz - **Defendant(s)**: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan - **Counsel for Defendants**: Angelina Rose Delmastro | Brandon C. Hubbard | Jonathan R. Marko | Maureen J. Moody | Michelle R. Heikka | Nolan John Moody | Rudolph Porter Makupson | Scott R. Knapp | Zachary Pelton ## **Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel** ### **Claims** Domski’s legal team argued that the company’s accommodation process was arbitrary and inconsistent. They contended that Blue Cross Blue Shield did not follow the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines, which suggest that employers should ordinarily assume a religious accommodation request is sincere. Counsel highlighted that Domski worked remotely and posed no risk to coworkers, yet the company refused to allow her to continue teleworking as an accommodation. ### **Defense** The company denied all allegations of discrimination. Its attorneys argued that the vaccine policy was mandatory for all employees to ensure a safe work environment. They maintained that the accommodation process was fair and that Domski failed to meet the criteria for a religious exemption. The defense further stated that their actions were based on legitimate business needs rather than religious bias. ## **Jury Verdict** On November 8, 2024, the jury reached a unanimous verdict in favor of Lisa Domski on all counts. The jury found that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan had unlawfully discriminated against her under federal law by denying her religious accommodation request. They also found the company liable under both Michigan and federal law for terminating her employment because of her religion. The jury awarded Domski a total of $12,690,000 in damages: - **$315,000** for back pay damages. - **$1,375,000** for front pay damages. - **$1,000,000** for non-economic damages. - **$10,000,000** in punitive damages against the Defendant. 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