Religious Accommodation Discrimination Verdict Won
Louis Liner prevailed in a federal employment discrimination lawsuit against a Louisiana pest control company after his employer terminated him for refusing a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination that conflicted with his sincerely held religious beliefs. The jury unanimously found that Liner proved his bona fide religious belief, informed his employer of this belief prior to termination, and that his religious belief was a motivating factor in the company's decision to fire him. The jury determined the employer failed to prove it was unable to reasonably accommodate Liner's religious needs and that his continued employment posed no direct threat to workplace safety. A jury awarded Liner $100,000 in compensatory damages and $200,000 in punitive damages, along with $75,000 in past lost earnings.
