A former employee of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) was awarded a nearly $700,000 settlement Friday after she was fired for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine.
Tanja Benton, the plaintiff, submitted a religious exemption when BCBST forced a vaccine mandate on its employees in August 2021. A Tennessee federal jury found “by a preponderance of evidence that her [plaintiff] refusal to receive the Covid vaccination was based upon sincerely held religious belief.”
The Plaintiff had submitted her religious exemption to BCBST in September 2021 and was fired in November of that year.
“Specifically, Plaintiff firmly believes, based upon personal research, that all COVID-19 vaccines are derived from aborted fetus cell lines,” Benton’s lawsuit reads. “Because of her sincerely held religious beliefs concerning abortion, Plaintiff cannot in good conscience consume the vaccine, which would not only defile her body but also anger and dishonor God.”
Benton’s lawsuit also cited the nature of her job as a biostatistical research scientist with BCBST as solitary; she infrequently met with clients and was able to successfully work remotely.
“Plaintiff’s job rarely involved direct interaction with clients,” the lawsuit reads. “In fact, approximately one percent (25 hours) of her total annual working hours (2,080 hours) involved client interaction.”
Benton was an employee of BCBST for 16-plus years before her termination. Before the vaccine mandate, Benton had worked remotely for over a year and a half amid pandemic lockdown orders.
“Plaintiff conducted all client meetings by remote means,” the lawsuit reads. “No client expressed any concerns or problems about remote interactions, nor did any client express a desire for Plaintiff to have physical in-person interactions with them.”
Benton was reportedly one of many full-time remote employees fired after the vaccine mandate was implemented for 800 to “900 so-called customer-facing roles.” As Insurance Business Magazine reported: “Out of the 900 employees, 41 refused to get vaccinated and were subsequently fired. Specifically, 19 were terminated in October of that year and an additional 22 were fired in November 2021, weeks before Tennessee passed a law prohibiting BCBST from enforcing the mandate.”
An additional class-action lawsuit has been filed against BCBST for illegal discrimination against employees who sought and were denied religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate. It cites a violation of the employees’ rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Defendant’s discriminatory actions left Plaintiffs and those similarly situated with the formidable task of choosing between their faith and their jobs,” the class-action lawsuit reads. “As to those who chose their faith, Defendant terminated their employment.”
