A Tennessee woman who was fired for refusing to get a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine required by her employer has won a nearly $700,000 settlement.
A federal jury awarded the money to Tanya Benton, who previously worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST), Fox 17 reported. report Monday.
The jury found that her choice not to get vaccinated was “based on sincere religious beliefs.”
She had worked as a biostatistical research scientist for the company for several years and did not have regular client contact. Because of the pandemic, Ms. Benton had been working from home and had not received any complaints about her job performance.
But when the company announced it would force employees to get the vaccine, she chose not to, telling management that she believed the vaccine was made from cell lines from aborted fetuses. Her lawsuit states that she could not get vaccinated because she believed getting the vaccine “would not only defile my body, but would also offend and dishonor God.”
For more information on coronavirus treatment and fetal tissue, click here.
Benton sought a religious exemption but was denied and ultimately fired, Fox 17 reported, but she fought back with a federal lawsuit.
“As part of the verdict, a federal jury awarded Benton $177,240 in back wages, $10,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages, totaling $687,240,” Fox 17 reported.
According to Local 3 News, “a group of employees who were fired from BCBST for violating Title VII religious discrimination are also now filing a class action lawsuit against their employer,” the outlet reports. Said Monday.
