A federal jury has ordered that Blue Cross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) owes nearly $700,000 to Tanja Benton, a former employee who was fired for refusing the COVID vaccine based on her religious beliefs.
Benton, who served as a Bio Statistical Research Scientist, refused the vaccine due to her objection to the use of aborted fetus cell lines in its development.
Because she worked remotely, Benton said that her role involved minimal client interaction and no necessity for physical presence at medical facilities.
In her complaint, Benton claimed that BCBST violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Tennessee Human Rights Act by failing to accommodate her religious beliefs.
The jury found that BlueCross did not provide a reasonable accommodation for her religious beliefs and could not demonstrate that accommodating her would result in hardship for the company.
Benton was awarded a total of $687,240, including 177,240 in back pay damages, 10,000 in compensatory damages, and 500,000 in punitive damages.
“The jury found that Plaintiff, TANJA BENTON, proved by a preponderance of the evidence that her refusal to receive the Covid vaccination was based upon a sincerely held religious belief. The parties stipulated that the remaining elements of Plaintiff’s claims were met and the jury was so instructed,” the ruling stated.
“The jury further found that Defendant, BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE, INC., did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence either that it had offered a reasonable accommodation to Plaintiff or that it could not reasonably accommodate the Plaintiff’s religious beliefs without undue hardship. Liability for Plaintiff’s religious accommodation claims is therefore established by the jury’s verdict.”
