A federal judge in California has upheld a jury verdict that awards $7.8 million to former transit workers fired for refusing the COVID-19 jab.
The verdict awarded the seven-figure sum to six former employees of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) who rejected the experimental shot on religious grounds.
In October, a federal jury ruled BART must pay the former employees over $1 million each.
The Epoch Times reports:
In a Dec. 30 order, Judge William A. Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California acknowledged minor “imperfections” in the jury trial—including flawed instructions to the jurors—and determined they were not severe enough to invalidate the jury’s October decision requiring BART to pay each of the six former workers between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.
Alsup denied BART’s post-trial motions to overturn the verdict and seek a new trial, saying that the agency failed to demonstrate that accommodating the employees’ religious objections would have posed an undue hardship.
“Simply put, on the instructions given and evidence received, a reasonable jury could have found that BART had not carried its burden of proving its affirmative defense,” Alsup wrote, referring to the fact that, in order to prevail in the case, BART had to prove that granting accommodations such as masking, testing, or remote work in lieu of vaccination would have imposed an undue burden on the agency.
ADVERTISEMENTBART’s defense relied heavily on expert testimony to argue that no alternative measures were as effective as vaccination against COVID-19, with the judge noting that the agency claimed it had presented “‘unrebutted’ scientific expert testimony” to that effect. However, Alsup noted that the jury was entitled to weigh the credibility of the experts, particularly given their financial ties to the agency.
Court Upholds $7.8 Million Verdict For Transit Workers Fired For Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine https://t.co/9rxt69j4KD
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 2, 2025
"A federal judge just upheld a verdict against Bay Area Rapid Transit over its COVID vaccine mandate. The jury awarded $7.8 million to six former employees who were fired for not taking the vaccine. The anti-American abuses of the COVID era must never be forgotten," Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) said.
A federal judge just upheld a verdict against Bay Area Rapid Transit over its COVID vaccine mandate. The jury awarded $7.8 million to six former employees who were fired for not taking the vaccine.
The anti-American abuses of the COVID era must never be forgotten.
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) January 2, 2025
"This trial would have been about as close to perfect as civil trials ever get save for twoimperfections, one the fault of plaintiffs and the other the fault of BART. The judge regrets these flaws but they, even in combination, did not result in a miscarriage of justice. The trial was still fair enough to stand," the order stated.
"A federal judge in California has rejected an effort by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to overturn a jury verdict that awarded $7.8 million to six former employees who were fired for refusing to comply with the agency’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on religious grounds." @zerohedge… pic.twitter.com/MEzRo0W0JQ
— Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) January 2, 2025
Read the full 15-page order HERE.
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