EAST ST. LOUIS – Plaintiff Luke Wegmann’s devotion to Jesus Christ moved him to refuse vaccination and got him kicked out of a medical specialty program at John A. Logan College, according to a suit in U.S. district court.
He seeks a declaration that the school violated his rights, an injunction returning him to Logan’s cardiac sonography program, and an award of damages.
In an application for exemption he wrote, “God created us perfectly in his image and he is in complete control of my overall future and health.”
“I put my faith and trust in God and his son Jesus Christ to provide healing and keep me healthy,” he wrote.
He quoted the first letter to the Corinthians that, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own.”
Attorney Michael Cork of Indianapolis filed the complaint for Wegmann, identifying him as a resident of Woodlawn.
Cork claimed Logan’s sonography program includes rotations at hospitals with vaccination requirements subject to medical and religious exemptions.
He claimed Wegmann learned his rotation site would be Blessing Hospital in Quincy and he inquired about a religious exemption.
He claimed Blessing informed Wegmann that it didn’t provide exemptions but would accept a religious exemption from the college.
He claimed she said the college didn’t require a shot and therefore couldn’t provide him with an exemption.
He claimed Wegmann requested a religious exemption from program coordinator Karen Kasban.
“Effectively, Kasban told Wegmann he should be vaccinated or withdraw from the program,” Cork wrote in the complaint.
Named as defendants are Kasban, along with college president Kirk Overstreet and board members William Kilquist, Rebecca Borgsmiller, Mandy Little, Glenn Poshard, Jake Rendleman, and Aaron Smith.
Overstreet allegedly confirmed, sanctioned, and ratified Kasban’s decision and her failure to accommodate Wegmann’s sincere beliefs.
The program accepted Wegmann in April and he spoke with Kasban about his desire for exemption in June.
According to the complaint, Wegmann explained his beliefs to Kasban in an electronic message on July 13 and she didn’t contest his sincerity.
The suit claims Kasban knew she or someone in administration could provide an exemption by stating he provided evidence of sincere beliefs.
Kasban is alleged to have been biased in favor of vaccination for all students in her program.
She and Wegmann exchanged messages from July 29 to Aug. 8, and she didn’t respond to his last message, the suit claims.
“Totally frustrated with the college’s refusal to engage in reasonable discussions about a religious accommodation and after not hearing from Kasban for nearly a week, Mr. Wegmann told Kasban that he would not violate his religious beliefs just to remain in the program and that she will have to withdraw him,” it states.
The complaint further states that accommodation of Wegmann’s beliefs would have allowed him to receive the compensation associated with cardiac sonography.
Defendants are alleged to have caused Wegmann to suffer mentally and emotionally.
The suit claims the free exercise clause of the First Amendment protected him, and the due process clause of the 14th Amendment constrained defendants.
The policies and practices at Logan are alleged to have allowed defendants to target religious expression and express hostility to such expression.
The court clerk assigned Senior District Judge Phil Gilbert, who recused himself.
The clerk assigned Magistrate Judge Reona Daly, who recused herself.
The clerk then assigned Chief Judge Nancy Rosenstengel.