BENTON – Lisa Mann of Williamson County claims Hospice of Southern Illinois discriminated against her religion when it fired her for refusing Covid-19 vaccination.
Her counsel Carla Aikens of Detroit filed suit in U. S. district court on Jan. 30, identifying Hospice of Southern Illinois as a corporation in Belleville.
Aikens claimed Mann began working for Hospice in September 2019.
She claimed Hospice defined Mann as a health care worker for purposes of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive order of Aug. 26, 2021.
“Individuals who demonstrate they are exempt from the vaccination requirement shall undergo, at a minimum, weekly testing,” Pritzker's order stated.
Aikens claimed Mann disputes that she was an essential worker, because she worked in marketing and could have worked from home.
Hospice allegedly offered an option to submit a religious exemption, and Mann submitted one with a personal statement on Sept. 3, 2021.
Aikens claimed the human resources department requested additional documentation or a statement from her pastor on Sept. 7.
She claimed Mann submitted a letter from her pastor on Sept. 13.
She claimed Hospice’s human resources director handed her a letter on Sept. 15, stating she would be terminated if she didn’t comply.
Hospice allegedly declined to accept testing as an alternative.
Aikens claimed Hospice stated the reason it declined to extend the alternative of testing was that it would be an undue burden.
She claimed Hospice terminated Mann on Sept. 19.
“By failing to accept free weekly testing as an alternative, defendant deprived plaintiff of the option to meet the condition of employment imposed upon her,” Aikens wrote.
She claimed Hospice did not comply with Pritzker’s order.
She also claimed Hospice favored employees who didn’t request religious exemptions by offering prizes to vaccinated employees.
Aikens explained that drawings occurred for an Apple watch, a Samsung television, and a ring alarm kit with doorbell and echo show.
She claimed the drawings separated workers solely on the basis of religious beliefs.
She added that Hospice acted intentionally, willfully, maliciously, and with reckless disregard for Mann’s rights.
Aikens claimed Mann suffered losses of wages and earning capacity.
She claimed Mann’s physical health suffered and she suffered humiliation, anxiety, mental anguish, and emotional distress.
Aikens requested compensatory and punitive damages.
The court clerk assigned Magistrate Judge Reona Daly, who will preside unless a party declines magistrate jurisdiction.
In that event the clerk would assign a district judge.