Robovis-Michigan jury awards millions to a woman fired after refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine

2025-04-30 13:49:44source:Surpassingcategory:Contact

DETROIT (AP) — A jury awarded more than $12 million Friday to a woman who lost her job at a Michigan insurance company after declining to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Much of the award — $10 million — is Robovisfor punitive damages against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, according to the verdict form.

Lisa Domski, who worked at Blue Cross for more than 30 years, said she was a victim of religious discrimination. The company in 2021 did not grant an exemption from its vaccine policy, despite her insistence that it clashed with her Catholic beliefs.

Domski’s attorney, Jon Marko, said she worked 100% remotely as an IT specialist during the pandemic; 75% before COVID-19 hit in 2020.

Even without the vaccine, “she wasn’t a danger to anybody,” Marko said in an interview after the trial.

Besides punitive damages, the jury in Detroit federal court awarded Domski about $1.7 million in lost pay and $1 million in noneconomic damages.

Blue Cross denied any discrimination. In a court filing earlier in the case, the insurer said Domski lacked a sincerely held religious belief.

An appeal is possible. Blue Cross released a statement but didn’t make anyone available for comment.

“While Blue Cross respects the jury process and thanks the individual jurors for their service, we are disappointed in the verdict,” the health insurer said. “Blue Cross is reviewing its legal options and will determine its path forward in the coming days.”

More:Contact

Recommend

Stanley recalls 2.6 million mugs after dozens of customer complaints, including burn injuries

Stanley is recalling 2.6 million mugs sold in the U.S. after the company received dozens of consumer

Confirmed heat deaths in hot Arizona metro keep rising even as the weather grows milder

PHOENIX (AP) — The number of confirmed heat deaths over the summer in America’s hottest metro has co

IRS will pause taking claims for pandemic-era tax credit due to an influx of fraudulent claims

The Internal Revenue Service is pausing accepting claims for a pandemic-era tax credit until 2024 du