BART ordered to pay $7.8 million to six former employees who were denied religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines
In 2021, BART will require all employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus or risk termination.
Tonia Lewis Williams said she worked as a utility worker for BART for 16 years. She said she was fired while on leave for not taking the coronavirus vaccine, and a jury now says she and five others should be compensated.
“I found out that other colleagues were in the same situation as me, and I knew it wasn’t right,” Lewis-Williams said.
Lewis Williams is one of six former BART employees who have been awarded just over $1 million each in lawsuits against the transit agency. They allege they were fired for not getting the coronavirus vaccine and were denied religious exemptions, and all claim to be Christians. Jessica Barsotti is the attorney who handled the case during the trial.
“It’s not like they were required to meet a million people face-to-face. There were many ways they could have dealt with it and adapted to their circumstances. What the trial made clear is that the obligation was So, for example, I could have taken a vacation until it ran out, or I could have done a lot of things,” Barsotti said.
In 2021, BART will require all employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus or risk termination.
Still, on Wednesday, a jury decided to deny the employee religious accommodations that the company could have provided at no cost. nonprofit law firm The Pacific Justice Institute also issued the following statement on behalf of its employees: A statement that reads in part:
“Railway workers chose to lose their livelihoods rather than deny their faith, which in itself shows the sincerity and depth of their beliefs. After nearly three years of struggle, these essential workers “They felt heard and understood by the jury and are overjoyed by the verdict,” said lead counsel Kevin Snyder.
“My story is one of many. All of the plaintiffs in this case have been treated unfairly by BART, and this is a small victory for everyone who was fired for religious or medical reasons.” Lewis Williams said.
Lewis Williams said he loves working at BART and still wants to return to work. KTVU reached out to BART for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
