A federal jury delivered a significant ruling on October 25, ordering the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system to compensate six former employees with over $7.8 million. The case stemmed from instances where individual employees requested religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, all of which were denied by BART, ultimately leading to their termination.

The jury, composed of eight members, reached a unanimous decision after two days of deliberation, finding that BART had violated the employees’ rights to religious freedom. Each of the affected employees is set to receive over $1 million in damages. The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) has represented these employees since 2022, and this victory is seen as momentous, potentially influencing similar cases across the United States.

The jury initially ruled that BART failed to demonstrate that granting exemptions would impose “undue hardship” on the organization. Furthermore, the panel affirmed the evidence presented by the employees, which indicated that the vaccine requirement indeed conflicted with their beliefs. In the final assessment, the jury accepted the data from an economic expert representing the plaintiffs, adding an additional $1 million to each employee’s compensation for their losses.

During the trial, jurors heard testimonies from the employees, revealing that some had served the company for over 30 years with perfect attendance records but were dismissed for refusing the vaccine. BART argued that some workers’ refusals stemmed from reasons other than religious belief, yet the jury did not accept this rationale.

Brad Dacus, president of PJI, called the ruling “an earthquake in the San Francisco legal community,” praising the dedication of both the legal team and the plaintiffs.

Kevin Snider, the chief attorney for PJI, remarked, “These employees chose to give up their jobs rather than their faith, showcasing their unwavering beliefs.” After three years of struggle, the employees finally felt understood and supported.

Frank Lee, a leader within the Bay Area’s immigrant community, emphasized that this landmark case serves as a wake-up call, asserting that “religious freedom and the right to exemptions must be respected.”

Currently, PJI is still representing hundreds of employees nationwide who have been terminated due to vaccine exemption requests, and this ruling may serve as a precedent for similar cases.

As of the time of this report, no response had been received from BART regarding the ruling.