Religious Maine Health-care Workers Lose Suit Over Covid Vaccine

Three Maine officials and five hospital operators defeated a lawsuit alleging the state’s mandatory Covid-19 vaccination rule for health-care employees discriminates based on religion and violates the US Constitution, after a ruling by a federal judge.

The seven workers who brought the August 2021 suit failed to state viable claims under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. §1985, or the Constitution’s free exercise of religion, equal protection, or supremacy clauses, the US District Court for the District of Maine said Thursday.

According to the workers, Maine’s rule requiring employees in all designated health-care facilities treats them ...