Class action lawsuit challenges firing of 66 unvaccinated workers at Akron Children’s – By Doug Livingston (Akron Beacon Journal) / April 1, 2022
Akron Children’s Hospital is “confident” that its firing of dozens of unvaccinated employees will withstand a federal class action lawsuit.
And the attorney making a First Amendment issue of the matter is already preparing for an appeal.
Akron attorney Warner Mendenhall filed the lawsuit March 3 in the Ohio Northern District Court. Judge Charles Esque Fleming, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in February, is assigned to the case at the federal courthouse in Cleveland. His courtroom deputy confirmed Wednesday that no dates have been set for initial briefs or hearings.
The lawsuit names two lead plaintiffs: certified surgical technologist Brian Tessane and help desk worker Richard Brimer. Tessane worked five years at Akron Children’s Hospital and Tessane for two years before each was let go in late January, about two weeks after missing the hospital’s deadline for all staff members to get their initial COVID-19 vaccine shot.
