Tennessee Woman Awarded Settlement from Blue Cross Blue Shield After Refusal to Take COVID-19 Vaccine

A Tennessee woman who was fired from her job at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST) for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine was awarded nearly $700,000 by a jury.

“The jury found that Plaintiff, TANJA BENTON, proved by a preponderance of the evidence that her refusal to receive the Covid vaccination was based upon a sincerely held religious belief,” said a Judgement Order written by Judge Charles Atchley of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

“The parties stipulated that the remaining elements of Plaintiff’s claims were met and the jury was so instructed. The jury further found that Defendant, BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE, INC., did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence either that it had offered a reasonable accommodation to Plaintiff or that it could not reasonably accommodate the Plaintiff’s religious beliefs without undue hardship,” the order says. “Liability for Plaintiff’s religious accommodation claims is therefore established by the jury’s verdict.”

Benton was awarded a total of $687,240.00, $500,000 of which was punitive damages levied against BCBST.

In 2022, Benton, a data scientist, filed an employment discrimination lawsuit that claimed that she believed COVID-19 vaccines are made from aborted fetus cell lines and said that she “cannot in good conscience consume the vaccine, which would not only defile her body but also anger and dishonor God.”

She also contended that she worked in a department where she had little to no contact with other workers and did not work around hospital patients.

BCBST told WZTV Monday that it still believes it did the right thing.

“The vaccine requirement was the best decision for the health and safety of our employees and members – some of whom are the most vulnerable in the state – and our communities,” the company said. “We appreciate our former employees’ service to our members and communities throughout their time with BlueCross.”

The Tennessee Star asked the company about the claim that the vaccine mandate “was the best decision for the health and safety” of its “employees and members,” BCBST softened its stance.

“We’re disappointed by the [court] decision,” said Dalya Qualls White, BCBST senior vice president & chief communications officer. “We believe our vaccine requirement was the best decision for our employees and members, and we believe our accommodation to the requirement complied with the law. We appreciate our former employees’ service to our members and communities throughout their time with our company.”

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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X/Twitter.