A federal jury has awarded Tanja Benton, a Tennessee woman nearly $700,000 in damages after she was fired by her employer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Benton was let go from her job at the insurance company after she declined to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in compliance with the company's vaccine mandate.

The jury sided with the Benton, determining that her termination violated her rights under federal law, specifically the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The woman's legal team argued that her refusal to get vaccinated was protected under both the ADA and Title VII.

This ruling sets a precedent for how vaccine mandate cases may be decided in the future, sending a clear message that mandating vaccines in the workplace may not always be legal or enforceable, especially when employees have legitimate reasons for refusing the vaccine.

Employers will need to carefully consider the legal implications of implementing vaccine mandates and ensure that they are in compliance with federal laws. Employees, on the other hand, can take comfort in knowing that they have rights and protections under the ADA and Title VII if they choose not to get vaccinated.

Benton was awarded $177,240 in back pay, $10,000 in compensatory damages, and $500,000 in punitive damages, for a total of $687,240.