In the case of DiCapua vs. the City of New York, 10 of the plaintiffs represented have been reinstated, effective today, with back pay and no break in service. The judge presiding over the case, Judge Porzio, agreed that the denial of religious accommodations to refuse the COVID vaccine was unlawful. In his 22-page ruling, he stated that there was “no rational basis for the seemingly blanket denial of any religious exemption to all classroom teachers.”

Because of the diligent work by Attorney Sujata Gibson and the support of CHD, the precedent has been set, giving others the opportunity to file a similar suit. Additionally, this ruling provides hope to teachers in the state of New York that they can rely on these religious exemptions.

“The court’s ruling on class certification still leaves the door open to future relief for thousands of teachers negatively affected by the vaccine requirement. We intend to file a motion of reconsideration on a narrower basis,” stated Gibson.

“Great victory in New York,” Catherine Austin Fitts commented on #CHDTV, “Litigation is expensive … I can’t tell you how important it is to get these attorneys marching into courts, and it’s making a difference.”