The Navy and Defense Department have settled a lawsuit over the longstanding COVID-19 vaccine mandate with 36 members of the Special Warfare community, the company representing the plaintiffs announced Wednesday.
A settlement hearing was held Wednesday between attorneys for Special Warfare network members and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro. Details were not promptly posted on PACER, the online site for federal court documents. The lawsuit was originally filed on behalf of the 36 members of the Special Warfare network, but has become an elegant action lawsuit, according to a press release from First Liberty, the law firm that dealt with the plaintiffs’ case.
Under the agreement, included as the first piece of a move through Austin and Del Toro’s attorneys, the Navy will review all of the plaintiffs’ private records to ensure that the Marine Service has been spared any administrative separation proceedings. or proceedings, formal or extrajudicial advice. Penalties similar to refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Navy will also review the personnel records of complainants who were separated to ensure that there is a re-enlistment code on their DD-214 and that there is no indication that they were discharged for misconduct.
Other agreements concerned hotels and devout beliefs, and the Navy was to go through education and present a public on its online page about the acceptance of devout beliefs. The Navy will also have to pay $1. 5 million in legal fees.
“It’s been a long and complicated journey, but Navy SEALs never gave up,” Danielle Runyan, president of the First Liberty Institute’s Military Practice Group, said in the statement. “We are pleased that members of the Navy who have been guided and steadfast in their religion will not be penalized in their Navy careers. »