US Defense Department to pay $1.8 in settlement of vaccine mandate cases

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A Florida District Court has ordered the US Defense Department to pay $1.8 million in legal fees as settlement for two lawsuits that challenged a former requirement that all American troops be vaccinated against COVID-19, Military.com reports.

The lawsuits were filed by 48 service members from across all the US armed forces, Military.com reports. The plaintiffs were represented by the conservative Liberty Counsel law firm.

The cases arose after the plaintiffs objected to the vaccine mandate on religious grounds. Although the Food and Drug Administration said the Covid-19 vaccnines did not contain any aborted fetal tissue, the plaintiffs were concerned the shots had been made with new technology which involved the use of cell lines from fetuses aborted in the 1970s and 1980s. The cases were pursued even after Congress passed legislation in December requiring the DoD to drop the vaccine mandate: in a statement, Liberty Counsel said the matter was pursued to highlight a need for a “federal right to a religious exemption” from vaccination requirements.

Around 1,000 of the 17,000 service members who requested a religious exemption were granted one before the requirement was withdrawn, Military.com reports. More than 8,400 troops were discharged for refusing to have the shot.

The settlement contains no admission of guilt or wrongdoing for any of the parties, Military.com said. The monies will be paid only to Liberty Counsel to cover attorneys’ fees and costs. The plaintiffs will not receive any part of the settlement.

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