Federal Jury Awards $133K to Fired MGM Worker

A federal jury awarded $133,000 to Harry Yeremian, a former warehouse manager at MGM Grand Detroit, who was fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds. The jury found that the casino discriminated against Yeremian, a Catholic, by denying his request for a religious exemption to its vaccine mandate, which primarily affected non-union workers. MGM Grand had argued that Yeremian's unvaccinated status posed a health risk to others, but the jury disagreed, emphasizing that his religious beliefs should have been accommodated. Yeremian's legal team highlighted the verdict as a significant message against religious discrimination in the workplace. The awarded amount includes $100,000 in damages and $33,000 in back pay, covering the period until he secured a new job at a different casino in March 2022. This case reflects ongoing tensions between workplace health policies and individual rights during the pandemic.