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What I’ve Been Reading This Week

 

It is funny how a last minute jury trial setting can tie you up over the course of the week or two before the trial setting.  With courts in Texas starting to hold in person jury trials after a nearly 15 month respite, that has led to more cases being called to trial.  As a result, much/most of my time the past few weeks has been spent prepping for trial, preparing for voir dire & direct/cross examination, drafting my motion in limine, and all the other work that goes into jury trials.  While I would like to have had more time to read through articles, this week was noticeably light given trial prep.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


Lawsuit By Methodist Hospital Workers Against Mandatory Vaccinations Tossed

I suppose this should not necessarily be a surprise, but lawsuits have started to pop up over requirements by employers that workers be vaccinated...or risk termination.  (The EEOC had previously stated that employers can mandate emloyees be vaccinated, with a few exceptions.)  A recent case in Texas saw over 100 workers at the Methodist Hospital file a lawsuit against their employer for wrongful termination after they were terminated for failure to take the vaccine.  Methodist has a policy in place that workers are required to be vaccinated or risk termination.  In a short opinion dismissing the lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes wrote that the workers could choose to take the vaccine or simply find a new job.  As Judge Hughes noted, Methodist Hospital is in the business of saving lives and requiring its employees be vaccinated was in furtherance of that policy.  It is likely we have not heard the last of this (or related) cases.

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