The Navy and the Department of Defense have settled a lawsuit over the longstanding COVID-19 vaccination mandate with 36 members of the Special Warfare community, the firm representing the plaintiffs announced Wednesday.
A settlement hearing was held Wednesday between attorneys for members of the Special Warfare network 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 been converted into a class action lawsuit, according to a news release from First Liberty, the law firm that handled the plaintiffs’ case.
Under the agreement, included as the first exhibit in a move through Austin and Del Toro’s attorneys, the Navy will review all records of the plaintiffs’ labor corps to ensure that the maritime service has been spared any prosecution or administrative separation. procedures, formal or non-judicial advice. sanctions similar to refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Navy will also review the whistleblowers’ corps files that have been segregated to make sure there is a re-enlistment code on their DD-214 and that there is no indication that they were fired for misconduct.
Other agreements concerned hotels and devout beliefs, and the Navy was required to go through education and present an audience on its online page about accepting devout beliefs. The Navy will also have to pay $1. 5 million in legal fees.
“It has been a long and complicated journey, but the Navy SEALs have never given up,” Danielle Runyan, chair of the Military Practice Group at First Liberty Institute, said in the statement. “We are very pleased that members of the Navy who have been guided through their faith and are steadfast in their religion will not be penalized in their Navy careers. “