Fifth Circuit Allows Religious Class in United Vaccine Case (1)

United Airlines Inc. workers who were placed on unpaid leave for declining to receive the Covid-19 vaccine for religious reasons can proceed with their litigation as a class, a federal appeals court said.

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Monday upheld a lower court’s certification that allowed the workers to challenge the policy as a class. The appeals court relied primarily on a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard and didn’t appear to fully address the larger issue on whether religious sincerity is a common issue that can be challenged in a class action lawsuit.

United Airlines placed about ...