In a compelling legal battle, a former employee is taking on her previous employer over allegations of religious discrimination linked to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The complaint was filed by Kenya Ingram-Gunn in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 12, 2024, against Chicago Family Health Center (CFHC).
The case revolves around Ingram-Gunn's claim that CFHC discriminated against her based on her Christian faith by rescinding a previously granted religious exemption from the company's COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Ingram-Gunn, who served as a Nurse Case Manager at CFHC from September 2019 until April 2022, argues that the vaccination mandate conflicted with her sincere religious beliefs. Despite initially accommodating her request for an exemption and allowing her to work under certain conditions like weekly testing and wearing personal protective equipment, CFHC allegedly reversed its decision without justification in March 2022. This led to her termination in April 2022 after she refused to comply with the vaccination requirement.
Ingram-Gunn contends that this reversal constituted religious discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She claims that there was no undue burden on CFHC to continue accommodating her religious beliefs, as she had been effectively performing her duties remotely and through a hybrid schedule. Her complaint highlights instances of alleged harassment from CFHC's Chief Medical Officer regarding her religious stance against vaccination.
Furthermore, Ingram-Gunn accuses CFHC of creating a hostile work environment by forcing her into what she describes as a "Hobson’s Choice" between maintaining employment and adhering to her faith. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and exemplary damages for lost wages and emotional distress caused by these alleged unlawful actions.
Represented by attorney Jason R. Craddock, Ingram-Gunn is demanding a jury trial to resolve these grievances. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:24-cv-11610.