In a dramatic legal battle, a pilot has filed a class action lawsuit against a major airline, accusing it of religious discrimination and coercion over its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The complaint was lodged by Alvin Reinauer in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida on October 9, 2024, targeting United Airlines, Inc. Reinauer claims that the airline’s policy forced employees to choose between their religious beliefs and their livelihoods.
The case centers around United Airlines’ vaccine mandate implemented in August 2021, which required all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face termination. According to the lawsuit, this mandate did not accommodate employees’ religious beliefs or health concerns adequately. The plaintiff argues that United Airlines’ CEO Scott Kirby made it clear from the beginning that no reasonable accommodations would be provided, despite legal obligations under Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reinauer asserts that those who requested exemptions were placed on indefinite unpaid leave—a move he describes as “effectively terminated.”
Reinauer’s complaint highlights several instances where United allegedly failed to engage in an interactive process with employees seeking accommodations. Instead, the company imposed vague and coercive procedures designed to pressure compliance with its vaccine mandate. This approach led to significant financial and emotional harm for many employees who were left without pay or job security. The lawsuit also references a Fifth Circuit ruling that found United’s actions caused irreparable harm by forcing employees into a “crisis of conscience.”
Reinauer is seeking various forms of relief from the court, including declaratory judgments stating that United violated federal law by failing to provide reasonable accommodations and retaliating against those who sought them. He also requests a permanent injunction preventing further adverse employment actions based on accommodation requests related to COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, Reinauer seeks damages for lost wages and benefits, punitive damages for discriminatory practices, and compensation for attorneys’ fees.
Representing Reinauer are attorneys Catherine Cline from SIRI | GLIMSTAD LLP and John C. Sullivan from S|L Law PLLC. The case is presided over by judges at the Middle District of Florida under Case ID 1:25-cv-14132.
Source: 125cv14132_Alvin_Reinauer_v_United_Airlines_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
