![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() SANTA MONICA (CNS) - A Santa Monica College freshman is suing the Santa Monica Community College District, alleging the school's coronavirus vaccine mandate for in-person learning violates his religious freedom and his right to privacy.Ĭarter Sparks' Santa Monica Superior Court lawsuit, filed Jan. - Nerd-O-Rama with Mo'Kelly and Tawala!.The school also rejected Sparks' request for a religious exemption, stating that being Catholic does not entitle someone to a religious exemption and the church has no theological objection to the coronavirus vaccines, according to the suit. The college denied Sparks' request, saying it was unsupported by medical evidence, the suit states. Sparks, a Catholic, submitted a request for religious and medical exemptions, stating his belief that he has already contracted COVID-19 and thus has natural immunity to the virus while also providing a letter from a doctor, the suit stated. Moreover, forced vaccination policies violate Californians' right to privacy, an express constitutional right that protects an individual's "freedom of bodily integrity," the suit stated. However, only the state Legislature has the power to impose a student vaccine directive and it has not done so, according to the suit. "The board gave vague reasons for this policy, stating, for example, that the shots represent the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19," the suit stated. 3, 2021, to require that students get a COVID-19 vaccine before attending in-person classes during the fall semester. The district's Board of Trustees voted on Aug. Sparks also did not describe the nature of the damages he allegedly suffered, nor did he show that Fila did not meet the constitutional test for her decision, the suit states. there is no reasonable expectation that the challenged conduct will recur."Īddressing Sparks' equal protection cause of action, the judge wrote that the plaintiff "fails to allege how he was treated differently from other similarly situated persons, providing only a conclusory statement that he was similarly situated to the other students who sought a religious accommodation." The plaintiffs' attorneys maintained that although SMCC later rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement policy, it was enforced for a year and could always be reinstated.īut the judge wrote that "because the public health landscape has fundamentally changed since the vaccination policy was put in place. The suit also named as a defendant Susan Fila, Santa Monica College's health services officer, who Sparks believed was among those who denied his request for a religious exemption. Sparks also sought injunctive relief preventing the mandate from being enforced, plus compensatory damages. Sparks' suit, brought in January 2022, sought court orders declaring that the vaccine mandate was unconstitutional and that it exceeded the district's authority. The judge heard arguments only on the equal protection cause of action because Sparks' attorney conceded on the other two claims after reviewing her tentative ruling. Sepe-Wiesenfeld granted the college's motion to dismiss the three remaining claims in plaintiff Carter Sparks' case, which sought declaratory relief and alleged violations of equal protection as well as the Education and Government Codes. 22, Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Lisa K. SANTA MONICA (CNS) - A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Santa Monica Community College student who alleged the school's 2021 coronavirus vaccine mandate for in-person learning violated his religious freedom and his right to privacy. Enter for a chance to win a visit to the DISNEYLAND® Resort from REAL 92.3!.Enter for Your Chance to Win A Las Vegas Music Experience and More from Rémy Martin. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |