A group of nearly 600 Los Angeles County firefighters filed a lawsuit against the county Wednesday over its requirement that county employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges the county’s mandate violates the firefighters’ constitutionally protected autonomous privacy rights and was filed on behalf of LA County Free Foundation, a nonprofit organization representing 574 firefighters as well as other department employees. A representative for the county could not be immediately reached.
The county’s vaccination directive was issued on Oct. 1. Among other things, the policy requires non-vaccinated employees to receive a coronavirus shot within 45 days of receiving a written notice of immunization requirement. Non-compliant employees will face staged disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
“Entirely overlooked in the county vaccination order and vaccination policy is the constitutional right to autonomous privacy that must be afforded to firefighters in any legislative initiative that would intrude on these privacy rights,” the suit states.
“The county Board of Supervisors has failed to consider and account for this constitutional right in the process of adopting its county vaccination order and vaccination policy.”
The suit seeks court orders that both prohibit enforcement of the county vaccination order against any firefighter and also direct the county to offer reasonable accommodations to firefighters so they can continue working without being immunized.
The suit also asks that a judge direct that there be no discrimination or retaliation against those firefighters who do not get vaccinated.
Frank Eugene says
Fireman or Paramedic comes in contact of Covid-19 while on the job…You are having a family emergency and call 911,,,Paramedic and Fireman are dispatched to your home…A few days later a member of your family comes down with Covid-19 symptoms…Possible connection? Possible lawsuit? Yes.
B.Moss says
How dare Police, firefiters and any other “professional life savers”not get the vaccine, you took the job to help save lives of the same people whom you are putting their lives and the lives of yours and their families in danger,if you want to kill, why would you take the job, and what do you plan to say when it’s your parents or children dying from covid-19, what will you tell your mom before she dies from what You gave her.
John says
oh no, they get a flu for a couple days and then recover, how horrible!
Tim Scott says
Comparing Covid to the flu is frankly just dumb. The flu has never killed five million people a year.
William says
I wonder what percent of firefighters retire at retirement age. It seems that they go out on disabilty more often than Alaskan crab fishermen, one of the most dangerous jobs.
“About 46 percent of Chino Valley Fire District firefighters who retired over the past 10 years received medical retirements.” from the Daily News
This was just one of many such stories. It’s a cool job when you’re a newbie but after a while, they get wise to the system and take advantage. Same with police and similar occupations.
Yet, many are Republicans and would criticize”socialism” and “welfare”.
Wastingtime says
Pretty scary we have that many dumba$$ Firefighters.. fire’em… I know there is vaccinated ones I’m sure waiting for a job..
Robert says
I remember when LA County was hiring firemen based on the color of their skin.
Firemen are not hero’s.