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Jon Styff

The Center Square

A federal jury in Tennessee found a former BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee employee should receive more than $687,000 after being fired due to a refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccination due to religious beliefs.

Tanja Benton received the award in federal court in Chattanooga based upon a preponderance of evidence the company did not allow a reasonable accommodation for Benton.

Benton had been an employee of the company for more than 17 years and was a bio statistical scientist.

The award included $500,000 in punitive damages, $177,000 for back pay and $10,000 in compensatory damages.