ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - In 2022, over a dozen teachers and staff sued St. Louis Public Schools, after they were suspended or fired for not complying with the district's COVID vaccine mandate. On Friday, after a jury sided with the former employees, a judge is ordering the district to payout $4 million to the 13 who did not settle. Their attorney Kevin Kasper, who based their case on religious discrimination and first amendment violations, called this a win for the public.
"Whether its a school district or city employer or other government entity, if you allow them to whittle away at the constitutional rights that people have eventually you aren't going to have any left."
The actual damages awarded to each employee or teacher range between $64,000 and $93,000. The the punitive damages total just under $3 million and were split evenly. Kasper says their argument was based on says his clients are happy with the decision
"They wanted their day in court more than anything... It wasn't just about money, it was about proving they were right and the district was wrong."
Kasper said he doesn't anticipate their clients appealing but said he couldn't speak for SLPS. KMOX reached out to a spokesperson for the St. Louis Public School District for comment and to ask if they plan to appeal and is awaiting a response.