Chiropractor Paul Zell worked at Andrews Air Force Base, employed by a contractor and supervised by the Air Force. He was fired in April 2008 because he refused a vaccination on religious grounds. The contractor said the Air Force required vaccinations; the Air Force, which grants religious waivers to Air Force personnel, refused to grant him a waiver because he was not an Air Force employee. After complaining unsuccessfully to the EEOC, in we filed suit in July 2009 asserting claims under Title VII and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act for failure to accommodate Mr. Zell’s religious needs. After the court denied defendants’ motions to dismiss, the case settled.
