A lawsuit has been filed against the New York Department of Education and its Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, accusing them of religious discrimination and unconstitutional practices regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Plaintiff Wendy Trudo claims violations of her constitutional rights and argues that the defendants' enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates were not neutral or generally applicable. According to the complaint, after Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency in March 2020 due to COVID-19, the city implemented a series of emergency orders mandating vaccines for municipal workers without considering religious exemptions adequately. Trudo claims that despite submitting timely requests for religious accommodation based on her sincerely held beliefs, her applications were denied without explanation. She alleges that this denial was part of a broader pattern of discrimination where only certain favored religions received accommodations.
Trudo's case highlights significant allegations against the city's handling of vaccine mandates. She argues that these mandates were used as tools to unjustly terminate municipal employees under the guise of public health safety while disregarding constitutional protections. The plaintiff points out that other employees with similar requests were granted accommodations, which she claims demonstrates discriminatory practices by the defendants. Furthermore, she contends that being placed on "leave without pay" (LWOP) was an unprecedented disciplinary action not supported by any law or union contract.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court including monetary damages for emotional distress and economic loss due to wrongful termination. Additionally, she demands reinstatement to her position with back pay and removal of any negative codes from her personnel file that could hinder future employment opportunities. Trudo also requests injunctive relief to prevent further violations against her rights and those similarly situated.
This case was filed on March 13, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID 1:25-cv-01345-LKE.