A federal judge has ruled that Washington State University was within its rights to terminate former head football coach Nick Rolovich for not following the state’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
According to court documents, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice issued the ruling on Monday, rejecting Rolovich’s claims that his dismissal midway through the 2021 season violated his religious rights as a Catholic.
“The overwhelming evidence shows that [Rolovich’s] refusal to vaccinate would cause undue hardship to [Washington State],” Rice wrote in his decision.
According to the ruling, this included increased travel costs, interruption to recruitment and fundraising efforts, and potential damage to the institution’s reputation.
The court also found no substantial evidence to support Rolovich’s claim of religious objection to the vaccine. Rice noted in his ruling that Rolovich had often expressed non-religious concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine to those around him.
“In the thousands of pages of discovery, Plaintiff does not invoke a religious objection to the vaccine,” the judge stated. “This alone is a basis for denying Plaintiff’s claimed religious objection.”
Rolovich’s lawsuit initially included Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and former Washington State athletic director Pat Chun as defendants. However, according to court records, these claims were dismissed in 2023.
Rolovich’s termination came after he refused to comply with a mandate issued by Inslee, requiring state employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The former coach had sought a religious exemption, and his request was ultimately denied.
Rolovich, who is currently employed as a senior offensive assistant for the California Golden Bears, has not yet commented on the ruling.
The athletics department for Washington State University and the California Golden Bears did not immediately return a request for comment made by NTD News, regarding the recent ruling.
Several recent court decisions have ruled in favor of individuals claiming vaccine injuries or opposing vaccine mandates:
$7.8 Million Verdict Upheld
Last month, a court upheld a $7.8 million verdict for transit workers in Washington state who were terminated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. According to The Epoch Times, the ruling affirmed a jury’s decision that found Spokane Transit Authority had violated the workers’ civil rights. The case involved seven employees who were fired in November 2021 for not complying with the state’s vaccine mandate.
A federal appeals court has also ruled in favor of a hospital worker who was fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. According to The Epoch Times, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit reversed a lower court’s dismissal of the case. The plaintiff, Marlene Correia, a former employee of Mass General Brigham, argued that the hospital failed to properly consider her request for a religious exemption from the vaccine mandate.