A federal jury has ordered MGM Grand Detroit to pay $133,000 to a former warehouse manager from Canton who was fired after refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.
The jury determined Thursday afternoon that the casino violated Hratch “Harry” Yeremian’s rights by denying his request for a religious exemption.
Yeremian, an Apolostic Orthodox Christian, declined to receive a vaccine after MGM Grand Detroit announced that its salaried, nonunion employees were required to get one in August 2021, saying it would violate his religious beliefs.
Yeremian submitted a religious accommodation request in September 2021, proposing he’d take preventative steps such as “continued social distancing, mask wearing,” and working remotely.
But MGM Grand insisted that his failure to get vaccinated would cause “undue hardship” and fired him for “insubordination” for refusing to comply with the mandate.
Yeremian had worked for the casino for 22 years and had earned promotions and became the warehouse manager.
“Our forefathers fought and died for the freedom for each American to practice his or her own religion,” Yeremian’s attorney Jon Marko said Thursday. “Neither the government nor a corporation has a right to force an individual to choose between his or her career and conscience. Mr. Yeremian refused to renounce his faith and beliefs and was wrongfully terminated from his job. The jury’s verdict today tells MGM that religious discrimination has no place in America and affirms each person’s right to religious freedom.”
