HOUSTON – A notice of appeal has been filed in regards to a federal judge’s recent decision to dismiss a lawsuit against Houston Methodist – litigation brought by hospital employees over a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
On March 31, Methodist became the first major health care system in the country to require employees to be injected with the COVID-19 mRNA gene modification vaccine or be fired.
In response to the ultimatum, more than 100 Methodist employees, led by Jennifer Bridges, filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County, which was quickly removed to federal court, seeking to block the injections and the terminations.
“For the first time in the history of the United States, an employer is forcing an employee to participate in an experimental vaccine trial as a condition for continued employment,” the suit states. “Methodist Hospital is forcing its employees to be human ‘guinea pigs’ as a condition for continued employment.”
In their suit, the plaintiffs cited the Nuremberg Code, a medical ethics code issued based on laws under which the Nazi criminals were judged for conducting horrible medical experiments during World War II.
On June 12, Judge Lynn Hughes dismissed the suit, finding that the employees are not being coerced and that the Nuremberg Code does not apply because Methodist is a private employer.
“Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible,” Hughes wrote. “Nazi doctors conducted medical experiments on victims that caused pain, mutilation, permanent disability, and in many cases death.”
Court records show the notice of appeal was filed two days after the ruling.
The plaintiffs are represented by Houston attorney Jarred Woodfill.
Woodfill has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
To cover lawsuit expenses, Bridges started a fundraiser on gofundme.com and has raised more than $200,000 so far.
Southern District of Texas case No. 4:21-CV-01774