UCOR facing another COVID-19 vax lawsuit, this one from equipment operator

The Amentum-led nuclear cleanup contractor at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee had yet to reply to a recent federal lawsuit by a former heavy equipment operator who claims he was unfairly fired in November 2021 for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

As of Friday, United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) had yet to respond to a Sept. 19 lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee by Nathan Larue. Larue previously was  part of a class action suit by vaccine objectors at Oak Ridge. Larue said in the complaint he was fired by UCOR although he “sits in [a] dozer alone” during the workday.

Despite his isolation from others at work, Larue said he was open to various accommodations including going on short-term disability if that would allow him to keep his job.

Nevertheless, Larue was terminated from his position in November 2021 for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the complaint. In the filing, Larue identifies as a Christian and is opposed to taking the COVID vaccine because of his religious beliefs.

The lawsuit alleges UCOR made no good faith effort to accommodate Larue, who has requested a jury trial.

This is one of the latest cases filed against UCOR concerning its COVID-19 vaccination policy during the emergency response to the pandemic. 

In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that UCOR lacks sovereign immunity from a suit filed by a former radiation technician at Oak Ridge.