NORFOLK, Va. — A former Norfolk city employee is suing the city for what her attorney calls “religious discrimination.”
In a lawsuit newly obtained by 13News Now, Anna Anderson claims she was fired from her position with the city in 2021 because she opted out of getting a COVID-19 vaccine and claims she was unable to be tested for the virus once a week.
Anderson, who worked in the City of Norfolk’s Department of Human Services since 2008, says she wants back pay, front pay, damages and her job back.
The City of Norfolk implemented a policy in October of 2021 requiring employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. If they had a valid exemption, they could be tested weekly for the virus instead.
Anderson declined to be vaccinated, saying “I don’t believe in any medical intervention that may harm my God given immune system. I don’t believe in any intrusion of my body which is my temple.”
According to the lawsuit filed in Nov. 2023, Anderson said she told the appropriate supervisors via email she was having a difficult time finding a healthcare provider who could administer weekly health screenings, asking if there were any alternative accommodations, including social distancing, wearing a mask or teleworking.
Anderson claims she never received a response from the city and was placed on administrative leave the same day she sent the email, Oct. 12.
The lawsuit says she was ultimately fired on Nov. 18 for not submitting weekly tests.
A spokesperson for the city would not comment on the pending litigation. However, the city has said while this policy was implemented, they were providing free, at-home test kits for those who chose to not get vaccinated.
Anderson says she filed a claim through the city’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission who did not resolve the claim and told her she had a ‘right-to-sue’ claim, which is what she did within the 90-day window.
Now in this claim, Anderson’s attorney Todd Gaynor, alleges “The city, through its decision makers, intentionally discriminated against her based on her religion and refused to accommodate her religious practices and beliefs.”
13News Now reached out to Gaynor, but he declined to comment on pending litigation.