TANJA BENTON, Plaintiff, v. BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE
TANJA BENTON, Plaintiff, v. BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE
TANJA BENTON, Plaintiff, v. BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE
TANJA BENTON, )
)
Plaintiff, )
) Case No. 1:22-cv-118
v. )
) Judge Atchley
BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF )
TENNESSEE, INC., ) Magistrate Judge Lee
)
Defendant. )
JUDGMENT ORDER
This action came before the Court for a trial by jury. The issues have been tried, and the
The jury found that Plaintiff, TANJA BENTON, proved by a preponderance of the
evidence that her refusal to receive the Covid vaccination was based upon a sincerely held religious
belief. The parties stipulated that the remaining elements of Plaintiff’s claims were met and the
jury was so instructed. The jury further found that Defendant, BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF
TENNESSEE, INC., did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence either that it had offered a
reasonable accommodation to Plaintiff or that it could not reasonably accommodate the Plaintiff’s
religious beliefs without undue hardship. Liability for Plaintiff’s religious accommodation claims
Finally, the jury found that Plaintiff proved her entitlement to punitive damages by a
preponderance of the evidence. By separate verdict, the jury awarded punitive damages. The jury
back pay damages, $10,000.00 in compensatory damages, and, by separate verdict, $500,000.00
SO ORDERED.
/s/Charles E. Atchley, Jr.
CHARLES E. ATCHLEY JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
ENTERED AS A JUDGMENT
/s/ LeAnna Wilson
LeAnna Wilson
CLERK OF COURT
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Case 1:22-cv-00118-CEA-SKL Document 94 Filed 06/28/24 Page 2 of 2 PageID #: 2400