Health-Care Workers in Ontario File $170 Million Lawsuit Against Vaccine Mandates

November 25, 2024 TruthUSA

Ontario health-care workers have filed a $170 million class-action lawsuit against the provincial government and its chief medical officer of health, alleging negligence and violation of privacy rights due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Led by the United Health Care Workers of Ontario (UHCWO), the lawsuit questions the legality of Directive 6, a 2021 public health order issued by Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore. Directive 6, implemented on Sept. 7, 2021, mandated all hospitals to establish, implement, and enforce a COVID-19 vaccination policy.

The class-action lawsuit aims to represent any unionized health-care workers in the province affected by the mandate, according to the UHCWO.

The group argues that COVID-19 mandates have compromised medical ethics and personal freedoms.

“We witnessed numerous dedicated healthcare workers losing their jobs and careers simply for making a personal medical decision,” UHCWO stated. “Some health-care workers were coerced into receiving medical treatment under the threat of termination, removing the element of informed consent. Others were denied medical and religious exemptions to the treatment.”

The case will be heard in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, with the initial step being certification, the UHCWO explained. If certified, the class action will be available to all unionized Ontario health-care workers impacted by Directive 6.

“The scope of this class action could potentially encompass thousands or even tens of thousands of health care workers throughout Ontario,” the group stated. “It includes unionized health-care workers who were fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, or unvaccinated. It also covers unionized workers who remained employed, were put on leave, terminated, resigned, or retired early due to Directive 6.”

The group has enlisted Sheikh Law to represent the plaintiff and potential class members. With headquarters in Victoria, B.C., the law firm also has offices in Ontario and represents various employment sectors with similar concerns, according to UHCWO.

If successful, the initiative could set a precedent for resolving workplace policy issues implemented during the pandemic, the group added.

UHCWO has also filed a direct civil claim against the Victorian Order of Nurses and Moore on behalf of a non-union member.

Class Action

The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, nurse Lisa Wolfs, initiated the class action representing all unionized health-care workers in the province. The lawsuit is pending certification—a crucial step in Ontario as named plaintiffs could be liable for court costs if certification is not granted.

UHCWO stated its intention to secure sufficient funding before beginning the certification process to protect Wolfs, the lead plaintiff.

According to court documents, Wolfs previously worked as a clinical nurse educator at London Health Sciences Centre. She asserts that the vaccine mandate led to unauthorized changes in her employment agreement, compelled disclosure of personal medical information, and caused significant financial and emotional strain.

Directive 6 mandated hospitals, community care providers, and ambulance services to implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for employees, staff, contractors, students, and volunteers. The directive required all health-care workers to demonstrate vaccination status, provide a medical exemption, or participate in an educational program to maintain employment, as per the documents.

The lawsuit alleges that these policies resulted in Wolfs’s dismissal after nearly 16 years of service, despite her outstanding work record. Wolfs contends that her termination breached her contract, which did not stipulate vaccination as a condition of employment.

The lawsuit accuses both the province and Moore of negligence, arguing that the vaccination policies were established without sufficient evidence to support their effectiveness in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

The suit also accuses Moore of misfeasance, claiming he failed in his duty.

“The potential risks of adverse events associated with the COVID-19 vaccine were either recklessly or intentionally overlooked,” the lawsuit states. “The Chief Medical Officer of Health authorized the mandatory vaccination order without access to long-term safety data, creating an anticipated and unreasonable risk to the Plaintiff and Class Members.”

The lawsuit also alleges “tortious inducement to breach” workers’ contracts, asserting that the vaccine mandate conflicted with the agreements between health-care workers and their employers.

“As employers unlawfully purported to suspend or terminate the contracts of the Plaintiff and Class Members and failed to pay them owed sums, they breached the contractual employment agreements,” the lawsuit says.

The mandate further violated employees’ privacy rights by requiring disclosure of vaccination status or exemption reasons, according to the document.

The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the defendants were “negligent in the distribution, promotion, public endorsement, and imposition of the COVID-19 vaccine,” along with $170 million in damages. The damages are divided into four parts: $50 million for pain and suffering, $50 million for misfeasance in public office, $20 million for tortious inducement to breach contract, and $50 million in punitive damages. It also requests compensation for lost wages and legal expenses.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Ontario health ministry and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for comment but received no response before publication.

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