J. M. Smucker Company secures complete dismissal in challenge to vaccination policy

Client(s) J. M. Smucker Company, The

Jones Day secured complete dismissal of all claims brought against The J. M. Smucker Company by former employees challenging their terminations pursuant to Smucker's COVID-19 vaccination policy.

On December 15, 2021, former Smucker employees who were due to be terminated under the company’s vaccine policy for failing to either be fully vaccinated or obtain a religious or medical exemption filed a complaint and motion for temporary restraining order, arguing that Smucker's policy violated the religious protections of the First Amendment, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the federal Emergency Use Authorization statute.

On December 22, 2021, the federal district court denied plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order, and, on April 20, 2022, the court granted Smucker’s motion to dismiss and dismissed plaintiffs' complaint entirely.

Ciraci v. J.M. Smucker Co., Case No. 5:21-cv-2347, 2022 WL 1170421 (N.D. Ohio)