Cases & Deals

Atlas Air prevails on religious discrimination and retaliation claims after hearing before Florida Commission on Human Relations

Client(s) Atlas Air Inc.

Jones Day achieved a complete victory for Atlas Air., Inc. before Florida's Commission on Human Relations when, after a full-day evidentiary hearing, an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") in Florida's Division of Administrative Hearings ruled that Atlas did not discriminate against a pilot based on his religion or retaliate against him by implementing its COVID-19 vaccine policies. The Florida Commission on Human Relations affirmed the ALJ's findings of fact and conclusion of law in July 2023, dismissing the complaint with prejudice. The pilot's complaint alleged that the company's COVID-19 policies, including its approach to restrictions imposed by foreign countries on flights by unvaccinated crew, constituted religious discrimination and retaliation.

Mark South v. Atlas, 2023 WL 3184346 (Fla. Div. Admin. Hr’gs Apr. 24, 2023), adopted as the final order of the Commission (July 20, 2023)