The worker turned down every option, sued three defendants, and struck out on all claims
Amtrak offered him an accommodation, a testing alternative, and even reinstatement after firing him. He said no to all three.
A federal court in Washington, DC, dismissed the former train attendant’s entire lawsuit on October 19, 2026, finding no viable claim against any of his three defendants - Amtrak, a union, and former President Joe Biden.
The worker had spent years at Amtrak’s Chicago station when the company introduced its COVID-19 vaccination policy in August 2021. Employees with religious or medical objections could seek accommodations. The worker filed a religious objection that September. Amtrak approved it and placed him on 90-day unpaid leave.
In December 2021, Amtrak brought back weekly testing and invited him to return. He declined - testing, he said, also violated his beliefs. He wanted to come back under mask and sanitation rules only. Amtrak refused.
A formal noncompliance warning followed in June 2022. Then a disciplinary hearing. On July 13, the worker was terminated.
That October, Amtrak offered reinstatement on a “leniency basis” with seniority and vacation rights restored, provided he accepted responsibility and waived damages claims. He turned that down too.
Nearly three years later, he sued - naming Amtrak, the Transportation Communications Union/IAM, and Biden, with claims under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, a constitutional Bivens claim, DC...
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