Illinois Department of Corrections employees are still mandated to be vaccinated and tested for COVID-19 and 46 around the state are now suing to get the mandates dropped.
The lawsuit is filed in Christian County Court at Taylorville by Greenville Attorney Thomas DeVore who successfully got mandates for school teachers and employees dropped. A temporary restraining order is being sought against the requirements as the lawsuit makes its way through court.
An arbitration panel earlier upheld the Governor and Illinois Department of Public Health requirements to get the shots and testing, but the employees filing the suit claim they had no role in the negotiations.
DeVore claims in the suit that if state employees refuse to submit to vaccination or testing, their livelihood is threatened as they can be placed on no-pay administrative leave into perpetuity until the employee complies. DeVore says the employees have not been deemed to be a public health risk and have not been subjected to any vaccination or testing request by any certified local health department. He adds if vaccinations are a requirement, they can only be given by the certified local health departments following procedural and substantive due process.
IDOC employees at the Centralia Correctional Center and Big Muddy Correctional Center are among those joining the lawsuit.
