A Student Sought to Halt the Mandate’s Enforcement and Also Pursued Compensatory Damages.
A judge at the Santa Monica Superior Court, Lisa K. Sepe-Wiesenfeld, has dismissed a lawsuit brought forth by former Santa Monica Community College student Carter Sparks, reported Express Healthcare Management.
The lawsuit, filed in January 2022, contended that the college’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for in-person learning infringed upon Sparks’ religious freedom and right to privacy.
Judge Sepe-Wiesenfeld granted the college’s motion to dismiss the remaining claims in Sparks’ case, which included claims for declaratory relief and alleged violations of equal protection, the Education, and Government Codes.
The lawsuit aimed to challenge the constitutionality of the vaccine mandate and argued that it exceeded the district’s authority. Sparks sought injunctive relief to halt the mandate’s enforcement and also pursued compensatory damages.
However, the judge ruled that the changing public health landscape since the mandate’s implementation negated any reasonable expectation of the contested conduct recurring. Moreover, regarding the equal protection claim, the judge found Sparks unable to demonstrate differential treatment compared to similarly situated individuals.
Insufficient evidence was provided by Sparks to substantiate alleged damages or to contest the constitutional validity of the decision made by Susan Fila, the health services officer at Santa Monica College.
