A former budget analyst for Princeton University has filed a discrimination lawsuit against her former employers, alleging they fired her because she wouldn’t go along with their COVID-19 policies due to her religious beliefs.
Kate McKinley, of Ewing, states in court papers the university informed her on June 8, 2021, that a vaccination would be required for her continued employment. However, on July 19, 2021, McKinley provided her bosses with a religious exemption to the coronavirus vaccine.
About a month later, McKinley requested she also be exempt from Princeton’s asymptomatic testing, mask requirements, and digital contact tracing – all due to her religious beliefs, states the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court.
“Due to plaintiff’s religious beliefs, she remained unvaccinated for COVID-19 and objected to (the university’s) COVID-19 policies,” the lawsuit states.
On Sept. 3, 2021, McKinley’s request for exemptions were denied. She then filed a discrimination complaint with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Sept. 10, 2021.
Princeton University fired McKinley six days after she made the EEOC complaint, according to the lawsuit. She had worked at the university since May 2017, the suit states.
The lawsuit alleges McKinley’s former employer violated state and federal laws by retaliating and discriminating against her based on her religion.
The suit also accuses Princeton of violating the EEOC’s Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, which prohibits discrimination based on genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment.
In a statement, a Princeton spokesman denied the university violated any laws and says McKinley was not discriminated against in any manner.
“The university handled this former employee’s accommodation request fairly, appropriately and in accordance with the applicable laws and internal policies,” the spokesman, Michael Hotchkiss, said in an email.
“We intend to defend the litigation vigorously and expect to vindicate our actions in court,” Hotchkiss said.
McKinley, who claims she has suffered monetary and emotional damages as a result of her termination, has asked a judge to award monetary damages to be calculated at trial.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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