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The Supreme Court Does an About Face on Church/Synagogue Restrictions

The Supreme Court Does an About Face on Church/Synagogue Restrictions

As you all know by now, on Wednesday night the Supreme Court stayed enforcement of NY Governor Cuomo’s restrictions on religious gatherings, in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, New York v Andrew Cuomo. It is is just an temporary stay pending appeal, so technically it is not necessarily the Court’s final word on the matter, but nonetheless it is extremely significant as a predictor of future cases. It also may have significance for those interested in the mandatory vaccine issue….

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UC Flu Shot Mandate Lawsuit Status Report and the Hearing Transcript

UC Flu Shot Mandate Lawsuit Status Report and the Hearing Transcript

As most of you know, at the beginning of the November 5th hearing on our Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. the judge announced that he was denying the motion and then went to give a lengthy explanation of why. That was followed by a spirited back and forth between me and the judge about why I thought he was wrong.  The discussion didn’t change his mind, but in fairness, the judge had reviewed the voluminous papers submitted by both sides….

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What’s Next in the UC Flu Mandate Situation: The Contours of a Federally Required Religious Accommodation to a Flu Mandate

What’s Next in the UC Flu Mandate Situation: The Contours of a Federally Required Religious Accommodation to a Flu Mandate

Now that our Preliminary Injunction motion to stop the UC’s Flu Mandate has been denied, some have asked what’s next. Some have asked about an appeal. Given how long it takes to get an appellate court to review a denial of preliminary injunction (technically it’s not an appeal but a writ of mandate), an appeal/writ, even if successful, would not provide a timely remedy to those of you who have to be on campus now or soon. So, because I’m…

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UC Flu Mandate Injunction Motion DENIED

UC Flu Mandate Injunction Motion DENIED

We just finished a two-hour oral argument. At the beginning, the judge said his tentative decision was to deny the motion. Basically, between the CDC’s recommendation that everyone should get the flu shot and all the infectious disease experts the UC had, he was convinced that the UC could constitutionally require the UC community to get the shot. He had obviously thought about this a great deal, but in cases like this, once a judge makes up his mind, there…

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Must See TV! UC Flu Mandate Preliminary Injunction Video Hearing today at 2:30 PM Pacific Time:

Must See TV! UC Flu Mandate Preliminary Injunction Video Hearing today at 2:30 PM Pacific Time:

Finally, the day of our hearing has arrived. It’s at 2:30 PM Pacific time, today November 5, 2020. Here is the link to watch or listen to. Most likely, the judge will not announce his decision today, but will take it under advisement, but you never know, he could say something about how he is going to rule, so literally stay tuned. http://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/Pages.aspx/Live-Stream-521 good thoughts, well-wishes and prayers grratefully accepted. Rick Jaffe, Esq.

UC Flu Mandate Injunction case Update, (nothing definitive yet)

UC Flu Mandate Injunction case Update, (nothing definitive yet)

Normal practice in most cases is that a tentative decision is issued the day before the “hearing” date, which normally is just an opportunity for the losing party to tell the judge why she is wrong. In big cases, like the State case against Uber and Lyft, the judge heard the argument, reserved decision, and three days later issued a ruling. That’s what is going to happen in our case. The judge has postponed the hearing until Thursday at 2:30…

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UC Flu Mandate Deadline Day is here, or it isn’t, or maybe it is for some, or some parts of it . . . .

UC Flu Mandate Deadline Day is here, or it isn’t, or maybe it is for some, or some parts of it . . . .

I would like to be able to tell you all precisely what the status is on the UC Flu mandate issue, but I can’t. Here is what I know and can say for sure. Under the two executive orders, compliance with the mandate was required by November 1st, which is tomorrow The judge in the injunction action in putting the hearing off from October 22nd to November 4th told the UC not to take any action against any UC member…

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Breaking (but confusing) News on the UC Flu Mandate Deadline: The UC has now publicly extended the denial of access deadline for faculty and staff until November 16th, but there may be a very big catch/poison pill

Breaking (but confusing) News on the UC Flu Mandate Deadline: The UC has now publicly extended the denial of access deadline for faculty and staff until November 16th, but there may be a very big catch/poison pill

Per my past few posts, on Monday morning,  we filed an application to file a motion for contempt and/or for alternative relief for a TRO mandating that the UC tell the UC community that the November 1st deadline had been abated until the judge hears our Preliminary Injunction motion on November 4th. I pointed out in our papers that the UC Regents website was still showing the November 1st deadline.  The UC Regents has officially announced that the denial of…

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NON-Update on the UC Flu Vaccine Mandate Injunction Case

NON-Update on the UC Flu Vaccine Mandate Injunction Case

  It’s Thursday morning. Under the executive orders, the UC’s Flu vaccine mandate requires compliance by Saturday, November 1st. However as previously reported, the judge in our injunction case has ordered the UC not to take any action against any member of the UC community until the hearing on our Motion for Preliminary Injunction. Per my prior post, on Monday, October 27th we filed a request to file a motion for contempt and/or for a TRO because the UC was…

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What Should UC Nurses (or other UC employees) do if they are told they won’t be put on the Schedule Because they Haven’t Taken the Flu Shot

What Should UC Nurses (or other UC employees) do if they are told they won’t be put on the Schedule Because they Haven’t Taken the Flu Shot

I have been getting many emails from nurses in the UC system who are being told that their flu mandate paperwork is overdue and unless they get the shot by November 1st they won’t be put on the work schedule. My reading of the Judge’s order in the case is that he has ordered the UC system not to take any action against any member of the UC community until he issued his decision on November 4th. Therefore it would…

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