Advocates has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Dan Rife, whose employer, Cerner Corporation, failed to make any attempts to accommodate Mr. Rife’s religion after he submitted a written request for a religious accommodation to be exempted from Cerner’s COVID-19 vaccine policy. Rather than explore any reasonable alternative means of accommodating Mr. Rife, Cerner terminated his employment. Cerner granted vaccine mandate exemptions to other employees, accepting in lieu of vaccinations, alternative health and safety measures such as remote work, masking, symptom screening, regular testing, and social distancing. There is no reason why Cerner could not have also accommodated Mr. Rife by providing these very same vaccine accommodation options to him. Mr. Rife alleges violation of his rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEE WINS SETTLEMENT AFTER BEING FIRED OVER COVID VACCINE RELIGIOUS OBJECTION
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026
CONTACT: NICOLE VELASCO AT
media@faith-freedom.COM
Murrieta, CA — Advocates for Faith & Freedom announced today that its client, Dan Rife, has reached a settlement resolving his lawsuit against Cerner Corporation, now owned by Oracle America, Inc., after the company denied his request for a religious accommodation to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Mr. Rife, a longtime Senior Systems Engineer, filed suit in federal court after Cerner declined to accommodate his sincerely held Christian beliefs and terminated his employment when he would not receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The lawsuit alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, both of which protect employees from religious discrimination and require employers to reasonably accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs whenever possible.
After extended litigation and arbitration proceedings, the parties have agreed to settle the dispute and dismiss the claims with prejudice pursuant to a settlement agreement.
For Mr. Rife, the case was never simply about employment; it was about the right to live and work according to deeply held convictions.
“Dan showed tremendous courage,” said Julianne Fleischer, Senior Legal Counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “He stood firm in his faith even when it cost him his job. Religious liberty does not stop at the workplace door, and employees should not be forced to choose between their livelihood and their sincerely held beliefs.”
Advocates emphasized that the resolution of the case underscores an important principle: employers must seriously consider religious accommodations when they are requested.
“Federal and state law protect the right of employees to practice their faith without fear of losing their careers,” said Sam Kane, Senior Legal Counsel at Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “This case serves as a reminder that those protections matter. Employers must engage in a meaningful process when employees request religious accommodations.”
Mr. Rife continues to work in the healthcare technology field and remains committed to living out his faith both personally and professionally.
“Dan never sought special treatment,” Fleischer added. “He simply asked that his beliefs be respected. That is exactly what the law requires.”
About Advocates for Faith & Freedom (www.faith-freedom.com): Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.
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