1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

ESTATE OF LANE CAVINESS 

(LANDON CAVINESS AND MORGAN 

CAVINESS), 

PATRICK AKERLUND, MICHAEL 

ALZATI, ERIC W ANDERSON, 

MICHAEL G. BALLARD JR. , CINDY 

BARRIONUEVO, LARRY JAMES 

BEARCE JR., ROBERT BELLMAN, 

BENJAMIN BENDIBURG, DOUGLAS 

BERRY, GREGORY BERRY, 

DOUGLAS BOHNERT, LYNETTE 

BOTHA, CALEB BUEHRER, RICHARD 

BULLOCK, JON CARROLL, VERGIL 

CASKEY, JAMES CASTOR, BRETT L. 

CHAPMAN, NATHAN CHARBONEAU, 

SHAWN CHURCHEL, JOEL COLON, 

MARK CONNOR, MATTHEW 

CRONAUER, FRED CUNNINGHAM, 

ROYAL DANZA, ELLIOT DE SOUSA, 

ERIC DESANDRO, STEVE DIXON, 

JAMES ERICKSON, LUIS ESQUIVIA, 

LEE ESTES, ROBERT FRATTI, JASON 

FRISBIE, TIMOTHY FRYE, 

JONATHAN FUSSLE, TONY GAMBOA, 

DENNIS GEBHARD, REZA GHODS, 

MARK GILMAN, ROBERT GIUDICE, 

ERIC GORDON, GREG GORDON, 

DANIEL GREER, REXFORD T. 

HEIVILIN, JASON HENNING, DAVID 

HEWSON III, TODD HONTZ, DANIEL 

HUDSON, ROGER JUSTICE, 

VENANCIUS KASSANDJI, JOHN 

KEARINS, DAVID KEEN, RICKY 

KINDER, BETH KIRBY, ANDREAS N. 

KOUSTAS, CHAD KRAVETZ, DANIEL 

LEE, CARL LINDBERG, JOSEPH 

LOSCHIAVO, ANDREW LUTZ, 

BLYTHE LUTZ, RAFAEL MACARIO, 

DOUGLAS P. MAYO JR, MONTAGUE 

MCMILLAN, APRIL MCQUILLEN, 

CHRISTOPHER MCQUILLEN, STEVEN 

Case No. 

VERIFIED COMPLAINT

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 1 of 66
2

MEISSNER, JEFFREY MICHONSKI, 

ANDREW MICKLER, COREY 

MORRIS, STEVEN MURATORE, 

GREGORY MYERS, PETER NAPORA, 

JOEL PARDO, LANCE PHILLIPS, 

PATRICK PHILLIPS, SIEGFRIED 

PITTET, GLEN PRONK, CHARLES 

RANDALL, PETER RAYMOND, 

JOSHUA ROBERTS, REBECCA 

ROBERTSON, JASON ROGERS, 

GREGORY SAMSON, KIMBERLY 

SCHRECK, WILLIAM SERRITELLA, 

GENTRY SHELTON, TODD SNAZA, 

DONALD SORRENTINO, MARK 

SOUTH, MICHAEL STARK, AUSTIN 

STATON, ELIZABETH STONEKING, 

FORREST STOWELLS, BARBARA 

JANEICE SURBER, JOHN SWIFT, 

NICK TAYLOR, MARK THIEN, 

WILLIAM THOMPSON, BRANDON 

THOROUGHMAN, GERI TONDA, 

RICARDO TORRES ABARCA, 

GUSTAVO VERDES, JAMES 

VILLELLA, FARSHAD ZARRABIAN, 

individuals,

Plaintiffs,

v.

ATLAS AIR INC., a Delaware corporation,

FLIGHT SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, 

LLC, a Texas limited liability company,

ENCOMPASSAIR, LLC, an Alaska limited 

liability company, and

JOHN W. DIETRICH, PATRICIA 

GOODWIN-PETERS, JEFFREY 

CARLSON, individuals, 

Defendants.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 2 of 66
3

INTRODUCTION

1. This is a lawsuit by pilots and other crew members of Atlas Air, Inc. and its 

affiliated companies over unlawful vaccine mandates, religious and medical discrimination, 

unlawful coercion, unfair and deceptive labor practices, retaliation, and violations of labor laws 

and their Collective Bargaining Agreement.

2. Fundamentally, this lawsuit is also about the safety of America’s airline industry. 

Should pilots – among the healthiest workers in the world – be subjected to mandated 

experimental “vaccines” that are now shown to have potentially deadly, long-term side effects, 

while flying massive aircraft in our skies? 

3. The COVID-19 policies imposed by Atlas Air, Inc. on its crews have led to a very 

dangerous situation among Atlas pilots. Pilots whose health is now compromised because of Atlas 

Air’s coercion are now afraid to come forward with chest pains and other indicators of conditions 

that will soon cause a mass casualty airline event. They are afraid to lose their jobs, but failing to 

come forward itself is a criminal act. At the same time, pilots whose health is perfect because they 

had the foresight to refuse the vaccine are daily harassed, intimidated and deprived of work and 

hours and threatened with the loss of their careers. A comprehensive solution to this problem is 

desperately, and quickly, needed. It will require money, legislative action and cooperation among 

all the stakeholders in the aviation industry acting in good faith.

4. Although the plaintiff pilots and crew have been among the healthiest and most 

conscientious pilots and crew in the world, Atlas Air and other defendants have acted in lockstep 

with the U.S. government in efforts to impose unlawful and unnecessary draconian COVID-19 

restrictions and controls on them.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 3 of 66
4

5. For now, litigation to obtain justice for those who have been wronged (and 

hopefully to bring attention to a situation that is rapidly morphing into a national security issue), 

must suffice.

6. The Plaintiffs in this lawsuit include pilots, flight attendants and other staff of 

Defendant Atlas Air, Inc. (“Atlas Air” or “Atlas”)—the largest air cargo shipper in the world and 

the world's largest operator of Boeing 747 aircrafts, as well as certain of its affiliated entities. 

Throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic beginning in March 2020 and continuing to the 

present, Atlas Air has imposed relentless, ever-shifting pandemic mitigation restrictions on these 

Plaintiffs, including deceptive messaging which changed from month to month and kept plaintiffs 

in constant fear for their jobs. 

7. Atlas Air’s COVID-19-related liberty infringements rose to a company-wide 

COVID-19 vaccine injection mandate announced in the fall of 2021, in violation of United States 

law, prior promises, statements and hiring agreements including the Collective Bargaining 

Agreement (“Agreement”) between Atlas and its employees. 

8. Coinciding with Atlas’ unlawful vaccine mandate have been wholly arbitrary, 

retaliatory and punitive travel and work restrictions for Plaintiffs but not others, discriminatory 

policies, and pay differences among employees in violation of Atlas Air’s labor agreements. 

9. The ultimate goal of these tactics – driven by an executive leadership team obsessed 

with doing the Biden Administration’s bidding with respect to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate 

issue – has been to frighten plaintiffs and their co-workers into feeling they had no choice but to 

choose between a paycheck and having an experimental (and now proven to be extremely 

dangerous) drug injected into their bodies.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 4 of 66
5

10. Plaintiffs are largely unvaccinated1 pilots, flight attendants and other Atlas or Atlasaffiliate staff who have suffered devastating financial, physical, psychological and other harm due 

to these violations, and who are now potentially subject to impending discharge and termination 

by Atlas and Atlas-affiliated entities following the recent imposition of the May 1, 2022 company 

mandate. Many (and perhaps most or even all) of these Plaintiffs have provable natural immunity 

to the COVID-19 virus. Many also have religious or medical exemptions from being injected 

with so-called COVID-19 “vaccines” – although it is currently unclear based on recent 

communications from Atlas and other Defendants whether they are actually still recognizing the 

religious or medical accommodations they have already granted these employees (purportedly 

because the accommodations already granted are somehow moot because enforcement of the 

federal-contractor mandate pursuant to which the accommodations were granted has been 

enjoined by multiple federal district courts).

11. Perhaps most significantly, it is in contravention of long-standing FAA guidance 

for pilots to take medications that have not been approved by the FDA and then in use for twelve 

months. The use of, or administration of a drug that does not meet these standards – such as the 

COVID-19 “vaccines” at issue in this case – is a blatant violation of long-standing FAA 

procedure. Yet Atlas has encouraged, coerced and even paid pilots to violate this FAA guidance 

and procedure. Further, Federal Aviation Regulation 61.53(a)(2) prohibits pilots who have taken 

a medication with side effects that would render them unable to meet the requirements of the FAA 

medical certificate from acting in any capacity as a member of a flight crew. 

12. Based upon recent revelations from documents released from the very 

pharmaceutical companies that produced the vaccines, as well as VAERS and D-MED data, it is 

1 Some Plaintiffs may be partially vaccinated. Hereafter the Complaint will refer to all Plaintiffs with less-thansufficient vaccination status (in the eyes of Defendants) as “unvaccinated.”

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 5 of 66
6

clear the vaccines have numerous dangerous and detrimental side effects such as myocarditis, 

pericarditis, blood clots, strokes, and cardiac arrest, all of which can lead to sudden death. The 

vaccines can also lead to severe neurological conditions. This has created the classic example 

where a catastrophe is waiting to happen. It is simply not safe – and in fact is illegal under federal 

regulatory law – for vaccinated pilots to be flying right now. No better example of this is the neardisastrous situation that recently occurred on April 9, 2022, when the pilot of American Airlines 

Flight 1067 into Dallas Forth Worth – Rob Snow – had a cardiac event and flat-lined minutes 

after landing. A possible mass casualty event was barely avoided. There have now been multiple 

other similar incidents that have occurred around the country.

13. This is entirely consistent with Atlas Air’s pattern of conduct, specifically its CEO 

John Dietrich and Senior Vice President for Human Resources Patricia Goodwin-Peters. Their 

lust for power and money has led to – among other things – massive windfalls from American 

taxpayers during COVID-19 as well as a major and deadly aircraft disaster. For Atlas Air, 

COVID-19 and the government and corporate mandates that surround it have nothing to do with 

a virus, a vaccine or safety. They have only to do with power, politics and money.

14. Although theoretically represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 

Airline Division (“Teamsters” or “the Union”), Plaintiffs have been abandoned by the union in 

connection with the COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, because the union has opted to align 

itself politically with Atlas Air and the Biden administration instead of Atlas workers. 

15. Indeed, on March 30, 2022, the majority of Teamsters Local 2750 members present 

at their quarterly Executive Board Meeting and General Membership Meeting voted to have the 

Teamsters oppose Atlas Air’s vaccine mandate. Yet soon after the resolution was passed, 

Teamsters Union officials unlawfully and unilaterally denounced the vote and announced the 

Teamsters would support Atlas Air’s unlawful vaccine mandates.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 6 of 66
7

16. Thus, Plaintiffs are now forced to bring this action against Atlas Air and the other 

Defendants to enforce workers’ rights and the Collective Bargaining Agreement without the help 

of the Teamsters. 

17. Plaintiffs will show at trial that the Teamsters has intentionally abandoned Plaintiffs 

so that Atlas Air will fire Plaintiffs and other Teamsters members will obtain boosts in their 

seniority and pay. 

18. The so-called vaccines mandated by Atlas Air (1) do not provide immunity from 

COVID-19, (2) have waning effectiveness, (3) and pose significant risks to those who take them, 

in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and other law.

19. Plaintiffs seek to recover all damages relating to Atlas Air’s and other Defendants’ 

vaccine mandate and related misconduct (and associated coercive mandates, including weekly 

testing and constant masking). 

20. Plaintiffs also seek to enjoin Defendants from ever enforcing their unlawful 

COVID-19 vaccine mandate, or from firing, terminating, punishing, retaliating or otherwise 

further harming Plaintiffs for not being vaccinated.

21. Plaintiff Landon Caviness is an individual and joint personal representative of 

employee, the Estate of Lane Caviness

22. Plaintiff Morgan Caviness is an individual and joint personal representative of 

employee, the Estate of Lane Caviness

23. Plaintiff Patrick Akerlund is an individual and employee of Atlas.

24. Plaintiff Michael Alzati is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

25. Plaintiff Eric W. Anderson is an individual and employee of Atlas.

26. Plaintiff Michael G. Ballard Jr. is an individual and employee of Atlas.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 7 of 66
8

27. Plaintiff Cindy Barrionuevo is an individual and employee of FSI

28. Plaintiff Larry James Bearce, Jr. is an individual and employee of Atlas.

29. Plaintiff Robert Bellman is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

30. Plaintiff Benjamin Bendiburg is an individual and employee of Atlas.

31. Plaintiff Douglas Berry is an individual and employee of Atlas.

32. Plaintiff Gregory Berry is an individual and employee of Atlas.

33. Plaintiff Douglas Bohnert is an individual and employee of Atlas.

34. Plaintiff Lynette Botha is an individual and employee of Atlas.

35. Plaintiff Caleb Buehrer is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida. 

36. Plaintiff Richard Bullock is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in 

the state of Florida. 

37. Plaintiff Jon Carroll is an individual and employee of Atlas.

38. Plaintiff Vergil Caskey is an individual and employee of Atlas.

39. Plaintiff James Castor is an individual and employee of Atlas.

40. Plaintiff Brett L. Chapman is an individual and employee of Atlas.

41. Plaintiff Nathan Charboneau is an individual and employee of Atlas.

42. Plaintiff Shawn Churchel is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in 

the state of Florida.

43. Plaintiff Joel Colon is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the state 

of Florida.

44. Plaintiff Mark Connor is an individual and employee of Atlas.

45. Plaintiff Matthew Cronauer is an individual and employee of Atlas.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 8 of 66
9

46. Plaintiff Fred Cunningham is an individual and employee of Atlas.

47. Plaintiff Royal Danza is an individual and employee of Atlas.

48. Plaintiff Elliot De Sousa is an individual and employee of Atlas.

49. Plaintiff Eric Desandro is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida

50. Plaintiff Steve Dixon is an individual and employee of Atlas.

51. Plaintiff James Erickson is an individual and employee of Atlas. 

52. Plaintiff Luis Esquivia is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida. 

53. Plaintiff Lee Estes is an individual and employee of Atlas. 

54. Plaintiff Robert Fratti is an individual and employee of Atlas.

55. Plaintiff Jason Frisbie is an individual and employee of Atlas.

56. Plaintiff Timothy Frye is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

57. Plaintiff Jonathan Fussle is an individual and employee of Atlas. 

58. Plaintiff Tony Gamboa is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

59. Plaintiff Dennis Gebhard is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in 

the state of Florida.

60. Plaintiff Reza Ghods is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

61. Plaintiff Mark Gilman is an individual and employee of Atlas.

62. Plaintiff Robert Giudice is an individual and employee of Atlas.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 9 of 66
10

63. Plaintiff Eric Gordon is an individual and employee of Atlas.

64. Plaintiff Greg Gordon is an individual and employee of Atlas.

65. Plaintiff Daniel Greer is an individual and employee of Atlas.

66. Plaintiff Rexford T. Heivilin is an individual and employee of Atlas.

67. Plaintiff Jason Henning is an individual and employee of Atlas.

68. Plaintiff David Hewson III is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in 

the state of Florida.

69. Plaintiff Todd Hontz is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

70. Plaintiff Daniel Hudson is an individual and employee of Atlas.

71. Plaintiff Roger Justice is an individual and employee of Atlas.

72. Plaintiff Venancius Kassandji is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides 

in the state of Florida.

73. Plaintiff John Kearins is an individual and employee of Atlas.

74. Plaintiff David Keen is an individual and employee of Atlas.

75. Plaintiff Ricky Kinder is an individual and employee of Atlas.

76. Plaintiff Beth Kirby is an individual and employee of Atlas. She resides in the 

state of Florida.

77. Plaintiff Andreas N. Koustas is an individual and employee of Atlas.

78. Plaintiff Chad Kravetz is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

79. Plaintiff Daniel Lee is an individual and employee of Atlas.

80. Plaintiff Carl Lindberg is an individual and employee of Atlas.

81. Plaintiff Joseph Loschiavo is an individual and employee of Atlas.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 10 of 66
11

82. Plaintiff Andrew Lutz is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

83. Plaintiff Blythe Lutz is an individual and employee of Atlas. She resides in the 

state of Florida.

84. Plaintiff Rafael Macario is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

85. Plaintiff Douglas P. Mayo Jr. is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides 

in the state of Florida. 

86. Plaintiff Montague McMillan is an individual and employee of Atlas.

87. Plaintiff April McQuillen is an individual and employee of Atlas. She resides in 

the state of Florida.

88. Plaintiff Christopher McQuillen is an individual and employee of Atlas. He 

resides in the state of Florida

89. Plaintiff Steven Meissner is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in 

the state of Florida.

90. Plaintiff Jeffrey Michonski is an individual and employee of Atlas.

91. Plaintiff Andrew Mickler is an individual and employee of Atlas.

92. Plaintiff Corey Morris is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

93. Plaintiff Steven Muratore is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in 

the state of Florida.

94. Plaintiff Gregory Myers is an individual and employee of Atlas.

95. Plaintiff Peter Napora is an individual and employee of Atlas.

96. Plaintiff Joel Pardo is an individual and employee of Atlas.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 11 of 66
12

97. Plaintiff Lance Phillips is an individual and employee of Atlas.

98. Plaintiff Patrick Phillips is an individual and employee of Atlas.

99. Plaintiff Siegfried Pittet is an individual and employee of Atlas.

100. Plaintiff Glen Pronk is an individual and employee of Atlas.

101. Plaintiff Charles Randall is an individual and employee of Atlas.

102. Plaintiff Peter Raymond is an individual and employee of Atlas.

103. Plaintiff Joshua Roberts is an individual and employee of Atlas. 

104. Plaintiff Rebecca Robertson is an individual and employee of FSI.

105. Plaintiff Jason Rogers is an individual and employee of Atlas.

106. Plaintiff Gregory Samson is an individual and employee of Atlas.

107. Plaintiff Kimberly Schreck is an individual and employee of Atlas.

108. Plaintiff William Serritella is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in 

the state of Florida.

109. Plaintiff Gentry Shelton is an individual and employee of Atlas.

110. Plaintiff Todd Snaza is an individual and employee of Atlas.

111. Plaintiff Donald Sorrentino is an individual and employee of Atlas.

112. Plaintiff Mark South is an individual and employee of Atlas.

113. Plaintiff Michael Stark is an individual and employee of Atlas.

114. Plaintiff Austin Staton is an individual and employee of Atlas.

115. Plaintiff Elizabeth Stoneking is an individual and employee of FSI.

116. Plaintiff Forrest Stowells is an individual and employee of Atlas.

117. Plaintiff Barbara Janeice Surber is an individual and employee of FSI.

118. Plaintiff John Swift is an individual and employee of Atlas.

119. Plaintiff Nick Taylor is an individual and employee of Atlas.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 12 of 66
13

120. Plaintiff Mark Thien is an individual and mechanic contracted to Atlas from 

Encompass Air LLC.

121. Plaintiff William Thompson is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides 

in the state of Florida.

122. Plaintiff Brandon Thoroughman is an individual and employee of Atlas.

123. Plaintiff Geri Tonda is an individual and employee of FSI.

124. Plaintiff Ricardo Torres Abarca is an individual and employee of FSI.

125. Plaintiff Gustavo Verdes is an individual and employee of Atlas.

126. Plaintiff James Villella is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides in the 

state of Florida.

127. Plaintiff Farshad Zarrabian is an individual and employee of Atlas. He resides 

in the state of Florida.

128. Defendant Atlas Air, Inc. (“Atlas” or “Atlas Air”) is a Delaware corporation 

with its principal place of business in Purchase, New York. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of 

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, is a cargo airline, passenger charter airline, and aircraft lessor.

129. Atlas Air is a common carrier as defined in federal law.

130. Atlas Air has a massive presence in Florida, and specifically in this judicial district, 

with a hub, its training center and other operations. Its training center is located at 5600 NW 36th

St., Miami, FL 33166. It consists of 30,000 square feet of administrative and instructional space, 

including the operation of six flight simulation training devices. It “provides a wide range of 

advanced training solutions, specializing in aircrew training for wide body B747 and B767s.” It 

teaches “more than 10,000 pilots, flight engineers, flight attendants, and other aviation 

professionals each year.”

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 13 of 66
14

131. Defendant Flight Services International, LLC is a Texas limited liability 

company with its principal place of business in Houston, Texas. It is a company whose exclusive 

business is to contract flight attendants to Atlas Air. All the flight attendants who are staffed on 

Atlas Air flights are contracted through FSI. FSI was founded by an Atlas contract attorney and 

his spouse. All its employees receive all their training at the Atlas training facility in Miami. FSI 

contracts its flight attendants to Atlas Air and receives millions in dollars from Atlas Air in return.

132. Defendant EncompassAir, LLC is an Alaska limited liability company with its 

principal place of business in Anchorage, Alaska. It is a company whose business is to contract 

mechanics to Atlas Air and other airlines. 

133. Defendant John W. Dietrich is an individual and is President and Chief Executive 

Officer for Atlas Air, and is a Board Member of Atlas Air. He keeps an executive office in Miami, 

FL.

134. Defendant Jeffrey Carlson is an individual and is Senior Vice President for Flight 

Operations for Atlas Air. He keeps an executive office in Miami, FL.

135. Defendant Patricia Goodwin-Peters is an individual and Senior Vice President 

for Human Resources for Atlas Air. She keeps an executive office in Miami, FL.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

136. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this case under 28 U.S. Code § 1331 

because the case arises under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.

137. This Court has personal jurisdiction over defendants because under International 

Shoe and its progeny, they have at least minimum contacts with Florida such that traditional 

notions of fair play and substantial justice would not be offended by the exercise of jurisdiction. 

In addition, personal jurisdiction is appropriate under Florida’s long-arm statute, 48.193. Atlas, 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 14 of 66
15

its affiliated companies, and Atlas executives engaged in unlawful acts regarding the COVID-19 

vaccine mandates through acts within the state of Florida as well as acts outside the state of Florida 

that caused harm to numerous plaintiffs in the state of Florida. 

138. Venue is proper in the U.S. Southern District of Florida because Atlas Air and its 

affiliates, and leadership do a high percentage of their business and stage a high percentage of 

their flights in and around southern Florida and the Miami International Airport. In addition, the 

30,000 square foot Atlas Training Center that trains 10,000 people per year is located in this 

judicial district.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

139. By mid-March 2020, COVID-19 had been declared a pandemic. The subsequent

lockdowns and other draconian measures taken by governments and large corporations wreaked 

havoc on the global economy and tore at the societal fabric.

140. News of the COVID-19 global pandemic spread through the air transportation 

industry like wildfire, beginning in January and February 2020. Plaintiffs heroically performed 

their duties throughout early 2020 while many people around the world were locked down or 

sheltered in their homes, and while many businesses and industries were shuttered. From the 

earliest days of the pandemic, many Atlas pilots and crewmembers contracted the COVID-19 

virus and recovered. Thus, many or most of the Plaintiffs in this lawsuit have developed natural 

immunity throughout the history of the pandemic.

141. Beginning around December 2020, it was announced that there had been three 

mRNA “vaccines” purportedly developed for COVID-19: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & 

Johnson. These did not go through any standard form of lengthy, multi-phase clinical trials or 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 15 of 66
16

normal CDC or FDA approval. Rather, they were rushed through pursuant to Emergency Use 

Authorizations (“EUAs”) and then an extremely abbreviated FDA “approval” process. 

142. Initially, it was widely claimed that these vaccines prevented infection and 

transmission of the COVID-19 virus; but soon it became obvious that these vaccines were not 

vaccines in the classic dictionary sense. Rather these “vaccines” were mere gene therapy 

treatments and did not provide any immunity, only reduced severity of symptoms, for those who 

took them. This distinction is important; it means that any alleged benefits of taking the shots 

were merely for the individual recipient and provided no protection for others.

143. Tens of millions of Americans, including Plaintiffs, questioned this process and 

were adamantly opposed to taking these vaccines due to this questionable process as well as 

religious, medical or other reasons.

144. Those who chose to not take a COVID-19 vaccine were prescient. These vaccines 

have turned out to be ineffective, dangerous and, in some cases, deadly, as shown both anecdotally 

and through the Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System (“VAERS”) and DOD DMED 

database.

145. Perhaps most significantly, per long-standing FAA guidance, Plaintiffs were 

prohibited from taking experimental medications prior to 12 months post-FDA approval. Federal 

Aviation Regulation 61.53(a)(2) prohibits pilots who have taken a medication with side effects 

that would render them unable to meet the requirements of the FAA medical certificate from 

acting in any capacity as a member of a flight crew. Atlas encouraged, coerced and even paid 

pilots to violate these long-standing federal regulations, yet the ones who refused to comply were 

the ones punished as set forth below.

146. Atlas Air has the largest wide-body fleet of aircraft in the world. Atlas Air holds 

the world’s largest 747 fleet of aircraft in the world.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 16 of 66
17

147. Atlas Air is the largest customer of the Department of Defense (“DOD”) Air 

Mobility Command (“AMC”). Atlas carries more U.S. troops and military material than any other 

airline in the world.

148. Atlas Air receives many millions of dollars from the DOD and AMC.

149. Atlas flies more revenue freight ton miles internationally than UPS or FedEx. In 

this respect it is the largest air freight carrier in the world.

150. Atlas Air is a behemoth in the air cargo and VIP charter industry, yet its executives 

relish the anonymity and relative invisibility they have enjoyed up to this time. 

151. Atlas Air intentionally negotiated in bad faith with its pilot group, avoiding 

renewing their pilot contract from 2016 to 2021, enabling the executives to keep hundreds of 

millions of dollars. This made Atlas Air management the highest compensated aviation executives 

in the world while at the same time keeping their pilot group the lowest paid in the industry for 

that entire time. 

152. In 2020, Atlas Air made eight times the net profit they made from the previous 

record year in 2019. During this time, CEO John Dietrich applied for and successfully lobbied 

and received $407,000,000 in COVID-19 bailout monies from American taxpayers. 

153. Atlas Air agreed to pay $100,000,000 to settle an international cargo price fixing 

scheme to avoid going to trial. They finished paying off the $100,000,000 in 2020, the same year 

they received the $407,000,000 in taxpayer bailout cash from the government.

154. Patricia Goodwin-Peters joined Atlas Air as Senior Vice President of Human 

Resources after leaving Kate Spade, having a background in women’s fashion. She had zero 

experience in aviation. Despite this fact, she immediately began overseeing the training and hiring 

standards of the pilots of Atlas Air. 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 17 of 66
18

155. Scott Anderson, who was the Senior Director of Flight Proficiency, Training, and 

Standards at Atlas Air was ultimately fired by Goodwin-Peters. 

156. Anderson was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, retired Naval 

Aviator, Blue Angels Pilot, and former Delta Airlines 747-400 Captain, 767 Captain, and FAA 

Designated Examiner (APD). Captain Anderson was also a Check Airman for Delta on both the 

747 and 767.

157. Due to the deteriorating and toxic conditions within the operation, Atlas Air was 

losing pilots faster than they could be replaced. Goodwin-Peters pressured Anderson to replace 

these very experienced and seasoned pilots with pilots fresh out of flight school and with very 

little experience. Anderson explained to Patricia Goodwin-Peters that these very low-hour pilots 

did not have the experience or proficiency to pilot large, widebody aircraft safely across oceans 

and continents. 

158. Anderson informed Goodwin-Peters that although he could legally hire them, they 

were not competent to safely operate these large aircraft in complex conditions around the world. 

Goodwin-Peters insisted that Anderson hire these inexperienced pilots despite that they were not 

competent for these missions. Anderson refused and was fired by Goodwin-Peters. 

159. In a 2020 United States Senate Safety Oversight report, the FAA Inspector assigned 

to Atlas Air’s training standards stated that Atlas Air violated FAA regulatory compliance for a 

decade and called Atlas’ operations the worst he had ever seen for any certificate holder under 

the Certificate Holder Evaluation Process (“CHEP”). He was reassigned to regulate another 

airline after refusing to accept the constant violations by Atlas Air. In his opinion, he was being 

retaliated against by the FAA due to its cozy relationship with Atlas Air.

160. At or about the beginning of September 2021, Goodwin-Peters sent a message to 

all Atlas employees (following up on a message sent by Dietrich) and announced all employees 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 18 of 66
19

would be required to be “fully vaccinated” with a COVID-19 vaccine pursuant to the Biden 

Administration’s mandate regarding federally-contracted employees by December 8, 2021. She 

also announced that employees were required to report their vaccination status to the company. 

According to the notice, “per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people are

considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or

Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen

COVID-19 vaccine.” (Emphasis in original)

161. Goodwin-Peters’ announcement of the vaccine mandate policy demonstrated Atlas’ 

disingenuousness from the beginning. Atlas purported to stand for personal choice regarding 

COVID-19 vaccines: “As a Company, we support the views of health experts that vaccines reduce

the impact and spread of COVID-19. That said, we have been consistent in our position that

vaccination is a personal choice and we were not planning to mandate vaccines for our

employees. However, we are now required to comply with this Executive Order.” As set forth

below, after the Biden Administration’s mandate was enjoined by various federal courts around

the country, Atlas immediately reverted to a company-directed mandate.

162. Atlas directed that Friday, October 22, 2021 was the deadline “for crewmember[s]

to request an exemption due to medical or religious reasons.”

163. Atlas directed that Wednesday, October 27, 2021 was the deadline for

crewmembers to receive their “first vaccine if electing to receive the Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna

vaccine that requires two shots.”

164. Atlas directed that Wednesday, November 24, 2021 was the deadline for

crewmembers to “receive [their] vaccine if electing to receive the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen

vaccine that requires one shot.”

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 19 of 66
20

165. Atlas directed that Wednesday, November 24, 2021 was the deadline for

crewmembers to “receive [their] second vaccine if electing to receive the Pfizer BioNTech or

Moderna vaccine that requires two shots.”

166. Atlas directed that Thursday, November 25, 2021 was the deadline for 

crewmembers to “report [their] vaccination status to the Company.”

167. FSI, whose sole business and source of revenue was to contract flight attendants to 

Atlas, quickly followed suit in multiple communications. On September 4, 2021, FSI President 

Joni French sent an e-mail to employees that made brazenly explicit the discrimination in work 

conditions and compensation faced by those who were choosing to not take the experimental and 

dangerous vaccine, falsely stating that it was about “health and safety.” She wrote:

The health and safety of all our Cabin Crewmembers remains a top

priority for FSI. To support your well-being, as well as that of your

work colleagues, we encourage everyone to pursue the COVID-19

vaccine. Cabin Crewmembers who have proof of vaccination will

increasingly be able to operate with more flexibility under less

restrictive quarantine rules.

We are pleased to let you know that we will now provide 5 hours of

additional compensation to every FSI Flight Attendant who receives

their COVID-19 vaccine and submits a copy of their vaccination

card.

Thus, those who gave into the pressure to take the vaccine would “be able to operate with more 

flexibility under less restrictive quarantine rules” and would receive more compensation than those 

who did not.

168. Numerous Plaintiffs applied for and received a medical or religious accommodation 

with respect to the mandate. Some did not, yet remained adamantly opposed to taking what they 

considered to be an experimental and dangerous vaccine.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 20 of 66
21

169. Prior to the December 8, 2021 federal contractor vaccine mandate going into effect, 

the mandate was enjoined by a federal district court in Kentucky. Several other federal district 

courts throughout the country issued similar injunctions throughout December and January 2022.

170. On or about January 13, 2022, The Supreme Court of the United States blocked the 

OSHA mandate requiring businesses with over 100 employees to impose vaccine and testing 

requirements.

171. On or about January 25, 2022, in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, OSHA 

announced it was withdrawing its vaccine and testing requirements that were at issue. However, 

President Biden called upon businesses to voluntarily impose the mandates themselves.

172. Because Atlas and the other Defendants no longer had the cover of a federal 

contractor vaccine mandate or OSHA requirement – and despite their previous statements that 

they believed in personal choice when it came to COVID-19 vaccine mandate issues and were 

only reluctantly following federal law – Atlas Air immediately and dutifully obeyed the word of 

the Biden Administration and announced it would do the President’s bidding.

Harassment, Retaliation, and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.

173. The lives of plaintiffs were effectively put on hold since October 2021 with constant 

threats of unpaid leave and termination by defendants against plaintiffs.

174. On January 25, 2022, Goodwin-Peters sent out a communication stating:

Earlier today, you received notice that all U.S. employees who must 

travel as an essential function of their position must be fully 

vaccinated by May 1, 2022. This policy applies to you. We recognize 

that you previously sought an accommodation from the COVID-19 

vaccine mandates the company previously implemented to comply 

with Executive Order 14042 (applicable to federal contractors) and 

OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (applicable to employers 

with more than 100 employees).

(Emphasis added).

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 21 of 66
22

175. Goodwin-Peters in the same communication indicated that employees would not 

be required to submit new medical or religious accommodation requests – rather that ones they 

previously submitted would be processed:

Given your requests for accommodation from the Company’s 

previous COVID-19 vaccination mandates, the Company is 

assuming you are seeking a request for accommodation from the 

vaccine policy that will take effect May 1, unless you respond to this 

email and indicate otherwise by Friday, January 28, 2022. If you do 

not respond by January 28, the Company will process your new 

request for accommodation based on the information already in its 

possession and follow-up with you thereafter to identify any 

reasonable accommodations the Company can offer without undue 

hardship. 

So Atlas employees who were unvaccinated were left in a continued state of legal, emotional and 

career limbo. Those who had submitted a prior request for medical or religious accommodation 

were hopeful that it would be granted again, and those who did not or were not seeking such an 

accommodation yet chose not to take the vaccine were facing termination by May 1, 2022.

176. All unvaccinated employees remained subject to the same harassment, disparate 

treatment and fear of losing their jobs that they had been under for months. The companies’ 

vaccinated pilots became harassers, snitches, and tattletales with the willing approval of Atlas 

Air, building a network of gossip and dissension similar to the practice of snitch cultivation in the 

worst prison systems.

177. For example, Plaintiff Richard Bullock, a pilot who often flew cargo to southeast 

Asia, found himself subjected to retaliatory discipline after he became known throughout the 

company as being unvaccinated and a critic of mandates. Snitching fellow pilots initiated 

exaggerated disciplinary proceedings against Bullock based on a mere late-night disagreement 

with angry bar patrons at a tavern in South Korea.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 22 of 66
23

178. Another plaintiff, Jimmy Villella, was actually told by defendants that he needed 

to change his religion when he informed them that his religion forbade participation in weekly 

testing. 

179. In at least one case, the defendants’ intentional infliction of emotional distress led 

to violent death. Atlas pilot Lane Caviness was a leading plaintiff in the original complaint filed 

in this dispute and took a lead role in finding counsel and sharing his grievances with Atlas 

mandates and related imposition. When Caviness became known as an anti-mandate activist 

within the company, he became a target for discrimination and lost prospects. The distress 

stemming from Caviness’ isolation within Atlas Air ultimately contributed to a violent 

confrontation with law enforcement in August 2022 in which Caviness was tragically killed.

180. During the years of 2020, 2021 and 2022 Atlas Air coerced, intimidated, harassed 

and harangued its employees into complying with various COVID-19 related rules, including 

mask and then vaccine requirements, at the same time violating both the religious and medical 

rights of those same employees. Atlas continually demanded they submit to an experimental 

medical procedure regardless of their medical conditions or religious beliefs. 

181. During this time, Atlas Pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, load masters, general 

employees, and even some members of management endured an extremely hostile and toxic work 

environment. One pilot particularly obsessed with the issue would compare unvaccinated 

employees to January 6th protestors (believing it was some kind of insult apparently). CEO 

Dietrich also felt compelled to weigh in on the events of January 6th with some “personal 

thoughts” on January 7th.

182. Often employees were interrogated before beginning their shifts or flight 

assignments with demands for answers to questions of personal and protected medical and 

religious information. Atlas employees were leaking passwords to databases containing this 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 23 of 66
24

legally protected information, and that information was then disseminated to their coworkers who 

often berated and attacked them for not being “vaccinated.” 

183. “Vaccinated” crew members were demanding “unvaccinated” coworkers work the 

entire flight with a facial covering while the “vaccinated” remained uncovered. 

184. Atlas Air, Inc. CEO John Dietrich openly encouraged this behavior by making 

written and oral statements that “vaccinated” crews felt unsafe with “unvaccinated” crews and 

intimated that this was an unfair situation for the “vaccinated” crews.

185. Both Dietrich and Goodwin-Peters made repeated statements that if air crews 

expected to have a future at Atlas Air, they would have no choice other than to be “vaccinated.” 

Both Dietrich and Goodwin-Peters also stated that religious and medical exemptions to being 

“vaccinated” would not be accepted and that “unvaccinated” crews would be placed on unpaid 

leave or terminated with ever-changing and lengthening deadlines in an attempt to intimidate and 

coerce vaccination against a minority of employees whose religious convictions and personal 

medical conditions precluded these procedures.

186. On March 8, 2022, after the January 25, 2022 Goodwin-Peters communication, 

things got worse for the Plaintiff flight attendants who worked for FSI.

187. They received a communication from FSI President Joni French stating that if they 

were not vaccinated by May 1, 2022, they would be placed on an unpaid leave of absence 

regardless of the fact they had previously requested an accommodation:

Atlas Air, Inc. has advised FSI that all FSI employees who work on

Atlas flights must be fully-vaccinated by May 1, 2022. (Obviously,

Atlas is entitled to determine the terms under which FSI’s flight

attendants are eligible to work on Atlas flights.)

We recognize that you previously requested an accommodation

(exemption) from the COVID-19 vaccine mandates the Company

implemented to comply with Executive Order 14042 (applicable to

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 24 of 66
25

federal contractors) and OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard

(applicable to employers with more than 100 employees). Atlas is

experiencing increasing global regulations and COVID-19 vaccine

mandates, including significant travel restrictions such as limited

access to critical hotels/restaurants that are used by its flight crews

during travel. Given this highly-restrictive environment, Atlas

has revised its vaccine policy for the ongoing safety, compliance

and viability of its operations as well as to protect its employees,

customers and members of the public.

Unfortunately, if you are unable or unwilling to obtain COVID-19

vaccinations, you will not be eligible to work on Atlas Air flights.

In that event, FSI has no other work, including flights for its flight

attendants to crew. If we do not receive evidence that you have been

fully vaccinated by April 30, 2022, you will be placed on an unpaid

leave of absence (LOA).

(Emphasis in original).

188. At various times, Atlas and the other Defendants ordered that unvaccinated 

employees be tested weekly. Yet despite language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement 

indicating vaccines and testing is to be provided at no cost, Plaintiffs have been expected to pay 

for the mandatory testing at their own expense.

189. Some Plaintiffs took the vaccine, upon Defendants’ repeated deception and 

coercion, without informed consent.

190. At no time during the period covered by this complaint did Atlas or the other 

defendants provide the full complete inserts regarding the vaccines to Atlas employees who took 

the injections.

191. At no time during the period covered by this complaint did Atlas or the other 

defendants inform those who took the injections, or any employees, of reports of vaccine injuries 

as reported in the VAERS database. 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 25 of 66
26

192. Some plaintiffs and employees became vaccinated only to be told later that to be 

allowed to fly into Germany, it was mandatory to get “booster” shots for those crewmembers that 

received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

193. On or about March 23, 2022, with the politics of COVID-19 and vaccine mandates 

having changed dramatically in the preceding weeks (and with word spreading that undersigned 

counsel would be representing Plaintiffs), Atlas suddenly changed its tune. In the course of these 

shifting pronouncements, the hypocrisy of Atlas’ and other Defendants’ actions has been nothing 

less than stunning, and these moves have been a day late and a dollar short.

194. First, despite terrorizing plaintiffs over COVID-19 restrictions from the onset of 

COVID-19 to the present day, as the global politics of the COVID-19 mandate issues began to 

change, Dietrich was actually among a group of major airline CEOs who signed a letter to 

President Biden on March 23, 2022, requesting that he lift various COVID-19 restrictions. In the 

letter, the CEOs write:

Given that we have entered a different phase of dealing with this 

virus, we strongly support your view that “COVID-19 need no 

longer control our lives.” Now is the time for the Administration 

to sunset federal transportation travel restrictions – including 

the international predeparture testing requirement and the 

federal mask mandate – that are no longer aligned with the 

realities of the current epidemiological environment.

(Emphasis in original). Despite this public posturing, Atlas still enforces company-wide COVID19 restrictions that are harassing, discriminatory and are meant as retaliation against those who 

have stood up to Atlas’ leadership and other Defendants’ tyrannical conduct.

195. Then, on March 25, 2022, the company attempted to mollify Plaintiffs by 

purporting to assure them that – despite maintaining a private company-wide vaccine mandate –

those who had previously obtained a religious or medical exemption pursuant to the federal 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 26 of 66
27

contractor mandate would purportedly be allowed to fly after the May 1, 2022 company vaccine 

mandate deadline “so long as they undergo requisite COVID-19 testing at their expense.”

196. The communication Atlas sent to its employees made clear that Atlas has not 

changed its policy of discriminating against those who have chosen to not be vaccinated for 

religious or other personal reasons of informed consent or bodily autonomy. Specifically, 

Goodwin-Peters made clear that Atlas believes its prior actions in discriminating against the 

unvaccinated was justified, and that Atlas could revise its policy at any time in the future (to, for 

example, fire unvaccinated employees or place them on unpaid leave or re-assign them). 

Specifically, for example, Goodwin-Peters stated:

As a reminder, employees who travel as an essential function of their

position must be vaccinated by May 1 pursuant to the Company’s

Policy.

. . .

Throughout the pandemic, we have closely monitored the state of

the pandemic and changing regulations, both domestically and

globally, and with your help, have adjusted our operations and

policies to adapt to the evolving environment to protect our

employees and our operations.

The Company maintains the right to revise this Policy as

appropriate and at its sole discretion, including based on changing

domestic and global regulations and the state of the pandemic. We

will continue to closely watch the global vaccination and testing

requirements and metrics tied to the pandemic, and communicate

any necessary changes to our policies as appropriate.

(Emphasis added).

197. Thus, despite this move, Atlas employees were still faced with the prospect of

working at a company that could pull the rug out from under their employment at any time because

of their vaccination status.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 27 of 66
28

198. On March 31, 2022, Goodwin-Peters sent another e-mail underscoring the

discrimination that would persist at Atlas Air. It mandated that unvaccinated employees with

medical or religious accommodations would have to undergo testing at their own expense

pursuant to a complicated process, as well as wear masks indoors despite the widespread

knowledge that wearing paper masks over one’s face has accomplished absolutely nothing with

respect to transmission of COVID-19.

199. Throughout this time period, Goodwin-Peters repeatedly sent e-mails to

employees urging them to review and re-acknowledge the Atlas Air employee handbook.

200. On April 21, 2022 there was even more confusion, whether intentional or

otherwise. That day, Goodwin-Peters sent out an updated Atlas Air Worldwide COVID-19

Vaccination & Testing Policy, along with Atlas Air Worldwide COVID-19 Vaccine Policy:

Frequently Asked Questions. A mere ten days before Atlas’ May 1

st vaccination mandate policy

was to go into effect, these documents clearly purported to reverse the announcement on or around

April 1

st that those with religious and medical accommodations would be allowed to fly and

otherwise remain gainfully employed. In addition to testing at employee expense, a further

requirement was mandated that all COVID tests will be videotaped by the employee and retained

to be given to Human Resources upon demand.

201. The Policy stated that “Employees who travel as an essential function of their

position must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by May 1, 2022.” (Emphasis in original). It

then stated that “Employees not in compliance with this Policy may be subject to discipline, up

to and including termination pursuant to applicable law.” It further states that

Essential-travel employees who do not choose to be vaccinated, and

who are not in compliance with the Policy as of the effective date of

May 1, 2022, may not be permitted to continue traveling and may

be placed in an alternate position orsubject to an unpaid leave status.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 28 of 66
29

202. Further, the FAQ document made unequivocally clear that the prior medical and 

religious accommodations obtained by employees – which Atlas and other Defendants indicated 

on January 25, 2022 would be applicable going forward – would no longer be recognized:

If you were previously granted an accommodation from a Company 

policy or practice designed to comply with the federal Executive 

Order mandating vaccination, your accommodation is no longer 

effective. The Executive Order has been stayed by a federal court 

and is not applicable to us at this time, so there is no longer any 

Company policy or practice being implemented to comply with the 

Executive Order from which an accommodation is necessary.

At this time, the Company anticipates it will be unable to permit 

unvaccinated employees to perform travel duties after May 1

without jeopardizing business continuity and/or incurring 

substantial administrative and other costs. The Company is 

experiencing ever-increasing global regulations and vaccine 

mandates related to COVID-19, including travel restrictions as well 

as limited access to critical hotels/restaurants that are used by 

employees during travel. The Company is reviewing what if any 

reasonable accommodations it may be able to provide to 

unvaccinated employees who are eligible for an accommodation 

after May 1, including unpaid leave and reassignment.

(Emphasis added).

203. This was directly contrary to prior company guidance. It created such an 

instantaneous uproar that the company was forced to retract it the very next day on April 22, 2022:

It has been brought to our attention that employees have

inadvertently been directed to an out-of-date Vaccination & Testing

Policy and related FAQs, which contained information that is no

longer accurate. In particular, if you have previously been granted

a religious or medical accommodation to the vaccination policy,

your exemption is still in effect. Beginning May 1, you will be

required to test as set forth in the Policy and FAQs. Please see below

for the correct links.

(Emphasis in original).

204. To add insult to injury, while the entire world (including the federal government 

thanks only to a federal district judge’s recent decision in Florida) is taking off their useless masks 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 29 of 66
30

on airplanes, in airports and otherwise, President Joni French of FSI is insisting that everyone 

continue to wear a mask on Atlas flights. This was announced on April 19, 2022, leading one 

Atlas flight attendant to marvel at the fact that the first time in 9 months American soldiers 

deployed to the most dangerous places in the world were required to wear a paper mask over their 

faces is when they boarded an Atlas Air flight. 

205. Throughout the entire course of the foregoing events, EncompassAir followed the 

lead of Atlas Air and mirrored Atlas policies and conduct with respect COVID-19 related 

mandates for its employees who were contracted to Atlas.

206. Throughout the pandemic, executives at Atlas urged Atlas employees including 

Plaintiffs, to get injected with the vaccines, while simultaneously insisting that the company 

would never support a vaccination mandate. The Teamsters Union signed an agreement with the 

company that the Union would help the company push and promote vaccination among Atlas 

employees. The Teamsters and Teamsters Local 2750 even agreed to roll out a program in 

violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which allowed vaccinated employees to receive 

a bonus, and thus higher pay than unvaccinated employees. 

207. Local 2750 and the Teamsters were overwhelmingly led and directed by partisan 

Democrats and loyalists of U.S. President Biden. And, as elsewhere, the vaccine rollout within 

Atlas became tinged with political animosity. Upon information and belief, the Teamsters and 

Local 2750 have never once voiced any criticism of Atlas’ vaccination push to the company, 

despite knowing that many Atlas employees did not wish to become vaccinated, were religiously 

or medically exempt, or naturally immune. 

208. Throughout the spring, summer and fall of 2021, all the parties, including 

Teamsters Local 2750 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Airline Division 

negotiated a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. These negotiations occurred during, and in 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 30 of 66
31

the midst of the global COVID-19 panic and pandemic and while COVID-19 and discussions 

about COVID-19 mitigation strategies including vaccines and ideas about vaccine mandates 

were in the international news every single day. Concerns about the vaccines, and about whether 

vaccines would be mandated, were high in the thoughts of every Atlas Air pilot, flight attendant 

and employee, as well as among Atlas Air executives and executives and officers of the Teamsters 

and Teamsters Local 2750. 

209. Throughout this period of contract negotiation, Atlas Air and its defendant 

executives repeatedly assured concerned employees, including all Plaintiffs, that the company 

would not be mandating the COVID vaccines (which were available throughout 2021).

210. On September 10, 2021, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (the “Agreement”) 

was signed and executed by Atlas, the Teamsters, and flight deck crew members. The final 

agreement plainly gave the company no authority whatsoever to impose vaccination mandates 

upon Atlas employees (or any other invasions of workers’ medical autonomy). The only section 

specifically addressing vaccinations was Article 27F, which provides: “The Company shall 

provide, at no cost to Crew Members, an immunization plan that includes, at a minimum, the 

following vaccinations . . . (Yellow fever, Hepatitis, Typhoid, Tetanus, etc.).”

211. Art. 27F(10) of the agreement provides that the Company shall provide, at no cost, 

“Any other immunizations recommended by the current United States Center for Disease Control 

‘Advice for International Travel’ document.” The plain language of 27F(10) gives no authority 

for Atlas Air to mandate such immunizations. The referenced “Advice for International Travel” 

document of the CDC appears to be several documents and/or web pages, none of which mandate 

COVID-19 vaccinations for U.S. Citizens. Indeed, the CDC’s published instructions 

(https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html) contains a 

section dedicated to airline crew members. The Technical Instructions applicable to crew 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 31 of 66
32

members plainly do not mandate airline pilots or crew members to be injected with COVID-19 

vaccine treatments.2

212. The September 10, 2021 date of the agreement is quite significant in light of 

events. Just the day before, on September 9, 2021, President Biden announced that all companies 

with more than 100 employees were required to implement COVID-19 vaccine mandates or 

require weekly testing of employees. This announcement must have been on the forefront of 

everyone’s mind when the Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed. Nothing in the 

agreement gave Atlas any authority whatsoever, independent of a government-imposed mandate, 

to impose its own mandate. (In fact, as described below, the agreement explicitly protected Atlas 

employees from exposure to any unsafe conditions or events.)

213. Following the early September communication from Goodwin-Peters regarding the 

federal contractor mandate, on October 5, 2021, Defendant John Dietrich, President & Chief 

Executive Officer of Atlas Air, sent an email to all Atlas employees saying, “President Biden 

recently signed an Executive Order providing for certain mandates related to COVID-19 for 

federal contractors and subcontractors, and the U.S. government has now issued further guidance 

for implementing this Order.” Dietrich wrote that “[t]hrough the course of the pandemic, we’ve 

been very clear in our intention that we would not mandate that our employees be 

vaccinated. However, as a federal contractor who flies the military and their equipment, we will 

be required to comply with the Order issued by the President.”

214. The October 5, 2021 email claimed Biden’s “Executive Order requires that we 

determine the vaccination status of all of our U.S.-based employees. Therefore, we are now 

2

 https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/order-safe-travel/technical-instructions.html.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 32 of 66
33

requiring all of our U.S. workforce to provide us with your vaccination status.” (Emphasis in 

original).

215. The email went further than the federal pronouncement and announced that Atlas 

Air would soon roll out electronic vaccine passports (“electronic proof of your vaccination card”) 

within the company. 

216. The email announced that Atlas Air would recognize religious and medical 

exemptions and would restrict workers’ vaccine status information to “Human Resources, Legal 

and limited members of the COVID-19 Safety Team.”

217. Significantly, the Oct.5, 2021 email by Defendant John Dietrich announced that 

vaccinated employees would be paid “five hours of compensation” while unvaccinated employees 

would not.

218. On January 13, 2022, the US Supreme Court struck down the OSHA mandate as 

unconstitutional. However, Defendant Atlas Air continued to maintain its Atlas-wide injection 

mandate. Neither Local 2750 nor the Teamsters voiced any concern or opposition to Atlas Air.

219. Moreover, Atlas Air violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement’s Art. 25 

regarding scheduling (“The Company shall offer Out-Base assignments by system-wide seniority. 

. .”). Specifically, Atlas Air has discriminated against Plaintiffs in bids for flights to certain Asian, 

South American and European bases—despite such destinations having NO laws or restrictions 

against unvaccinated crewmembers. The lack of any mandatory vaccination requirements for 

crewmembers was repeatedly transmitted via email to the union and company by citing the 

government websites of the destination countries that specified there were NO requirements at 

the time. That information was ignored, and the Atlas management-imposed travel bans on 

unvaccinated Atlas crewmembers remained in place. 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 33 of 66
34

220. This discrimination and arbitrary retaliatory and punitive treatment of Plaintiffs 

have cost Plaintiffs significant monetary damages and emotional distress.

221. Atlas Air’s communications promised that Atlas employees’ vaccination statuses 

would be kept confidential within “Human Resources, Legal and limited members of the COVID19 Safety Team.” But in fact, Plaintiffs’ and employees’ vaccination statuses were widely 

disseminated throughout the company in violation of their medical privacy.

222. Atlas Air’s promulgation of COVID-19 hype and hysteria created a dangerous and 

hostile work environment throughout the company for Plaintiffs and employees who dared to 

question or defy the messaging. Atlas Air’s panic-inducing policies produced instances of vicious 

shouting and screaming among Plaintiffs and other Atlas staff during trans-ocean flights, and 

occasional unsafe episodes of pilots leaving their cockpits to scream at coworkers for being 

unvaccinated or for voicing questions or criticisms of Atlas Air pandemic messaging.

223. This toxic, cutthroat atmosphere continues through the present day, as Atlas 

employees suffering from vaccine injuries struggle to keep their injuries hidden, secret and 

suppressed in order to protect their careers. Teamsters’ members within the company have openly 

remarked that they look forward to the day that Plaintiffs will be terminated from the company, 

thus allowing vaccinated employees to rise in seniority and pay.

224. On February 8, 2022, the Teamsters and Local 2750 actually announced that they 

had joined Atlas and the other Defendants in creating a program to recruit new, vaccinated and 

compliant hires to replace the plaintiffs upon plaintiffs’ termination. Atlas and the Teamsters 

worked together to pay the pilot group $5,000 per new hire they refer to Atlas to replace the pilots 

who would be fired because of the vaccine mandate.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 34 of 66
35

225. On March 30, 2022 The Executive Board of Teamsters Local 2750 traveled to the 

Teamsters Local 2750 office in Cincinnati, Ohio and conducted their quarterly Executive Board 

Meeting and General Membership Meeting.

226. The Executive Board were surprised by the remote and in-person turnout, as the 

meeting was attended by approximately 100 members. According to Local 2750’s newsletter #99, 

“During this meeting, a spirited effort was made to pass resolutions requiring ‘the union to 

engage in any and all legal disputes in any and all jurisdictions related to disputes arising from 

the Atlas Air vaccine policies,’ and requiring the ‘union to donate $300,000 in total to the three 

following organizations:’” U.S. Freedom Flyers - $100,000, Airline Employees 4 Health Freedom 

(AE4HF) - $100,000, and Atlas Flight Deck Crewmembers Association (AFDCA) - $100,000.

227. All three groups were known to oppose Atlas Air’s impending vaccine mandate 

mass termination.

228. The Teamsters Local 2750 newsletter downplayed the vote, claiming that “a 

spirited effort was made to pass” the resolutions. In fact, the “spirited effort” had passed, 

overwhelmingly. Indeed, the newsletter linked to a letter drafted by Teamster General Counsel 

William Wilder admitting all three resolutions had passed. But the Teamster lawyer claimed the 

resolutions conflicted with the Teamsters constitution, which Wilder claimed (falsely, it appears) 

gave all decision-making authority to Teamsters Executive Board members. 

229. Local 2750’s #99 newsletter then stated: “While we appreciate the passionate 

engagement from these members, the resolutions discussed cannot be enacted.” (Again: the 

resolutions were not merely discussed; they were passed by the membership.) “After legal 

review,” claimed the newsletter, “Local 2750 legal counsel determined these resolutions violate 

the IBT Constitution and Local 2750 Union Bylaws and are therefore invalid.” 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 35 of 66
36

230. Wilder even claimed that informed medical consent had been falsely characterized 

by union members as a “right.” Informed consent, said Wilder, “is nowhere mentioned as an 

object of the Local Union in Section 4 of the Bylaws.”

231. Instead of complying with the obvious wishes of membership to defy Atlas Air 

regarding the impending May 1 mass-termination of hundreds of employees, the Teamsters and 

Local 2750 provided a link for Atlas Air to “Please click” to identify and retaliate against 

members of the Atlas Flight Deck Crewmembers Association who opposed the company’s 

mandates. At no time did 2750 even pass on a message to Atlas Air executives regarding 

employee opposition to the unlawful mandates.

232. Ironically, during this time period, the issues the Teamsters seemed most concerned 

about had nothing to do with illegal COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Local 2750 President Yngve 

Paulsen sent out an e-mail on April 15, 2022, touting the following accomplishments: (i) new 

pillows for all fleets with rest facilities; (ii) business class blankets of a better quality and larger 

size; (iii) replacing Maxwell House coffee with “better quality coffee”; (iv) including vegetarian 

hot meals “where meat will be provided separately and not premixed in a dish”; and (v) providing 

chopped fresh fruit in tray setups. 

233. All of the Defendants were aware of all the foregoing conduct and false statements 

set forth in this Complaint and participated in the acts that have caused massive pain, suffering, 

emotional distress, mental anguish and loss of job opportunities and future income.

234. In the course of its actions, Atlas Air consistently acted in lockstep with the widely 

publicized goals of the Biden Administration. For purposes of these actions, whether by incentive 

or threat, Atlas Air has become a State Actor.

235. In order line the pockets of Atlas Air executives in exchange for doing the 

government’s bidding, the Biden Administration pumped in $407,000,000 in COVID-19 bailout 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 36 of 66
37

money to a massively profitable corporation. Atlas refused to return the funds when questions 

were raised in a Congressional hearing on why such a profitable company deserved a 

$407,000,000 handout of taxpayers’ money. In return, Atlas Air acted in concert with the 

Government to achieve the Administration’s objective of coercing all Americans to take a 

COVID-19 vaccine. There is no other rational explanation for Atlas Air receiving such a windfall 

from the American taxpayers.

236. Thus, Atlas Air is a “person” and a State Actor under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

237. The Biden Administration has effectively delegated its authority to the private 

sector and sought companies like Atlas Air to do its bidding. This has been effective: companies 

like Atlas Air gave its employees an unconscionable ultimatum: choose between their jobs or take 

an experimental, life-threatening gene therapy/vaccine, for a disease known to have a very high 

survivability rate of over 99% and for which effective alternative treatments now exist.

238. The Government has acted in concert with Atlas Air and publicly supported its 

private mandate since the Biden Administration cannot legislate a public one. Atlas Air’s mandate 

was preconceived. Its purpose was to effectuate the Biden Administration’s will and be one of 

the large, corporate examples so other big employers would follow suit. Atlas, its CEO Dietrich 

and SVP Goodwin-Peters are engaged in a quid pro quo arrangement whereby Atlas Air is 

enforcing the agenda the Biden Administration knows it cannot legislate or impose by fiat. Stated 

differently – the government acquires more power through the imposition of private employer 

mandates. In exchange, the Biden Administration is lining the pockets of big corporations and 

their executives like Atlas Air, Dietrich and Goodwin-Peters through policy or pecuniary gain at 

the expense of their own employees’ lives.

239. On information and belief, there have been numerous, private meetings between 

Dietrich and the Biden Administration regarding the vaccine mandate policies.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 37 of 66
38

240. These meetings, various comments by Dietrich, and Government financial support 

for Atlas Air show such a close working arrangement between Atlas Air and the Government that 

Atlas Air should be considered a State Actor for purposes of Section 1983.

241. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has taken the 

position that they do not and will not interfere with or prevent employers from following the 

guidelines and suggestions made by the CDC or state/local public health authorities about steps 

employers should take regarding COVID-19:

The EEOC has received many inquiries from employers and 

employees about the type of authorization granted by the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for the administration of three COVID-19 

vaccines. These three vaccines were granted Emergency Use 

Authorization (EUA) by the FDA. It is beyond the EEOC’s 

jurisdiction to discuss the legal implications of EUA or the FDA 

approach. Individuals seeking more information about the legal 

implications of EUA or the FDA approach can visit the FDA’s EUA 

page.

242. The EEOC has not taken any actions much less made any public statements 

condemning these patently unlawful employment practices. For these reasons and others set forth 

below, Plaintiffs are not required to first seek recourse via the EEOC prior to bringing their 

discrimination and/or employment claims.

243. Also, irreparable harm will result from the delays associated with exhaustion of 

administrative remedies. Millions of people have been hurt and thousands have been killed due 

to the COVID-19 vaccines that Atlas Air mandated Plaintiffs take. Not only can these vaccines 

cause injury generally, but the gene therapies pose specific harms to Plaintiffs working in the 

airline industry, which has requirements that employees maintain a certain standard of health for 

safety purposes. Waiting 180 days for the EEOC process to complete or to receive a right to sue 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 38 of 66
39

letter is not a viable option as irreparable harm is imminent not only for their jobs, but also for 

their safety and the safety of consumers.

244. Additionally, the EEOC lacks the institutional capacity to resolve the particular 

types of issues presented given there are millions of employees across the United States who seek 

to challenge these mandated practices, and the EEOC does not have enough staff/personnel to 

review all of the claims. Also, the EEOC does not have the authority to address the 

Constitutionality of all the claims associated with the employment practices at issue and does not 

possess the institutional knowledge or authority to redress those matters relating to health, safety 

and welfare. Therefore, requiring Plaintiffs to exhaust administrative remedies would be futile, 

useless and inadequate to redress Plaintiff’s employment issues and to prevent the irreparable 

harm.

COUNT I 

Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. (“Title VII”)

Religious Discrimination – Failure to Accommodate

All Employee Plaintiffs vs. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir

 

245. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 245 above as if fully set 

forth herein and incorporates all of the foregoing factual allegations and all inferences and 

implications drawn therefrom in support of this Count and cause of action.

246. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII) protects workers from 

employment discrimination based on their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual 

orientation, and transgender status) national origin, or protected activity. See 42 U.S.C. § 

2000e(k).

247. Under Title VII, an employer is prohibited from discriminating because of religion 

in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, or other “terms, conditions or privileges” of 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 39 of 66
40

employment, and also cannot “limit, segregate, or classify” applicants or employees based on 

religion “in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment 

opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1), 

(2).

248. Title VII defines “religion” as including “all aspects of religious observance and 

practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that [it] is unable to reasonably 

accommodate . . . without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s business.” See 42 

U.S.C. § 2000e(j).

249. These protections apply whether the religious beliefs or practices in question are 

common or non-traditional, and regardless of whether they are recognized by any organized 

religion. See, e.g., Cooper v. Gen. Dynamics, Convair Aerospace Div., 533 F.2d 163, 168 (5th 

Cir. 1976) (stating “all forms and aspects of religion, however eccentric, are protected”).

250. The test under Title VII’s definition of religion is whether the beliefs are, in the 

individual’s “own scheme of things, religious.” 3

251. Belief in God or gods is not necessary; nontheistic spiritual beliefs can also be 

religious for purposes of the Title VII exemption as long as they “‘occupy in the life of that 

individual “a place parallel to that filled by . . . God” in traditionally religious persons.’” 4

3 This common formulation derives from the seminal Supreme Court decisions interpreting the conscience 

exemption in the Military Selective Service Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3806(j). See, e.g., Redmond v. GAF Corp., 574 F.2d 

897, 901 n.12 (7th Cir. 1978) (“We believe the proper test to be applied to the determination of what is ‘religious’ 

under § 2000e(j) can be derived from the Supreme Court decisions in Welsh v. United States, 398 U.S. 333 (1970), 

and United States v. Seeger, 380 U.S. 163 (1969), i.e., (1) is the ‘belief’ for which protection is sought ‘religious’ in 

person’s own scheme of things, and (2) is it ‘sincerely held.’” (quoting those decisions)); Fallon v. Mercy Cath. 

Med. Ctr., 877 F.3d 487, 490-91 (3d Cir. 2017) (applying same test to Title VII claim of religious 

discrimination); Davis v. Fort Bend Cnty., 765 F.3d 480, 485 (5th Cir. 2014) (same); Adeyeye v. Heartland 

Sweeteners, LLC, 721 F.3d 444, 448 (7th Cir. 2013) (same); EEOC v. Union Independiente de la Autoridad de 

Acueductos, 279 F.3d 49, 56 (1st Cir. 2002) (same); see also, e.g., EEOC Guidelines on Discrimination Because of 

Religion, 29 C.F.R. § 1605.1 (stating that EEOC has “consistently applied” this standard to Title VII).

4 Fallon, 877 F.3d at 491 (quoting Welsh, 398 U.S. at 340 (quoting Seeger, 380 U.S. at 176)).

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 40 of 66
41

252. The non-discrimination provisions of Title VII also protect employees who do not 

possess religious beliefs or engage in religious practices 5 which here in this case the Plaintiffs 

allege to include their personal moral and ethical beliefs, spiritual beliefs, and/or conscience even 

for those who might not derive those from a from structured religious organization.

253. Obviously, the law does not limit religious exemptions to only those faiths or 

denominations which enjoy a dominant presence in society. For example, in one case one 

Plaintiff holds a sincere and genuine belief in his Creator God under the terminology of a higher 

power and has experienced the help and assistance of his spiritual beliefs in improving himself 

and his life and overcoming problems and obstacles although pursued in the context of his 

fellowship of like-minded believers, which have grown to address all spiritual aspects of life.

254. The Defendant Employers have left Plaintiffs with an unconscionable choice of 

either taking a COVID-19 vaccine at the expense of their religious beliefs or losing their 

livelihoods.

255. Plaintiffs have sincere, religious beliefs that preclude them from taking a COVID19 vaccine.

256. Plaintiffs require, requested, and now request reasonable accommodation as 

defined further in 29 CFR § 1605.2.

257. Plaintiffs informed their employers of those beliefs and requested (or tried to 

request) religious accommodations from the vaccine mandate. 

5 See, e.g., Noyes v. Kelly Servs., 488 F.3d 1163, 1168 (9th Cir. 2007) (addressing “non-adherence or reverse 

religious discrimination claim”); Reed v. Great Lakes Cos., 330 F.3d 931, 933-34 (7th Cir. 2003) (“[F]or these 

purposes, . . . ‘religion’ includes antipathy to religion. And so an atheist . . . cannot be fired because his employer 

dislikes atheists.”); Shapolia v. Los Alamos Nat’l Lab’y, 992 F.2d 1033, 1037 (10th Cir. 1993) (plaintiff claimed he 

was fired “because he did not hold the same religious beliefs as his supervisors”); Young v. Sw. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 

509 F.2d 140 (5th Cir. 1975) (finding Title VII violated by requiring atheist employee to attend prayer portion of 

business meeting).

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 41 of 66
42

258. Plaintiffs provided their employers adequate notice of their request for 

accommodation.

259. At all relevant times, the Defendant Employers Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir 

have been corporations continuously doing business throughout the country engaged in an 

industry affecting commerce within the meaning of Title VII and had at least fifteen (15)

employees.

260. The Defendant Employers Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir mandated that all their 

employees take a COVID-19 vaccine or face termination.

261. The Plaintiffs are all current or former employees of the Defendant Employers, with 

any separation of the Plaintiffs from the Defendant Employers being a direct and proximate result 

of the violations complained of herein.

262. At first, the Defendant Employers announced that they would consider objections 

and claims of exemption based upon religious beliefs.

263. In addition to their medical objections and liberty-based objections to being forced 

to taking a mandated vaccine against their will and without informed consent, also being 

experimental and not properly tested, and under an emergency authorization rather than proper 

licensing, all of the Plaintiffs herein also each hold one or more religious-based objections to 

taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

264. Indeed, initially the Defendant Employers responded with essentially form letters 

that were identical in wording and content with only the name of the addressee employee 

individualized.

265. In addition, initially, the Defendant Employers made work accommodations such 

as providing notice of flight routes where the availability of the work opportunity was limited by 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 42 of 66
43

vaccination status, allegedly based on the restrictions of the country or countries where the route 

would land (although in fact this information was always or nearly always false and incorrect).

266. Thus, initially, the Defendant Employers provided work accommodations for the 

Plaintiffs by allowing them to choose flights domestically and/or on international routes to 

countries that did not require a vaccination.

267. And in other communications made publicly available within the companies the 

Defendant Employers also mass-distributed the private medical information of the Plaintiffs’ 

vaccination status.

268. However, the Defendant Employers then effectively -- that is, decisively, strongly, 

and unambiguously, but while simply pretending their previous grant of exemptions had not been 

granted -- revoked and withdrew the Plaintiffs’ religious exemptions.

269. Defendant Employers revoked then effectively -- that is, decisively, strongly, and 

unambiguously, but while simply pretending their previous accommodations had not been 

authorized -- revoked and withdrew their work accommodations for the Plaintiffs.

270. Having invited, received, and granted in writing religious exemptions for the 

Plaintiffs, the Defendant Employers admit that the Defendants should have granted and the 

Plaintiffs should have received religious exemptions.

271. However, the Defendant Employers subsequently ordered categorically, 

unambiguously, and categorically that the Plaintiffs be vaccinated or suffer termination 

employment and in the interim loss of work opportunities including hours available to work and 

routes to fly on.

272. Defendant Employers had no basis for not granting and recognizing the Plaintiffs’ 

religious objections and claims of religious exemption, other than the ulterior motives of the 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 43 of 66
44

political goals of the leadership and the union and desire to cultivate favor with the Biden 

Administration.6

273. Defendant Employers had no basis for not granting and recognizing the Plaintiffs’ 

religious objections and claims of religious exemption.

274. Despite empty assurances, the Defendant Employers then began to act as if the 

religious exemptions did not exist and had never existed and threatened the Plaintiffs with 

termination and/or other loss of other benefits and work opportunities notwithstanding their 

previous acknowledgement of the Plaintiffs’ religious exemptions.

275. The Defendant Employers both began to make statements, announcements and 

declarations and issue orders inconsistent with the religious exemptions of the Plaintiffs but also 

to act in disregard of those exemptions so as to effectively cancel them.

276. Pursuant to governing law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Plaintiffs 

are not required to specify the nature or grounds of their religious objection or their request for a 

religious exemption.

277. However, the claims of religious objection include:

A. the mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 are not traditional vaccines but hijack or 

rewrite the genetic coding and operations of human cells (even if only RNA 

rather than the major DNA) so as to offend his Creator’s design of the human 

body), 

6 Although the prior Trump Administration had pushed for the accelerated development of the vaccines, which was 

achieved before Donald Trump left office, despite the industries cutting corners and rushing the process to an extent 

and in ways the Plaintiffs believe to be unacceptable, the incoming Biden Administration specifically set a campaign 

promise and policy goal of achieving universal 100% vaccination rates. Thus, a universal vaccination rate became 

in national politics a policy objective separate from and in addition to the vaccine itself.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 44 of 66
45

B. the mRNA technology threatens an ethically offensive and dangerous path to 

redesigning human bodies as chimera or hybrid humans, for which there is 

already considerable enthusiasm and activism among some in the scientific 

community seeking to improve humanity by modifying his Creator’s design

C. the vaccine or its predecessors were developed, cultivated, and/or mass 

produced using fetal stem cells or fetal tissues that in a Plaintiff’s conscience 

bother him or her as benefitting from the death of others, in this case unborn 

children

D. the use of fetal stem cells and fetal tissues incentivizes or normalizes the 

benefit of one life at the expense of another, which is ethically unacceptable

E. while even the Catholic Church encourages parishioners to “consider” the 

COVID vaccine, its guidance is heavily dependent upon balancing the 

availability of ethically preferable options and the benefits and the exact 

circumstances and opposes mandates including for the very reason that they 

block the exercise of conscience; Plaintiffs also insist that the lack of 

necessary studies and data, and communicated data, prevents their balancing 

of benefits and ethical concerns. 7

F. while Plaintiffs accept medication as religiously tolerable, rushing a new 

vaccine to market without adequate testing or data or use experience violates 

the balancing of need versus risk that he believes makes medication 

religiously acceptable in some cases (as when necessity outweighs concerns)

7 See, e.g., “Health-Care Workers Denied Religious Exemption to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Settle Lawsuit for 

$10.3M,” National Catholic Register, July 31, 2022, accessible at:

https://www.ncregister.com/cna/health-care-workers-denied-religious-exemption-to-covid-19-vaccine-mandatesettle-lawsuit-for-10-3m

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 45 of 66
46

G. Plaintiffs object to the excessive faith placed in human effort rather than in his 

or her Creator

H. Some Plaintiffs may object categorically to vaccines in general on religious 

grounds as an excessive intrusion into the Creator’s design for his body

I. Some Plaintiffs objects to the use of force or coercion to medicate his body 

not only on liberty and medical grounds but as a religious interference in the 

exercise of conscience.

J. Plaintiffs also object in addition to on liberty grounds that being forced to 

medicate his body without freedom of choice by force or coercion will lead to 

increasing authoritarian control being asserted over him or her and society.

278. Most of the Plaintiffs refused to get vaccinated.

279. A few of the Plaintiffs took the vaccine but declined to disclose their personal 

choices and private medical information to certify vaccination to their employer.

280. A few of the Plaintiffs relented under coercion and pressure and became 

vaccinated, and then suffered medical complications, side effects, and injury, including the death 

of lead Plaintiff Lane Caviness.

281. A few of the Plaintiffs relented under coercion and pressure and became 

vaccinated.

282. Many of the Plaintiffs contend that although they have taken other vaccines 

without inquiry in the past, in this case their attention has been publicly drawn to the problems 

with this COVID-19 vaccination that they were not previously aware of in the past with regards 

to other vaccines, causing them to research and inquire to a deeper level than ever before and 

causing them to develop moral, ethical, conscience, and religious concerns and objections not 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 46 of 66
47

only because the COVID-19 vaccination is different but because their level of awareness has 

been made greater and deeper than was previously the case.

283. After the reversal of exemptions and accommodations, Plaintiffs’ employers 

refused to engage in meaningful discussion or in the interactive process with Plaintiffs regarding 

their requests; or conveyed how their refusal to take a vaccine would impact their employers. 

Rather, their employers responded to Plaintiffs with announcements designed to deter Plaintiffs 

from exercising their sincere religious beliefs contrary to the purpose of asking for 

accommodations.

284. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir failed to provide Plaintiffs with reasonable 

accommodations for their sincere, religious beliefs; instead, they discriminated against Plaintiffs 

with adverse employment actions. 

285. The perpetual threat of unpaid leave is not a reasonable accommodation. 

286. Rather, it is an adverse employment action. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir 

thereby discriminated against Plaintiffs because of their religious beliefs.

287. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir have engaged in these practices with malice and 

indifference to Plaintiffs’ rights, including pursuing ulterior non-business motives.

288. The employers’ ultimate failure to provide or continue religious accommodations 

has harmed and will continue to harm Plaintiffs.

289. Despite the fact that filing charges with the EEOC is mostly futile, many Plaintiffs 

have done so and many others are in the process of doing so.

COUNT II

Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. (“Title VII”)

Religious Discrimination – Retaliation

All Employee Plaintiffs vs. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 47 of 66
48

290. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 290 above as if fully set 

forth herein and incorporates all of the foregoing factual allegations and all inferences and 

implications drawn therefrom in support of this Count and cause of action.

291. Specifically, Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all of the allegations in the 

preceding Count I.

292. At all relevant times, Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir have been a corporation 

continuously doing business throughout the country engaged in an industry affecting commerce 

within the meaning of Title VII and had at least fifteen (15) employees.

293. The employers mandated that all its employees take a COVID-19 vaccine or face 

termination. Their actions have left Plaintiffs with an unconscionable choice of either taking a 

COVID-19 vaccine at the expense of their religious beliefs or losing their livelihoods.

294. Plaintiffs have sincere, religious beliefs that preclude them from taking a COVID19 vaccine.

295. Plaintiffs informed their employers of those beliefs and requested (or wanted to 

request) religious accommodations from the vaccine mandate. Plaintiffs provided their 

employers adequate notice.

296. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir violated Title VII when they responded to these 

requests by retaliating against Plaintiffs, informing them that they would effectively be 

terminated by being placed on indefinite unpaid leave in attempt to coerce them into taking a 

COVID-19 vaccine and ultimately doing so.

297. The sole reason for the employers’ adverse employment actions against Plaintiffs 

was to retaliate against them for their sincerely held religious beliefs.

298. The employers have engaged in these practices with malice and indifference to 

Plaintiffs’ rights.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 48 of 66
49

299. The employers’ retaliation has harmed and will continue to harm Plaintiffs. 

Despite the fact that filing charges with the EEOC is futile, many Plaintiffs have done so and the 

remainder are in the process of doing so.

COUNT III

42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens

Violation of Right to Privacy, Denial of Equal Protection and Due Process

All Plaintiffs vs. Atlas Air

300. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 300 above as if fully set 

forth herein and incorporates all of the foregoing factual allegations and all inferences and 

implications drawn therefrom in support of this Count and cause of action.

301. Plaintiffs are citizens of the United States.

302. At all times relevant hereto, Atlas Air was a State Actor and a person acting under 

the color of law. That is, Atlas Air is the air cargo line of the U.S. Departments of Defense and 

other government agencies, transporting more tons of air freight for more miles for the 

government than any other airline including the U.S. Air Force.

303. Many Atlas Air flights are wholly compelled, directed and commanded by the U.S. 

government. And in many cases, the government compels and directs precisely how Atlas Air 

must complete its missions. This has been the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period.

304. That is, Atlas Air has taken decisive employment actions that have caused Plaintiffs 

harm that is so impregnated with governmental character that it can be regarded as government 

action. The government is compelling Atlas Air’s actions whether through incentive or threat.

305. The U.S. government has effectively delegated its authority to the private sector8

8 See e.g., West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 108 S.Ct. 2250, 101 L.Ed.2d 40 (1988); North Georgia Finishing, Inc. v. DiChem, Inc., 419 U.S. 601 (1975).

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 49 of 66
50

and used companies like Atlas Air to do its bidding for them. 

306. Atlas Air and other defendants are therefore engaged in a quid-pro-quo arrangement 

with the DOD whereby Atlas and defendants are enforcing the agenda the Federal government 

knows it cannot legislate. Stated differently, the government is able to acquire what it always wants 

– more power – through the imposition of private-employer mandates. 

307. In exchange, the Biden administration is lining the pockets of Atlas and other big 

corporations and their executives through policy or pecuniary gain; at the expense of their own 

employees’ and Americans’ lives. 

308. Atlas is also acting under color of law as it has conspired with Government officials 

to leverage Plaintiffs’ Constitutional rights against them in an effort to achieve the Biden 

Administration’s goal of achieving universal vaccination and to acquire Plaintiffs personal, 

genetic information. Atlas Air and the federal government have acted in lockstep and set in motion 

a series of acts inflicting violations of Plaintiffs’ Constitutional rights. Through private and public 

meetings, executive orders, and unlawful coercion and duress, Atlas Air has acted in concert with 

the federal government at the expense of their employees including Plaintiffs.

309. First, the right to privacy. The Supreme Court has recognized a right to personal 

privacy or a guarantee of certain areas or zones of privacy in the penumbra of the Bill of Rights, 

including the First, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Amendments, and in the concept of liberty guaranteed 

by the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment. The applicable cases hold that personal rights 

can be deemed fundamental or implicit in the concept of ordered liberty and included in this is 

the guarantee of personal privacy.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 50 of 66
51

310. Applied here, Plaintiffs fundamental right to privacy includes the reasonable 

expectation to not be coerced or put under duress by Atlas to inject an unwanted, experimental, 

foreign gene therapy into their body to save their livelihoods.

311. This privacy right also includes Plaintiffs’ individual freedom to choose what 

information they want to share or disclose that is personal in nature; and the right to control the 

extent to which their medical information is shared and released. As a means of coercion, Atlas 

violates Plaintiffs’ privacy rights when they broadcast their private information on internal 

memos, bulletin boards, and other communications.

312. Next, equal protection. The Fourteenth Amendment, Section 1, to the United 

States Constitution provides:

No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens 

of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without 

due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

313. Prior to and after the October 2021 announcement of the vaccine mandate, those 

vaccinated were treated superior to and provided more preferential treatment than those who were 

not which included increase in pay, scheduling, benefits and privileges.

314. Atlas knowingly and willfully discriminated against those who are not 

unvaccinated and treated persons who are vaccinated different from those who are not without 

lawful justification.

315. Allowing similarly situated Plaintiffs (those who are vaccinated) to retain their jobs, 

be paid more, have greater privileges/schedules, and not be required to wear masks, is a facial 

deprivation of equal protection.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 51 of 66
52

316. While the mandate appears neutral on its face, in practice it denies Plaintiffs equal 

protection under the law. For example, the mandates deny equal protection to Plaintiffs who have 

closely held religious beliefs that prevent them from being vaccinated. Because of Atlas’s 

practices, Plaintiffs who hold these beliefs have suffered harm.

317. Mandated vaccinations, masks and repeated PCR testing are substantial burdens. 

These employment practices do not have any significant health or safety benefit; thus, there is no 

legitimate interest promoted. To the contrary, the COVID-19 vaccines can cause death and 

permanent injury; and evidence suggests the vaccines are actually prolonging the pandemic. 

Further, natural immunity is more effective and lasts longer than a vaccine.

318. Finally, substantive due process. The Fourteenth Amendment provides heightened 

protection against interference with certain fundamental rights and liberty interests. The liberty 

interests protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment includes not only the 

privileges and rights expressly enumerated by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, but also 

includes those fundamental human rights implicit in structured liberty. 

319. Plaintiffs have a fundamental liberty interest and right to bodily integrity and 

informed consent. This notion of bodily integrity has been embodied in the requirement that 

informed consent is generally required for medical treatment.

320. The United States Constitution guarantees that government shall not “deprive any 

person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,” and precludes Atlas as a State 

Actor from infringing certain fundamental liberty interests no matter the process provided, unless 

the infringement is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest. 

321. Here, Atlas’ actions are those of a State Actor who lacks a compelling interest to 

impede or infringe upon Plaintiffs’ fundamental rights and fails under any level of scrutiny. 

Plaintiffs have Constitutional and fundamental liberty interests in bodily integrity and informed 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 52 of 66
53

consent; and a Constitutional and fundamental liberty interest in not being compelled to provide 

private medical information to Atlas.

322. Atlas’ vaccine mandates do not serve a legitimate, compelling state interest. While 

courts have found a compelling state interest in controlling the spread of infection from personto-person in some instances, this is inapplicable here since these vaccines/gene therapies and 

masks do not prevent Plaintiffs from dying, being infected or transmitting COVID-19 to another 

person.

323. Assuming the vaccines could be said to satisfy the interest of preserving public 

health, Atlas’ mandate is not narrowly tailored since it is not the least restrictive means necessary 

as numerous, less restrictive means than vaccination exist that serve the public interest of 

protecting the public’s health against COVID-19. For instance, antibodies acquired through prior 

infection provide protection, and as stated throughout, natural immunity has shown to be as equal 

to or provide greater protection than the COVID-19 vaccines. And safer, less restrictive 

treatments, preventatives or medications exist like the use of hydroxychloroquine, zinc and 

ivermectin that does serve the public’s interests.

324. As a direct and proximate result of Atlas’ policies, practices, regulations and 

conduct, Plaintiffs have suffered harm.

325. The conduct of Atlas as described herein represents a willful and conscious 

disregard for the treatment of private citizens under the law as to their right to privacy; and their 

actions shock the conscience of the average person and constitute an abuse of power that is 

malicious and purposeful.

COUNT IV

42 U.S.C. § 2000ff-1(a)(1) and (a)(2)

Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (“GINA”)

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 53 of 66
54

All Employee Plaintiffs vs. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir

326. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 326 above as if fully set 

forth herein and incorporates all of the foregoing factual allegations and all inferences and 

implications drawn therefrom in support of this Count and cause of action.

327. GINA prohibits discrimination based on genetic information. Specifically, it is 

unlawful employment practices for an employer to fail to refuse to hire, or to discharge, any 

employee, or otherwise to discriminate against any employee with respect to the compensation, 

terms, conditions, or privileges of employment of the employee because of genetic information.

328. GINA also prohibits employers from limiting, segregating, or classifying the 

employees of the employer in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive any employee of 

employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the status of the employee because of 

genetic information.

329. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir are employers within the meaning of GINA, and 

at all times relevant were engaged in an industry affecting commerce and has at all times had 

fifteen (15) or more employees.

330. Plaintiffs are employees as defined by GINA.

331. The employers have and continue to violate GINA by discriminating against 

Plaintiffs and other employees based on whether they have been taken a COVID-19 vaccine.

332. COVID-19 vaccines are actually Virus-Based Gene Therapies according to the 

FDA’s own definition. These vaccines are unequivocally based upon injecting genetic 

information into a person and changing or manipulating the person’s genetic information.

333. According to the FDA: “Gene therapy products are all products that mediate their 

effects by transcription and/or translation of transferred genetic material and/or by integrating 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 54 of 66
55

into the host genome and that are administered as nucleic acids, viruses, or genetically engineered 

microorganisms.” 

334. According to the CDC: “Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is genetic material that tells 

your body how to make proteins.”

335. According to Genome.gov: “mRNA acts as a cellular messenger. DNA, which is 

stored in a cell’s nucleus, encodes the genetic information for making proteins. mRNA transfers 

a copy of this genetic information outside of the nucleus, to a cells cytoplasm, where it is 

translated into amino acids by ribosomes and then folded into complete proteins.”

336. According to Pfizer, its vaccine contains messenger RNA (mRNA), a kind of 

genetic material, and a piece of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ genetic material that instructs cells in the 

body to make the virus’ distinctive “spike” protein and trigger the immune system to learn to react 

defensively, producing an immune response against the virus.

337. As such, those who have been injected with a COVID-19 vaccine necessarily 

possess different genetic material or genetic information than those who do not. Atlas’ 

employment practices discriminate or provide unequal opportunities based on an employee’s 

COVID-19 status violates GINA.

338. The employers unlawfully discriminated and violated GINA when they took 

adverse employment actions against Plaintiffs and other employees because they are not or refuse 

to be vaccinated.

339. The employers unlawfully discriminated and violated GINA when they afforded 

better opportunities (i.e., routes, schedules and benefits) and greater compensation to those who 

are vaccinated than to Plaintiffs who are not; and requiring those who are unvaccinated to wear 

masks at certain times, while permitting those who are vaccinated to go without wearing masks.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 55 of 66
56

340. The employers have engaged in these practices with malice and indifference to 

Plaintiffs’ rights.

341. The employers’ discrimination has harmed and will continue to harm Plaintiffs.

342. Despite the fact that filing charges with the EEOC is futile, many Plaintiffs have 

done so and the remainder are in the process of doing so.

COUNT V

42 U.S.C. § 2000ff-1(b)

Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (“GINA”)

All Employee Plaintiffs vs. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir

343. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 343 above as if fully set 

forth herein and incorporates all of the foregoing factual allegations and all inferences and 

implications drawn therefrom in support of this Count and cause of action.GINA also makes it 

unlawful for an employer to request, require or purchase genetic information with respect to an 

employee or a family member of the employee. 

344. Polymerase Chain Reaction (“PCR”) tests are used to amplify small segments of 

DNA which is genetic material. This is the same sort of test used for forensics, cloning, genome 

projects for mapping genes and DNA sequencing. Genetic test means a test that analyzes DNA, 

RNA or chromosomes for purposes of such as the prediction of disease or vertical transmission 

risks, or monitoring, diagnosis or prognosis. 

345. For genetic tests, the first step is extraction of genetic material from a human 

specimen either through blood, hair, or oral swab. This is the exact same process used in the PCR 

test required and requested by Atlas to detect the genetic material of COVID-19.

346. Atlas Air, FSI and EncompassAir have and continue to violate GINA when 

requesting and requiring the genetic information from their employees by mandating they take 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 56 of 66
57

the PCR test. They violates GINA by requesting and requiring its employees to have their genetic 

information collected via nasopharyngeal or nasal swab (the swab scrapes the cells from inside 

the nasal cavity which has the genetic material from the person for whom the specimen is 

collected).

347. The employers violate GINA when they request their employee’s vaccination status 

by asking Plaintiffs about their vaccination status as they are asking for their genetic information 

given the vaccines are gene therapies in violation of GINA. They limit, segregate, discriminate 

or classify employees in a way that adversely affects their opportunities or status.

348. The employers have engaged in these practices with malice and indifference to 

Plaintiffs’ rights.

349. The employers’ discrimination has harmed and will continue to harm Plaintiffs.

350. Despite the fact that filing charges with the EEOC is futile, many Plaintiffs have 

done so and the remainder are in the process of doing so.

COUNT VI

Breach of the Collective Bargaining Agreement

Atlas Pilot Employees vs. Atlas and Atlas Executives

351. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 351 above as if fully set 

forth herein and incorporates all of the foregoing factual allegations and all inferences and 

implications drawn therefrom in support of this Count and cause of action.

352. Defendants’ actions against Plaintiffs have violated, and continue to violate, several 

sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, including Article 1(A)(4) (“the Company and 

Union will each comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination against any Crew 

Member who is now, or may become, subject to the terms of this Agreement including age, race, 

sex, . . . religion, . . . handicap or disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 57 of 66
58

local, state or federal law.” Indeed, recent communications by Atlas and Defendant Atlas 

executives have told Plaintiffs that Plaintiffs’ religious and even medical exemptions to the 

vaccine mandates will not be recognized in the future.

353. Under the Agreement, Management rights are laid out in Art. 1(G)(1), which 

provides a long list of rights retained by the Company, including to “direct its Crew Member 

workforce; determine the appropriate number of Crew Members; hire, promote, and discharge 

Crew Members; establish and enforce rules of conduct; maintain discipline and efficiency; 

introduce new equipment; determine the location(s) of the work force,” etc. Under the ancient 

legal maxim Expressio unius est exclusio alterius ("the express mention of one thing excludes all 

others"), when a law or agreement includes a list of specific items, that list is presumed to be 

exclusive. Nothing in the Agreement’s list of Company rights allows the Company to violate 

employees’ bodily integrity by mandating injections of potentially dangerous experimental 

vaccines which do not provide immunity or prevent transmission.

9

 

354. Art. 26(R) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement plainly forbids Atlas Air from 

exposing Plaintiffs to Unsafe Conditions: “1. Nothing in this Agreement will be construed to 

require a Crew Member to take any action if he reasonably believes that such action will result in 

substantial and imminent risk of harm to the Crew Member or his equipment.”

355. According to the US government’s VAERS database, the vaccines have already led 

to the deaths of 26,000 Americans. Scholarly, peer-reviewed estimates suggest the VAERS 

database underreports adverse events from vaccines by a rate of at least 90%. At trial, Plaintiffs 

9 Nor can there be any “emergency” exception argument allowing for Atlas to impose a vaccine mandate. Art. 22H 

even provides a list of natural disasters and acts of God which may constitute exceptions over which “the Company 

has no control,” including a natural disaster, a labor dispute, grounding of a substantial number of the Company’s 

aircraft by government agency, war emergency, or acts of terrorism. The Agreement’s specification of a “war 

emergency” evidence that other, contrived “emergencies,” such as a virus pandemic posing a 4/100ths of 1% death 

rate for those under age 70, do not fall within such a catastrophic exception list.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 58 of 66
59

will show that a number of vaccinated coworkers within the Atlas company have already suffered 

adverse effects and injuries following vaccinations.

356. Art. 15(A)(1) of the Agreement plainly states that “The physical standards required 

of a Crew Member shall be the standards required by the Federal Aviation Administration (as 

outlined in 14 CFR Part 67 and as may be amended) . . . .” Current FAA standards do not require 

vaccination for air crew members.

357. Art. 15(C)(12) provides that “Medical records and other information obtained as a 

result of a Company required medical examination” or testing shall be “subject to safeguards as

to their confidentiality in accordance with applicable law.” Yet Atlas and other Defendants have 

repeatedly violated the medical privacy of Plaintiffs. 

358. Defendants have also violated the JUST CAUSE, DISCIPLINE, DISCHARGE 

AND PROBATION provisions of Article 19 of the Agreement. Plaintiffs have simply been told 

that they will be terminated on May 1 unless they submit to the experimental injections.

359. Further, Atlas and the Defendant Atlas executives have violated Article 22, which 

requires that “Except as may otherwise be provided in this Agreement, seniority will govern with 

respect to upgrade and downgrade, filling of vacancies, displacements, reduction in force 

(furlough), recall from furlough, Base and aircraft assignments due to expansion or reduction in 

aircraft and Base staffing, monthly schedules, vacation bidding and when otherwise required by 

the Agreement.” Article 22D requires that Atlas employees may lose their seniority ranks only 

upon proper discharge, retirement, death, resignation, extended absence or other terminal events.

360. Yet Atlas Air and the Defendant executives have paid vaccinated employees more 

than unvaccinated employees, and have maneuvered to terminate large numbers of senioritystatus crewmembers.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 59 of 66
60

361. Further, Article 25X plainly and clearly forbids Atlas Air from discrimination 

“against any Crew Member because of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, 

disability, veteran status, marital status, or sexual orientation.

362. The Atlas pilot Plaintiffs are third-party beneficiaries of the Collective Bargaining 

Agreement.

363. Several of the Plaintiffs have either religious or medical objections or exemptions 

to the COVID-19 treatment injections. Yet Atlas Air and the other Defendants have continued to 

demand that they be injected with the proven-dangerous, experimental, ineffective vaccine 

treatments. This plainly violates Article 25X of the Agreement.

364. Additionally, the Collective Bargaining Agreement must comply with state and 

federal law, including Title 7. Defendants violated the CBA by interpreting it to defy state and 

federal law, as described above.

COUNT VII

Fraud

All Plaintiffs vs. All Defendants

365. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 365 above as if fully set 

forth herein and incorporates all of the foregoing factual allegations and all inferences and 

implications drawn therefrom in support of this Count and cause of action. above as if fully set 

forth herein.

366. Defendants made (or participated in or approved the making of) numerous false 

statements to Plaintiffs as set forth above, including regarding the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines 

and the fact that Atlas would offer reasonable accommodations for those with religious or medical 

objections to taking COVID-19 vaccines.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 60 of 66
61

367. Defendants also misrepresented facts regarding vaccine requirements of different 

countries, including Germany and the countries of South America, falsely telling plaintiffs that 

those countries were off-limits to unvaccinated pilots and crew.

368. Defendants knew that these representations were false at the time they made the 

representations.

369. For instance, simultaneously while the Company claimed to respect its employees’ 

decisions whether or not to be vaccinated and promised to provide religious and medical 

accommodations, it also reserved the right to determine that accommodations were no longer 

reasonable.

370. The Company then repeatedly equivocated on whether employees with 

accommodations were permitted to work without getting vaccinated or whether these employees 

would be placed on leave without pay.

371. Moreover, Defendants knew that their representations regarding “full vaccination” 

status were false at the time they made the representations.

372. The Company originally informed employees that they would be fully vaccinated 

in compliance with Company guidelines upon receiving a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson 

vaccine. 

373. However, the Company then informed employees that they would not be permitted 

to fly to Germany, South America, and certain other areas even if they had received one dose of 

the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

374. The Company falsely stated that these areas legally required people flying into 

those areas to be vaccinated with more than a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but 

the Company knew that these areas had no such restrictions.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 61 of 66
62

375. The Company discriminated against employees who refused to take any or 

additional vaccines despite the Company’s repeated promises to respect the right to refuse the 

vaccine.

376. Defendants intended that their representations would induce Plaintiffs to act on 

those representations.

377. For instance, Defendants implemented a Company-wide vaccine mandate and 

repeatedly warned employees that they faced potential unemployment if they refused to be 

vaccinated.

378. Further, Defendants paid employees five hours of compensation upon being 

vaccinated, and Defendants removed the ability for unvaccinated employees to fly to certain 

places.

379. Plaintiffs reasonably relied on those false statements. Some Plaintiffs lost hundreds 

of hours and thousands of dollars of income. Some Plaintiffs relied on them to actually take the 

vaccine. 

380. As a direct and proximate result of these false statements, Plaintiffs have suffered 

harm.

381. For example, Plaintiffs who were coerced into being vaccinated suffered intense 

stress upon learning that the vaccines are ineffective and carry a high risk of injury.

382. Plaintiffs who did not get vaccinated suffered loss of income because the Company 

prohibited them from many flights and required them to pay for their own COVID-19 tests, loss 

of job security because the Company constantly informed them that they were on the verge of 

unemployment, and stigmatization because the Company treated them as more disposable than 

their vaccinated colleagues.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 62 of 66
63

383. Defendants acted willfully and with malicious intent in making these false 

statements.

COUNT VIII

Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46 (1965)

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

All Plaintiffs vs. All Defendants

384. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 384 above as if fully set 

forth herein and incorporates all of the foregoing factual allegations and all inferences and 

implications drawn therefrom in support of this Count and cause of action.

385. Defendants acted intentionally or recklessly with respect to the conduct set forth 

in this Complaint, when Defendants’ obligation that employees be vaccinated or lose their jobs 

resulted in inflicted mental, and emotional distress upon them. Even if Defendants did not intend 

to cause these symptoms on Plaintiffs, their deliberate disregard of a high degree of probability 

that the emotional distress will follow is enough to satisfy the element. There is a high degree of 

probability that Plaintiffs would suffer from severe emotional distress by getting fired, retaliation 

from the Defendants, being forced to get the vaccine, or a pay cut. 

386. Defendants’ conduct has been and continues to be extreme and outrageous, because 

Defendants engaged in conduct that would be considered outrageous including but not limited to: 

threats, harassment, embarrassment, yelling, and intimidation that is so extreme in degree, as to 

go beyond all possible bounds of decency. The conduct displayed by Defendants would not be 

considered mere insults, indignities, annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialities such as 

inconsiderate or unkind. It was conduct that was aimed to show hatred, intimidation, contempt, 

and disgust towards the Plaintiffs.

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 63 of 66
64

387. As a proximate result of Defendants’ actions, Plaintiffs have suffered severe 

emotional distress including but not limited to highly unpleasant mental reactions, such as fright, 

horror, grief, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, chagrin, disappointment, worry, and 

nausea. For example, Defendants hostility and retaliation towards Plaintiffs caused several 

Plaintiffs to suffer economic injury, mental anguish, humiliation and embarrassment, as well as 

other emotional injuries.

388. For instance, on account of Defendant’s illegal discrimination, harassment, and 

retaliation, several Plaintiffs were stricken with grief, distress, anxiety which has and continues 

to harm Plaintiffs to this day. For others, the decision to get a forced inoculation or lose their job 

with no other options or recourse caused Plaintiffs to suffer from problems such as emotional 

distress, depression, increased drug use, lost enjoyment of life, increased tobacco consumption, 

sexual problems, lack of sleep, nightmares, pain and suffering, mental anguish, anxiety, or a 

reduced sense of well-being.

389. The harm caused by Defendants to Plaintiffs was reasonably foreseeable, because 

it is foreseeable that Plaintiffs will suffer substantially when facing the prospect of attempting to 

provide for their families without any income or trying to find a job in a very difficult market. 

Besides the stress and pain that come with losing a job there were specific Plaintiffs that would 

have difficulty feeding their infants and worrying that the baby might get sick or die due to their 

exposure in being forced to go to work, some that have experienced trouble sleeping or can barely 

go to sleep at all resulting in physical symptoms, or stress and humiliation being ridiculed, 

harassed, and criticized by coworkers. 

390. For example, it is reasonable that a Plaintiff will suffer from severe emotional 

distress if they are laughed at, ridiculed, mocked, and bullied by fellow employees and supervisors 

due to their religious beliefs. In addition, the policies produced by management resulted in 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 64 of 66
65

instances of vicious shouting and screaming among Plaintiffs and other staff during flights, 

occasional unsafe episodes of pilots leaving their cockpits to scream at coworkers for being 

unvaccinated, Plaintiffs being harassed or discriminated every day on the job and some even 

bullied into getting the vaccine suffering from severe emotional distress. 

391. Further, it is reasonable to predict that when Defendants violate the fundamental 

interests of the Plaintiffs (religious/medical) in a deceptive manner it will result in the Plaintiffs 

being denied rights granted to other employees, along with the emotional distress and anguish 

that comes along with that

Prayer for Relief

Plaintiffs demand judgment against Defendants as follows:

i. An award of compensatory damages in appropriate amounts to be 

established at trial, no less than an average of $1,000,000 per Plaintiff (total 

of at least $159,000,000);

ii. Punitive damages no less than $30,000,000 per Plaintiff or the maximum 

permitted by law as determined by the jury;

iii. Preliminary and permanent injunctive relief enjoining Defendants from any 

further COVID-19 related mandates or restrictions on Plaintiffs or any 

prospective future employees;

iv. Awards of damages tailored to make vaccine-injured plaintiffs whole with 

regard to their manifest and likely future long-term injuries and disabilities;

v. An award of attorneys’ fees and costs associated with this action; 

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 65 of 66
66

vi. An award of prejudgment and post-judgment interest at the legal rate to the 

maximum extent permitted by law; 

vii. Injunctive relief preventing Defendants from further implementing their 

unlawful COVID-19 vaccine mandate, or from further firing, terminating, 

punishing, retaliating or otherwise further harming Plaintiffs; and

viii. Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

JURY DEMAND

Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

Date: October 27, 2022 ____________________________________

John M. Pierce 

JOHN PIERCE LAW P.C.

21550 Oxnard Street

3rd Floor, PMB#172

Woodland Hills, CA 91637

(213) 279-7846

jpierce@johnpiercelaw.com

PHV to be Submitted

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

ANTHONY F. SABATINI, ESQ.

FL BAR No. 1018163

SABATINI LAW FIRM, P.A.

411 N DONNELLY ST, STE #313

MOUNT DORA, FL 32757

T: (352)-455-2928

anthony@sabatinilegal.com

Case 1:22-cv-23519-XXXX Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/27/2022 Page 66 of 66