Press Release:
PERK and Firefighters
Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids (PERK) and two individual firefighters, filed a LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN 21 FIREFIGHTERS to stop the unlawful Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate.
For Immediate Release in Los Angeles, California, December 14, 2021- On Dec. 10, 2021, Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids (PERK) on behalf of two dozen individual firefighters, filed a lawsuit against the City of Beverly Hills, Muntu Davis -the Health Officer of Los Angeles County, the City of Beverly Hills, and the County of Los Angeles, was filed on Friday Dec.10, 2021 in Los Angeles Superior Court. Attorneys Scott Street and Attorney John Howard represent the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief and damages based on violations of civil rights, and a demand for a jury trial. The lawsuit declares that the mandate exceeds the county’s authority under state law, is unconstitutional, is a violation of privacy under the California State Constitution, and is a violation of the US. Constitution’s 1st amendment religious rights.
Plaintiffs PERK and Firefighters Josh Sattley, Ettore Berardinelli, Jr. allege that despite their essential, (and arguably courageous and heroic) efforts to protect and serve city residents during the entire pandemic, while others sheltered in place, these firefighters (including the unnamed firefighters) are now being required to take the vaccine –against their will– or lose their jobs!
Despite evidence of limited and waning effectiveness of the vaccines, including the fact they don’t stop transmission, emergency authorization, and evidence of significant adverse effects, the City of Beverly Hills has demanded universal vaccinations for city employees.
The lawsuit also contends that the City of Beverly Hills has subjected Mr. Sattley and Mr. Berardinelli, and others firefighters, to extreme pressure when they requested religious exemptions, and that they put Mr. Sattley on unpaid leave, which is a violation of the Supreme Court’s decision in Skelly V. State Personnel, his right to due process, and rights under the state law Firefighter Bill of Rights.
This vaccine mandate is also a violation of their civil rights, and constitutional rights and constitutes religious discrimination under state and federal law.
Additionally, the Beverly Hills firefighters -like all Californians- have the right to bodily integrity and the right to refuse medical treatment, which the County and City’s Vaccine Mandate and actions violate.
PERK, a non-profit that advocates for civil rights issues, bodily autonomy and medical freedom is deeply concerned about the risks to the health and welfare and of children and families that are posed by the mandate, and is sponsoring and financially supporting the case, in addition to it’s lawsuits challenging vaccine mandates for Los Angeles County employees, for students of Los Angeles Unified School District, and students of Piedmont School District.
Public employees and first responders have already experienced segregation, harassment, discrimination and coercion based on their vaccination status. This has a serious impact on those firefighters, their families, co-workers, the fire department, city, county and the public at large. This type of coercion and intimidation by the City of Beverly Hills and County of Los Angeles has a deleterious and chilling effect on it’s residents.
Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids: PERK is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation headquartered in California whose mission is to advocate for medical freedom, bodily autonomy, children’s rights, parental rights, civil rights and protect children’s right to an education. PERK has over 15,000 members throughout California, consisting of public employees, first responders, and parents of children attending school, grades K through 12, in California. PERK has thousands of members with children attending school within LA County. Donate to support our efforts
Media Contact:
President of PERK
Amy Bohn
Perkgroupadmin@protonmail.com