Many of you know that LRI got its start defending employees unjustly forced to vaccinate or submit to COVID-19 testing. What is far less commonly known is just how successful we were – and still are – with that.
Any success we have had was only possible with the courage of those who reached out to us. It takes immense bravery for people to oppose mandates that infringe upon their personal and medical freedoms. This type of resistance is crucial—not only for the protection of individual liberty but also for ensuring that government and employers are held accountable. We recognize the strength it takes to stand firm in these moments, and we have committed ourselves to doing everything possible to help those who resist these overreaching mandates.
Our goal is always to resolve matters as efficiently as possible, minimizing legal procedures to keep costs down for our clients. We offer subsidized rates made possible by the generous support of our donors, ensuring high-quality legal services at a fraction of the usual cost. For out-of-court demand letters and negotiations, we charged a flat rate of only $250, significantly lower than what most firms in Southern California charged.
While we were sometimes required to seek compensation for cases that could not be resolved outside of court, we worked hard to keep these cases rare. Even in litigation, we kept our hourly rates well below the industry average of $420 per hour. Notably, our clients recovered, on average, more than four times the cost of their legal services—providing them with a considerable advantage over typical contingency-based firms, where fees tend to be around 40% before expenses.
Overall Success Rates
I believe our organization has one of the highest success rates in defending employees against unjust COVID-19 mandates. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide access to the complete data tracking these cases. Even with redactions, the details we track could make many of our clients identifiable, and we have a duty to safeguard their confidentiality. I hope this summary provides you with a clear understanding of the services we have provided and the impact we have had. Below is an overview of our results:
Out of 70 total cases completed, 63 (90%) were resolved favorably. Of these, 54 employees (77%) either kept their jobs or were reinstated, and 19 employees (27%) received financial compensation as part of their resolution. Many of these resolutions involved both job retention and compensation.
Our focus on early intervention proved highly effective: 55 out of the 63 favorable outcomes (87%) were achieved through demand letters or negotiations without the need for litigation. This meant that these clients were able to secure their jobs or financial relief for just $250—a flat fee that covered personalized demand letters and all related settlement efforts.
Success Rates Based on Nature of Objection
We also saw outstanding results in specific objection categories:
• Clients objecting only to vaccination: 42 of 42 cases resolved favorably (100% success rate)
• Clients objecting to both vaccination and testing: 18 of 28 cases resolved favorably (64% success rate)
This second category bears special attention. We were extremely disappointed to see that the vast majority of civil rights firms did not step up to help people in this situation at all. Those that did overwhelmingly limited their representation to individuals objecting to vaccination alone. We were among the very few willing to take on cases for individuals who opposed both vaccination and testing—and our success rate in these cases demonstrates that we were right to do so.
Sector-specific success rates:
• Medical workers: 8 of 11 (73%)
• Government employees: 10 of 12 (83%)
• Private sector (non-medical) employees: 45 of 47 (96%)
We are especially proud of our success rate with medical workers, as these employees faced some of the strictest mandates and were often under intense pressure to comply. Their victories represent not only personal triumphs but also critical steps toward upholding medical autonomy in highly regulated fields where freedom is substantially curtailed.
Unresolved Cases:
Three cases remain active. One involves a medical sector employee working in a non-medical role, currently pending before the EEOC. Another case involves a government employee who objected to both vaccination and testing but sought only a religious exemption from vaccination; this case is currently on appeal. The final unresolved case concerns a private sector employee with a religious objection to vaccination, which is still pending before the Superior Court of California.
Our strategic focus on early resolution not only reduced costs for our clients but also provided them with fast, meaningful outcomes. In many cases, clients were able to retain their livelihoods or secure compensation without the stress and expense of litigation—demonstrating the exceptional value and impact of our services.
Beyond our work with employees, we also provided significant support to students at all levels—primary, secondary, and college—who faced unjust vaccination or testing orders. Additionally, we consulted with businesses seeking to resist unjust mandates, ensuring that none of them faced penalties for non-compliance. Our advocacy extended into the public sector as well, as we challenged the legality of LA County’s vaccination requirement for poll workers, standing firm in defense of citizens’ rights.
These efforts were more than isolated acts of resistance—they were part of a broader movement to push back against unjust impositions. The numbers tell a powerful story: LRI’s work has had real impact, proving that standing up for one’s rights can lead to meaningful change. Each success is a reminder that challenging overreach is not just possible—it’s effective. While the fight is far from over, LRI remains committed to standing alongside those who defend their freedom. The path forward is clear: continue supporting those who stand firm, ensuring that their voices—and victories—are not forgotten.
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