California appeals court: unpaid leave was reasonable religious accommodation for unvaccinated teacher
Key points
- The court held unpaid leave was a reasonable religious accommodation for an unvaccinated teacher
- The case is Smith v. Burbank Unified Sch. Dist. (123 Cal. App. 5th 1172, 2026)
- The plaintiff, Douglas Smith, was a high school chemistry teacher at Burbank Unified School District
In Smith v. Burbank Unified Sch. Dist. (123 Cal. App. 5th 1172, 2026), plaintiff Douglas Smith, a high school chemistry teacher at Burbank Unified School District, was the subject of a ruling. The court held that unpaid leave was a reasonable religious accommodation for his request as an unvaccinated employee.
Policy details
- Jurisdiction
- California
- Status
- Court ruling
- Effective date
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- Official source
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Original report: JD Supra ↗AI-assisted brief; may contain inaccuracies. Rely on the original reports and official documents. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.