BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A group of former employees have filed a lawsuit over the City of Bellingham’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The lawsuit was filed with the US District Court of Western Washington on Thursday, June 13, by a group of 18 former city employees. Both the City of Bellingham and former Mayor Seth Fleetwood are named as defendants.

Fleetwood issued an executive order in September 2021 requiring COVID-19 vaccines for city workers, volunteers and contractors. Those who refused claim that their attempts to get religious or medical exemptions were denied.

At the end of 2021, a total of 17 city workers were fired for refusing to comply with Fleetwood’s mandate by his designated deadline.

Six others resigned, and another four people lost their jobs for violating a similar mandate set by Governor Jay Inslee.

At the time, Fleetwood told KGMI that those who left voluntarily did so on good terms.