BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A group of former City of Bellingham employees who sued over the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate have appealed the case in federal court.

Court documents state that 26 former city employees joined the lawsuit last year, naming both the city and former Mayor Seth Fleetwood as defendants.

A U.S. district court judge in Seattle dismissed the case with prejudice on Jan. 21, 2025, meaning that it can’t be brought back to court.

The judge ruled that the Pfizer vaccine was not—as the plaintiffs claimed—an investigational or experimental drug when the mandate was instituted, among other disagreements with the former employees.

But the group appealed the decision on Feb. 18.

Fleetwood issued an executive order in September 2021 requiring COVID-19 vaccines for city workers, volunteers and contractors.

At the end of 2021, 17 city workers were fired for refusing to comply with Fleetwood’s mandate, six others resigned and four more lost their jobs for violating a similar mandate set by the state.

Opening arguments for the group’s appeal are set to be heard on April 2.