Plaintiff, Rafael Gomez, proceeding pro se, filed a Complaint alleging employment discrimination against the University of Miami. According to the Complaint, Gomez worked as a public-safety officer for the University’s medical facilities. After he lost his job for failure to comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccine policies, Gomez sued the University in federal district court. He alleges that his refusal to comply with the vaccine mandate was based on his sincerely held religious beliefs and that the University engaged in religious discrimination by failing to accommodate his beliefs and terminating his employment.

The University filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). After the case was dismissed for failure to comply with Court Orders, Plaintiff successfully appealed to the Eleventh Circuit, and the case was remanded and the University’s Motion to Dismiss was reinstated. A response to the University’s Motion to Dismiss is currently due by June 27, 2025. This case is at a very early stage, and volunteer representation would entail representing Plaintiff during all pretrial proceedings, including discovery, mediation, and at trial, if necessary. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov