Spokane Spends $885K in Firefighter Lawsuit | Spokane News

Spokane News Today | 2 Min | The Daily News Now! · Jul 24, 2026 · 1m

Spokane City Council just approved $200K to keep fighting a lawsuit from fired firefighters who were let go for refusing the COVID vaccine, pushing the legal tab to $885K. The firefighters argue the mandate violated their religious freedoms — a case that began in 2022 when over two dozen were terminated. A federal judge initially dismissed it, but an appeals court revived it, citing the city’s own actions that may have undermined its defense. Firefighters and supporters flooded council meetings, urging leaders to consider the cost and public interest — including one who ran for mayor. The…