Lea Landis Settles With Directors Guild Health Plan

"Lea Landis, a former claims representative for the Directors Guild of America Producer Pension & Health Plan, has quietly reached a tentative settlement in a Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit that claimed she was discriminated against and fired for objecting to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Court filings state that Landis' attorney notified Judge Michael Small of a conditional resolution and that a request to dismiss the case is expected by May 4, 2026. The parties have not disclosed the terms of the settlement."

"According to MyNewsLA, Landis filed the complaint in February 2024, accusing the Plan of discrimination, retaliation and failing to prevent harassment after she challenged the vaccination rule. The lawsuit says Landis was granted a religious exemption in September 2021, only to have that accommodation later revoked. Attorneys for the Plan have denied the allegations and raised defenses that include the statute of limitations and an alleged failure by Landis to complain to management."

"Unions and producers rolled out updated return-to-work protocols in mid-2021 that allowed certain employers and productions to impose mandatory vaccination policies while spelling out how accommodations were supposed to work. As outlined by SAG-AFTRA and reflected in DGA guidance, those agreements encouraged employers to look at options such as masking, testing, reassignment or remote work before excluding someone from the workplace for refusing vaccination."

Lea Landis reached a tentative settlement in a Los Angeles Superior Court suit claiming discrimination and wrongful termination for objecting to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Court filings say her attorney notified Judge Michael Small of a conditional resolution and that a dismissal request is expected by May 4, 2026. Landis filed the complaint in February 2024 alleging discrimination, retaliation and failure to prevent harassment after she challenged the vaccination rule. The complaint says the Plan granted a religious exemption in September 2021, rescinded it in March 2022, and required vaccination and return to the office. The Plan denies the allegations and asserts defenses including the statute of limitations and an alleged failure by Landis to complain to management.

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