10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 11-17, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com There was relief a little over five years ago for many when the first Covid-19 vaccines became available, bringing hope the pandemic would come to an end. Yet some, including health care workers, rejected the vaccines, citing religious convictions. Local hospitals mandated employees be vaccinated, contending it was to protect public health. Those who refused were eventually terminated, leading to several lawsuits in Monterey County Superior Court that have lingered for years, until recently. In May, two Salinas hospitals, Salinas Valley Health and Natividad, prevailed in separate class action suits brought against them in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Monterey County Superior Court Judge Ian A. Rivamonte issued summary judgements in both cases on May 12 that the vaccine mandates implemented during the pandemic were essential public health measures to protect patients, staff and the community. Rivamonte used as his basis Allos v. Poway Unified School District, decided in 2025, which interprets a California law as protective of public entities when they make decisions based on a public health response. The plaintiffs’ attorney in both cases, Daniel Watkins of Watkins & Letofsky, LLP, based in Santa Ana, says he will be appealing the judgements to the California Sixth Appellate District. He contends that hospitals should have allowed workers who reject vaccines the ability to work wearing masks and undergoing regular testing. The SVH case went to trial once already, resulting in a 6-6 jury decision, Watkins says. It took more than a year to get a new trial date. The case against Natividad, owned by the County of Monterey, was dismissed on procedural grounds. Watkins refiled the case but in the interim the Allos decision came out. He contends Rivamonte and other defendant attorneys and judges are misconstruing the Allos decision. He’s appealing a San Diego case before the same judge that decided Allos and hopes to get clarification. Watkins and his firm have filed 40 vaccine cases in California representing nearly 1,000 plaintiffs, including four cases in Monterey County: the two in Salinas and two against Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. According to his biography on the firm’s website, he is a member of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal organization. As a private nonprofit organization, CHOMP is not a government entity and won’t be able to take advantage of Allos. The case, Raynald Adams v. CHOMP, is the oldest of the vaccine-related cases in the county, filed in 2021 and representing 35 employees. A second case was filed against the hospital in 2024 by three plaintiffs. The Adams case has taken years to come to fruition, in part because CHOMP’s attorneys made an attempt in 2022 to move the case to federal court, where it was sent back down to Superior Court. The case is currently on the calendar for a jury trial in August, although CHOMP’s attorneys are appealing a summary judgement in the case to the State appeals court. Deja Vax Two hospitals prevail for now in lawsuits brought by employees who rejected the Covid vaccine. By Pam Marino Health care workers who refused to take the Covid-19 vaccine were put on administrative leave and then terminated by local hospitals that mandated vaccination. NEWS Those who refused were terminated, leading to several lawsuits. DANIEL DREIFUSS We’ve led an exciting life. Now we have an opportunity to give back. Education is something you can keep forever.” – Michael and Gloria Ipson The Ipson/Tully Memorial Scholarship Fund of the CFMC GRATITUDE 831.375.9712 | cfmco.org | Turn your generosity into lasting impact. We can help. SIMPLIFY GIVING In 2025, DEA seized more than 47 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The 2025 seizures are equivalent to more than 369 million lethal doses of fentanyl. YOU CAN VISIT WWW.SUNSTREETCENTER.ORG to find a narcan distribution box near you to save a life. S S AA Y Y Y YE E S S T T OO S S AAVV I I NNG G AA L L I I F F E E S S AAY Y Y YE E S S T T OO NNAAR RCCAANN
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