WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A former NBA official who was terminated for not taking the required COVID-19 vaccine is suing to receive his retirement benefits.
Kenneth Mauer filed a complaint June 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the National Basketball Association, NBA Services Corp., and the Pension Committee of the National Basketball Association Referees' Pension Plan alleging violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and other claims.
According to his lawsuit, Mauer became an NBA official in 1986. He alleges that during the 2021-2022 season, the defendants required all employees to be inoculated against COVID-19 and he was denied his religious exemption request. Mauer further alleges he was suspended without pay or retirement benefits for the 2021-2022 season and was terminated in September of 2022.
He claims he filed an application for his NBA benefits for his pension and that he is eligible to receive his full benefits under the plan but was denied by the Committee. Mauer then filed a discrimination lawsuit and claims that suit only seeks monetary damages for lost wages, interest and reputational damages. He claims the defendants' denial of his benefit payment violates the terms of the plan.
Mauer seeks monetary relief, interest and all other just relief. He is represented by Sheldon Karasik of The Law Offices of Sheldon Karasik in New York.