"GH's" Ingo Rademacher Sues ABC over Vaccine Mandate

[JamesG]

Ingo Rademacher Out at ABC’s "General Hospital", Last Airdate Set
by Greg Evans
November 8, 2021


Longtime "General Hospital" actor Ingo Rademacher is no longer part of the cast, Deadline has confirmed. His final episode on the soap will air Nov. 22.

The reason for his departure has not been disclosed, but the actor has been criticized by some castmates in recent weeks, first for opposing a Covid-19 vaccination mandate and, more recently, for his comments on transgender people.




The actor drew criticism yesterday from castmates Nancy Lee Grahn and transgender actor Cassandra James, both of whom objected to Rademacher’s Instragram post in which he re-posted a tweet from a conservative commentator who used the word “dude” in reference to Rachel Levine, the U.S. assistant secretary for health and first transgender four-star officer.

In her tweet yesterday, Grahn indicated that Rademacher was no longer part of the GH cast. It remains unclear whether Rademacher’s departure was in the works prior to his weekend Instagram post.




In a new Instagram video this morning, Rademacher apologized for not deleting the word “dude” from the re-tweeted photo, and apologized to James specifically.

“Cassandra, I apologize to you sincerely,” Rademacher said. “I think you’re an absolute talent and you’re very beautiful as well. I don’t think a transphobic man would say that. I think you’re absolutely gorgeous, I really do.”

Shortly thereafter, James tweeted, “While trans people are subjected to physical violence every day I spoke up to call out something more insidious. Transphobic memes and ‘jokes’ perpetuate the myth that trans people are anything less than infinitely resilient and utterly brilliant.”

James then tweeted, “I am so moved by the enormous amount of love and support I am seeing online from the fans and many members of the General Hospital family. Thank you.”

https://deadline.com/2021/11/ingo-ra...et-1234870108/

[JamesG]

"General Hospital" Vet Ingo Rademacher Hits ABC with “Religious Discrimination” Suit over Covid Vaccine Mandate
by Dominic Patten
Dec. 13, 2021


Mere weeks after Ingo Rademacher was pink slipped from "General Hospital" by ABC for not getting a Covid-19 vaccination, the actor has jabbed the Disney-owned network with a wide-ranging civil rights lawsuit on constitutional grounds.

“ABC’s actions are blatantly unlawful,” proclaims a jury trial seeking complaint filed today in LA Superior Court by the law firm of JW Howard Attorneys, LTD.

“ABC does not have the authority to force a medical treatment to its employees against their will,” the filing goes on to say. “These actions constitute religious discrimination and violate Mr. Rademacher’s rights under state and federal law.”

https://deadline.com/2021/12/ingo-ra...bc-1234890438/

[JamesG]

ABC Argues Ingo Rademacher’s COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal wasn’t Based on Religion
by Ashley Cullins
Jan. 5, 2023


ABC is asking an L.A. judge to toss Ingo Rademacher’s lawsuit over his firing from "General Hospital" for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, arguing that the actor’s beliefs aren’t religious in nature and he was likely going to be written off anyway.

In a motion for summary judgment filed Dec. 28, ABC’s lawyer Steven Marenberg says the vaccine policy was the result of “an extensive deliberative process at Disney,” which included a process for evaluating religious and medical exemptions on a case-by-case basis.



The network says the actor stonewalled the employee relations department during the review process and refused to give details about his religious views, claiming the questioning was discriminatory and a violation of his civil rights.

The network also argues his statements reflected objections that were “rooted in health or efficacy concerns, not religion” and the beliefs he did cite during his deposition were merely “lifestyle choices.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...al-1235291439/

[JamesG]

Ingo Rademacher Claims ABC Canned Him from "General Hospital" over Trump Support & Politics
by Dominic Patten
March 17, 2023


Similar to so many family ruptures in America in recent years, Ingo Rademacher’s legal dispute with ABC over his 2021 firing from "General Hospital" comes down to Donald Trump and the politics of vaccines, according to the former soap opera actor.

Heading towards a pivotal March 30 summary judgement hearing on the more than a year old lawsuit, plaintiff Rademacher’s attorneys filed paperwork yesterday opposing the Disney-owned network’s motion to toss the case out.

“ABC had a duty to accommodate Ingo,” insists the filing by lawyers Scott J. Street and John W. Howard over their client’s religious exemption request over corporate Covid vaccine requirements. “Instead, it put him through a sham process that was designed to fail, and which was meant to cover up the real reason for Ingo’s termination: his political views.”

https://deadline.com/2023/03/general...te-1235303602/

[JamesG]

ABC Triumphs against Lawsuit Filed by Ingo Rademacher
by Lynette Rice
June 6, 2023


Ingo Rademacher’s legal battle with ABC over his refusal to get vaxxed while working on "General Hospital" is over: A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge agreed with ABC in that the actor’s opposition was based on health reasons rather than his religious leanings.

A detailed ruling is expected within the next several weeks. Rademacher’s attorney had no comment when contacted by Deadline. However, based on precedent, it is very likely the actor will appeal.

https://deadline.com/2023/06/abc-tri...on-1235409986/

[Edward216]

Comment removed.

Ed.

[TMC]

Fired ‘General Hospital’ Star Ingo Rademacher Demands Trial Against ABC

Ingo Rademacher demanded the court reopen his lawsuit against ABC over his firing from General Hospital after he dragged his costar Steve Burton into the drama, In Touch can exclusively report.

According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Ingo, 53, argued he had new evidence that should be reviewed by the judge.

Ingo sued ABC over the network’s vaccine mandate during the pandemic. He said he was fired from General Hospital after 25 years due to his refusal to comply with the mandate.

The lawsuit accused the defendants of religious discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and violation of his right to privacy. ABC denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

The network argued the decision to terminate Ingo was based on health reasons, not due to his religious beliefs.

ABC also fired Ingo’s costar Steve, 54, for his refusal to follow the network’s mandate. However, in his new motion, Ingo pointed out Steve was rehired by General Hospital in January.

In June 2023, ABC defeated the lawsuit brought by Ingo. He appealed the decision.

In hit motion for a new trial, Ingo’s lawyer argued, “ABC’s re-hiring of Mr. Burton undermines its argument that Ingo’s political beliefs did not play any role in its decision to fire him—to ‘recast’ his role—in 2021.” Ingo said he was able to discover emails and texts from General Hospital producers slamming him over his political beliefs.

He said despite the evidence, the judge in the case dismissed the claims.

His lawyer wrote, “Judge Goorvitch credited ABC’s evidence that the political animus that the General Hospital producers showed toward Ingo was irrelevant because, like other people, including GH actor Steve Burton, it simply could not accommodate Ingo’s objection to COVID-19 vaccination and fired him only for that reason."

“That argument was always specious. But it carries even less weight now, given the newly discovered evidence that ABC re-hired [Steve] for General Hospital but did not re-hire Ingo,” his lawyer continued.

The lawyer argued, “This new evidence is compelling. It undermines ABC’s argument that the political animus the GH producers showed toward Ingo did not matter. It confirms Ingo’s argument that ABC intended to get rid of him—to recast his character—which preceded the Covid vaccination policy. It is additional evidence from which a jury could disbelieve ABC’s explanation and rule in Ingo’s favor.”

“As the new year dawns, the Court should take this opportunity to grant a new trial based on the newly discovered evidence regarding ABC’s re-hiring of [Steve] and set the case for a jury trial on the wrongful termination claim.”

In the motion, Ingo, who played Jasper 'Jax' Jacks on the soap, said he reached a three-year deal in 2018 to return after a short hiatus.

He said ABC offered to pay him $2,900 per episode in the first year to $3,1000 in the second year and $3,300 in the third year. The deal was signed in February 2019.

Ingo said he spoke out during the 2020 election for Donald Trump. Ingo said the producers trashed talked his views in private conversations and his storylines dwindled.

He said the judge determined the texts talking about his political views was irrelevant because Steve had also been fired.

Ingo argues that, “The evidence of [Steve’s] rehiring, but not Ingo’s, should change the court’s summary judgment ruling. It confirms that, contrary to ABC’s argument, it was not judge Ingo’s vaccination status that mattered. It was him: his political beliefs and his political commentary. That is why, unlike [Steve], ABC will never re-hire him for [General Hospital]."

ABC has yet to respond to the motion.