Case Background
For nearly three decades, Rockmond Dunbar built a prominent career as a Black leading man in Hollywood, starring in hit shows like "Prison Break" and "Sons of Anarchy". Since 2013, Dunbar and his family had followed the Church of Universal Wisdom, a faith that views medical interventions that introduce disease into the body as a sacrilege. This religious conviction took center stage when the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the entertainment industry.
Starting in 2018, Dunbar played a regular role on the television drama "9-1-1". As the pandemic continued, Disney and 20th Television introduced a policy in September 2021 requiring all employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. While the show’s producers initially expressed a desire to keep Dunbar on the cast by adjusting his schedule, the corporate administration took a different path.
Cause
The conflict began when Dunbar sought religious and medical exemptions from the vaccine mandate. He claimed that his faith prohibited the injection and requested a reasonable accommodation to continue working. However, the Defendants denied these requests and barred him from the set in October 2021. Dunbar alleged that the company refused to engage in a meaningful dialogue and instead mocked his beliefs.
Injury
Dunbar alleged that the denial of his accommodation and his subsequent removal from "9-1-1" caused severe damage to his career and reputation. He stated that his character was written out of the show in a way that suggested he could return, but he was ultimately terminated. Furthermore, he claimed that the Defendants leaked negative information to the media, labeling him an "anti-vaxxer" and placing him on an industry-wide "do not hire" list.
Damages Sought
The actor sought significant financial compensation for his losses. This included approximately $723,800 for the remaining episodes of the fifth season and a $352,296 bonus he claimed he had earned. He also alleged that the "blacklisting" caused over $1,000,000 in damages to an independent film project he was developing, as investors and talent backed away due to the controversy.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The legal battle unfolded in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, with both sides presenting starkly different accounts of the events.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Rockmond Dunbar.
Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Aaron Siri | Elizabeth A. Brehm | Caroline Tucker | John W. Howard | Mason A. Barney | Mitchell B Stein | Peter Camden Shelling | Scott James Street | Sonal Jain
Defendant(s): The Walt Disney Company | Twentieth Century Fox Television.
Counsel for Defendant(s): Maria C. Rodriguez | Christopher Braham | Ariel Beverly
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
The Plaintiff's legal team argued that the Defendants had a legal obligation under Title VII and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to accommodate Dunbar’s sincerely held religious beliefs. They contended that the company had granted similar accommodations to other cast members who were not Black, suggesting a discriminatory double standard.
Claims
Dunbar’s complaint listed several causes of action:
Religious Discrimination: Failing to accommodate his beliefs and terminating him because of them.
Race Discrimination: Alleging he was treated less favorably than non-Black employees.
Retaliation: Terminating his contract and disparaging him after he sought legal counsel for his rights.
Breach of Contract: Failing to pay the "pay-or-play" fees and bonuses guaranteed in his agreement.
Defense
The Defendants denied all allegations of discrimination and retaliation. They argued that the vaccine mandate was a necessary safety measure for the workplace and that they had acted in accordance with their established policies. The defense maintained that Dunbar had breached his own employment agreement by failing to comply with the mandatory health and safety protocols required to work on set.
Jury Verdict
After hearing the evidence presented during the trial, the jury reached a unanimous decision on October 17, 2025.
On the primary claim regarding the failure to accommodate Rockmond Dunbar's religious beliefs, the jury found in favor of the Defendant, 20th Television. The Court subsequently entered a final judgment on the verdict, ordering that Dunbar take nothing from the lawsuit and that the action be dismissed on its merits. This outcome meant that the jury did not find the Defendants liable for the discrimination or breach of contract claims brought by the actor.
Court documents are available upon request at [email protected]
