Summary Judgment Victory for Air Line Pilots Association

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the world’s largest pilot union and a Goldman Ismail client, won summary judgment on March 24, 2026 in a case brought by a United Airlines pilot who received a religious exemption to United Airlines’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

In granting summary judgment, Judge Matthew Kennelly of the Northern District of Illinois held that no reasonable jury could find ALPA liable for disparate treatment for not challenging the differing accommodations United offered to religious and medical objectors to vaccination. The Court determined that “none of the admissible evidence supports a reasonable inference” that ALPA acted with religious animus. The decision vindicates ALPA’s position that it represented pilots fairly and equally under its collective bargaining agreement with United.

Goldman Ismail partners Rami Fakhouri and Michael Pieja were preparing to serve as lead trial counsel in the trial set to begin in mid-April. They contributed to the successful briefing efforts, which were led by co-counsel from ALPA’s Legal Department. Associates Ethan Perbohner and Caleb Kennedy also contributed to Goldman Ismail’s representation of ALPA.