ABC is pushing back against former General Hospital star Ingo Rademacher’s attempt to reopen his legal battle over his firing in 2021. Rademacher, who portrayed Jax on the soap, was let go after refusing to comply with the network’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. After losing his initial lawsuit in 2023, Rademacher is now asking the court to reopen the case, citing new evidence he believes supports his claims. However, ABC is urging the judge to dismiss his petition, arguing the new information is irrelevant.
The Original Lawsuit: Vaccine Mandate vs. Political Beliefs
In 2021, ABC enforced a strict COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all employees, leading to Rademacher and fellow General Hospital actor Steve Burton being let go for refusing to comply. Rademacher filed a lawsuit against the network, claiming his firing was not only due to the vaccine mandate but also because of his political views, which clashed with some of the network’s higher-ups. In December 2024, Rademacher requested that his case be reopened, citing the recent rehiring of Burton as new evidence.
The New Evidence: Burton’s Return to the Show
Rademacher argues that Burton’s return to General Hospital in January 2024, despite also claiming a religious exemption from the vaccine, proves that his firing was personal and not about health concerns. He insists that ABC’s decision to rehire Burton undermines the validity of his own dismissal and suggests that his firing was influenced by factors unrelated to health or safety.
ABC Fires Back
However, ABC is firmly rejecting Rademacher’s claims. The network argues that Burton’s rehiring has no bearing on Rademacher’s case. ABC’s legal team stated that the decision to bring Burton back was made after the vaccine mandate was lifted, making it “completely irrelevant” to Rademacher’s lawsuit. They contend that Burton’s exemption is not “newly discovered evidence” and should not justify a retrial. Furthermore, ABC maintains that Rademacher’s refusal to comply was not tied to religious beliefs but rather to his personal decision not to be vaccinated.
The Road Ahead
As Rademacher pushes for a new trial, ABC is working to shut down his request, insisting that there are no grounds for reopening the case. While the final decision is still up to the judge, Rademacher’s legal battle is far from over, and fans are eagerly watching how this high-profile dispute will unfold.
Will Ingo Rademacher’s fight for a new trial gain traction, or will ABC’s defense prevail? Stay tuned as the legal drama continues.
