Klaassen v. Trustees of Indiana University — U.S. District Court, N.D. Ind.

Case summary

Eight Indiana University students filed a verified complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief on June 21, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, No. 1:21-cv-00238-DRL-SLC, against the Trustees of Indiana University. The complaint arises under the Fourteenth Amendment and Indiana Code § 16-39-11-5, Indiana's Vaccine Passport Law, and concerns the constitutionality of the university's vaccine mandate. The plaintiffs moved for a preliminary injunction the same day. On February 16, 2022 the Seventh Circuit held in No. 21-2326 that the only plaintiff with standing had withdrawn from the university, vacated the district court's judgment and remanded with instructions to dismiss as moot. Judge Damon R. Leichty entered final judgment on February 22, 2022 dismissing the case as moot.

Case at a glance

Why was the case dismissed as moot?

Because, as the Seventh Circuit put it, the only plaintiff with standing withdrew from the university. The court recorded that the seven plaintiffs who assert that vaccination is inconsistent with their religious beliefs could obtain religious exemptions, so standing depended on the eighth plaintiff, Natalie Sperazza, who at oral argument said she had no plans to return as a student.

What did the Seventh Circuit order?

That the judgment of the district court is vacated and the case remanded with instructions to dismiss as moot. It distinguished the case from one involving an evanescent policy, saying the obstacle to resolution was the withdrawal of the only plaintiff with standing.

What did the final judgment say?

That in accordance with the court of appeals' order and instructions the case is dismissed as moot. The form records the case as decided by Judge Damon R. Leichty, with neither a jury verdict nor a trial to the bench.

Summary written from the documents on this page; every sentence is sourced.