Ingo Rademacher wants to head back to court against ABC for his firing from General Hospital following Steve Burton’s recent return to the soap opera.
According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, Rademacher, 53, filed a motion on Thursday, December 26, requesting a new trial against the network citing there was new evidence.
In the filing, Rademacher alleged that Burton’s recent return to General Hospital “undermines” ABC’s argument that Rademacher’s “political beliefs did not play any role in its decision to fire him” back in 2021.
In Touch was first to break the news.
Related: Laura Wright Says ‘General Hospital’ Feels Like ‘Home’ With Steve Burton
General Hospital fans aren’t the only ones happy to see Steve Burton back on the show — his costar Laura Wright is equally as excited for his return. “It’s perfect. It’s home. It’s safety,” Wright, 53, said of Burton’s comeback in a behind-the-scenes video from his homecoming episode, which aired on Monday, March 4. Wright […]
Us has reached out to ABC for comment.
In November 2021, both Rademacher and Burton were fired from General Hospital due to their refusal to comply with the show’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Rademacher, who played Jax on the ABC soap for 25 years, was vocal about his beliefs on vaccination requirements. Before his firing, he advocated for “medical freedom” via his Instagram page.
One month after his exit from General Hospital, Rademacher announced he was taking legal action against ABC for their policy. Rademacher followed through and engaged in a legal battle with the network where he accused ABC of religious discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and violation of his right to privacy.
ABC denied Rademacher’s allegations. The network claimed their decision to let Rademacher go was based on health reasons, not due to his religious beliefs. In June 2023, a judge sided with ABC.
Burton, for his part, did not seek legal action against the network. Instead, he joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in April 2022, reprising his role of Harris Michaels whom he played in 1988.
Earlier this year, Burton announced he was leaving Days of Our Lives.
Related: Kelly Monaco, Alison Sweeney and More Shocking Soap Opera Exits
When soap opera stars leave their roles, it can be as shocking as their shows’ plotlines. Alison Sweeney surprised longtime Days of Our Lives fans in 2014 when she announced she’d be exiting the series after 21 years. “I’ve been on Days of Our Lives since I was 16 years old, and I have never […]
“I just shot my final scenes here on Days of Our Lives and I just want to say, thank you so much to the cast [and] to the crew. It’s been amazing,” Burton said in a January video uploaded to the Daily Drama’s YouTube page. “I can’t believe it’s been a year already! So, thank you so much to the fans. It’s just … I’m always so full of gratitude. So thank you. Stay tuned.”
Two months later, it was announced that Burton was set to return to General Hospital to reprise his role of Jason Morgan, three years after his firing. He made his first reappearance on the soap opera in March.
“Look who’s back in the ring! 🥊,” the show’s official Instagram teased in March. “@1SteveBurton has officially returned to Port Charles … and that’s all we can tell you (for now). 🤐 #GH #GeneralHospital.”
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