Church Law & Tax Report

A federal district court in New York ruled that a dismissed employee could not sue his former employer for invasion of privacy.

A Georgia court ruled that a trial court did not violate the first amendment guaranty of religious freedom when it intervened in a local church dispute

A Massachusetts court applied the "compulsory deference rule" in resolving a property dispute.

A Maryland court ruled that it was barred by the First Amendment from resolving a pastor's breach of contract and defamation claims against church officials.

A Florida court ruled that it was barred by the first amendment from resolving a pastor's claim his denomination violated its internal procedures.

An Indiana court ruled that a confession made by a criminal defendant to a police chaplain was not protected by the clergy-penitent privilege.

A federal court in New York ruled that a magazine publisher did not violate the rights of freelance authors and photographers.

A Georgia court ruled that an employer and a screening company were not liable for damages allegedly suffered by an employee who was terminated.

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled that employers can be liable for intentionally communicating false information in employee reference letters, but not for negligently communicating such information.

A Pennsylvania court rejected a woman's claim that her employer's failure to conduct an adequate criminal background check on an employee who assaulted her made it liable on the basis of negligent hiring.

A California court ruled that an employer's loss of vital information when its computer "crashed" was not a loss covered under its insurance policy.

A Georgia court ruled that a pastor could not sue a church officer for defamation.

A Florida court ruled that a marriage between a female and a post-operative female-to-male transsexual person was void.

A federal appeals court ruled that a pastor whose "rabbi trust" retirement fund was substantially lost could not sue the investment company.

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that a company was not liable on the basis of negligent hiring or negligent supervision.

A Pennsylvania court ruled that a church's fellowship hall that was used for weekly Bible study classes constituted "religious worship" and therefore was exempt from property taxes.

A Michigan court ruled that a trial court acted improperly in dismissing a church's claim that a city violated RLUIPA.

A Missouri court ruled that a city did not violate the first amendment guaranty of religious freedom in refusing to grant a church's request for a permit to construct a sign on its property.

A federal appeals court ruled that federal sentencing guidelines did not apply to a pastor who defrauded hundreds of persons in a securities scam.

A Louisiana court refused to overturn a default judgment issued against a church that failed to answer a lawsuit.