Church Law & Tax Report

A bankruptcy court in Arkansas ruled that a bankruptcy trustee could not object to a couple's bankruptcy plan on the ground that they proposed to continue making contributions to their church.

A federal appeals court ruled that an employee did not have an expectation of privacy in his workplace computer.

A church's decision to discontinue making payments to a former pastor's widow did not amount to a breach of contract.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the validity of imposing a trust upon the properties of affiliated churches in favor of the national church.

A federal court in Pennsylvania ruled that it was barred by the First Amendment from resolving a church music director's disability discrimination claim.

A federal appeals court ruled that it was barred by the First Amendment from resolving a lawsuit brought against a denomination by a dismissed minister.

A federal court in Connecticut ruled that it was barred from resolving a minister's claim that a church's refusal to hire him amounted to discrimination based on race and national origin.

A Florida court ruled that a student at a religious high school could not sue the school as a result of the disclosure of his sexual orientation.

A federal court in Oklahoma ruled that a church was not liable on the basis of sexual harassment for the conduct of a minister.

A New York court ruled that a church could be sued by a former employee for discriminating against him on the basis of his religion and sexual orientation.

A federal appeals court ruled that a minister's age discrimination lawsuit was barred by the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

A public school policy prohibiting the rental of school property to churches for religious worship violated the First Amendment guaranty of free speech.

The First Amendment limits, but does not eliminate, a church's liability for defamation.

A District of Columbia court of appeals ruled that a pastor could be sued for defamation for falsely informing a public gathering.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a church's parking lot was exempt from property taxation.

A Louisiana court upheld the denial of workers compensation benefits to an injured worker who had been seen performing compensated services for a church.

A city did not violate the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by denying a church's request for a permit to operate a day care program in a residential neighborhood.

Local zoning laws generally allow “churches” in residential areas.