Defamation
A Florida court ruled that a pastor could sue two members of his church for defamation as a result of statements they made during a church business meeting.
Disputes
Defamation
A Florida court ruled that a pastor could sue two members of his church for defamation as a result of statements they made during a church business meeting.
Privacy
An Illinois court ruled that it was not barred by the First Amendment from resolving a pastor's "invasion of privacy" lawsuit.
Supreme Court Rulings Address Eminent Domain, Ten Commandments
Article Summary . In its most recent term the United States Supreme Court issued four
Church Membership
A North Carolina court ruled that the civil courts are barred by the First Amendment from resolving cases involving the discipline of church members.
Supreme Court Rulings Address Eminent Domain, Ten Commandments
In its most recent term the United States Supreme Court issued four rulings that will
Arbitration of Construction Disputes
Be aware of arbitration clauses in contracts.
Clergy—Removal
A Massachusetts court ruled that the civil courts are barred by the first amendment from resolving clergy employment disputes.
Clergy—Removal – Part 2
A federal appeals court ruled that it was barred by the first amendment guaranty of religious liberty from resolving a pastor's claim that he had been dismissed by his church because he suffered from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, Lay Employees, and Volunteers – Part 2
A federal court in Kansas ruled that the so-called “ministerial exception” does not insulate churches from having to respond to interrogatories and depositions during the “discovery” phase of a lawsuit.
Marriage and Divorce – Part 2
A Connecticut court ruled that the state’s no-fault divorce law did not violate the first amendment’s guaranty of religious freedom.
Officers, Directors, and Trustees
A New York court ruled that a pastor's attempt to remove an entire board of deacons, and several church members, was unlawful and of no effect.
Marriage and Divorce – Part 1
An Ohio court ruled that a marriage was valid even though the minister who solemnized it was not licensed to solemnize marriages as required by state law.
Marriage and Divorce – Part 3
An Alabama court ruled that a pastor who lost his job because he remarried without his church's approval was not entitled to a reduction in his child support obligation.
Employment Practices
A federal court in New York ruled that it was barred from resolving a dismissed minister’s wrongful termination lawsuit against her church.
Church Membership
An Illinois court ruled that it was barred by the first amendment from resolving a lawsuit brought by a dismissed member of an orthodox Jewish community
Church Property – Part 2
A Georgia court concluded that a local church's attempt to disaffiliate from a parent denomination failed because the church did not comply with procedural requirements.
Church Property – Part 1
A Connecticut court ruled that a denominational agency had no authority to retain the property of a church that voted to withdraw.
Compensation and Benefits
A Maryland court ruled that it was not barred from resolving a lawsuit claiming the church acted improperly in paying off the home mortgage loans of the church's pastor.
Church Property – Part 2
A Washington court ruled that a clause in a church deed limiting any future conveyance of the property to "Protestant evangelical churches" was invalidated by state law.