Religion & Law

Settling Church Property Disputes in the Context of the Episcopal Church
This Article first explores the two approaches the Supreme Court has authorized for resolution of church property dispute cases.

Condemnation of Church Property Does Not Violates Floridas Religious Freedom Restoration Act
In seeking to expand a substance abuse facility, Broward County concluded that it needed to condemn the property owned by a church.  The County indicated that the church property was in a desirable location for the proposed facility because it is accessible by public transportation, it is centrally located, and it is close to other [...

The ERISA Church Plan Exception: Why the Lown Test is Improperly Narrow
Part I of this Comment generally discusses the ERISA church plan exception, and how it has been interpreted by the Department of Labor. Part II discusses the judicial interpretation of the exception, and demonstrates how courts are not giving full effect to the statutory language.

Illinois: Lake Bluff man declares his $3M home a church, gets $80k annual tax break
The Chicago Tribune reports: . . . What his neighbors didn’t know is that Michael had decided to convert his $3 million residence into the Armenian Church of Lake Bluff, qualifying him for a nearly $80,000 break on his annual property tax bill...

Okla. Church loses court fight for its property
Tulsa World reports: “In a case that has national interest, Tulsa District Judge Jefferson Sellers ruled that the church property belongs to the Presbyterian Church USA and its Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery, not to the local congregation...

Alaska: ACLU wants church property tax exemption erased
"The ACLU wants Anchorage Superior Court Judge Michael Spaan to throw out a 2006 state law exempting church-owned religious teachers' housing from property taxes . . . "

Nanotechnology Law
Intellectual property laws

Unwed Fathers' Rights in Adoption
Landmark Cases in Adoption Law Shape Law with respect to Unwed Fathers

The Bay Presbyterian Church
$700,000 settlement reached in church split case.

Tax Jurisdictions
Midland County et al. agree to $137 million settlement in property tax dispute.

Compellent, Storage Engine, et. al.
$10.5 million settlement reached in intellectual property dispute.

Condemned Redevelopment
City of Baltimore agrees to $7.8 million property use dispute settlement with Warner Street Inc.

General Electric Co. and SABIC Innovative Plastics
$3 million settlement reached in intellectual property dispute.

Roman Catholic Church
Diocese of Antigonish faces class action over abuse by a priest