RLUIPA
Seventh Circuit Rules Church Has Standing to Challenge Entirety of Zoning Scheme Under RLUIPA’s Equal Terms Provision
On January 17, 2019, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Dalton Tomich client, the Church of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in its suit against Markham, Illinois. The suit raises several claims under the Religious Land Use Institutionalized Persons Act, […]
Read MoreNoel Sterett to Speak at 2019 NIFLA Legal Summit About RLUIPA Protections for Pregnancy Care Centers
In May, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (“NIFLA”) will be hosting its annual legal summit. NIFLA has asked Dalton & Tomich attorney Noel Sterett to present on how the Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”) can help pregnancy care ministries […]
Read MoreRacially Charged Religious Discrimination Prohibited Under RLUIPA
Although RLUIPA is mainly concerned withreligious discrimination, racial animus towards a religious organization falls within the ambit of RLUIPA’s very broad protection. On February 7, 2019, the Fourth Circuit, citing the legislative history of RLUIPA, emphasized that “zoning board members or neighborhood residents explicitly offerraceor […]
Read MoreMajor Religious Land Use Win in Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Yesterday, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Dalton Tomich client, the Church of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in its suit against Markham, Illinois. Honorable Judges Easterbrook, Flaum, and Brennan all agreed that the district court was wrong to reject […]
Read MoreSupreme Court Rehears Important Property Rights Case with Implications for Religious Land Use Plaintiffs
Yesterday, the Supreme Court took the unusual step of having a second round of oral arguments in the case of Knick v. Scott Township. As we wrote in October 2018, the property owner in the Knick case has asked the Court to overrule its 1985 decision in Williamson County […]
Read MoreWhat the Move to Ban Single-Family Zoning May Mean for Religious Assembly Uses
Zoning is often used as a tool to protect the haves from the have-nots. The haves are those who already have homes, schools, and places of worship in a community. The have-nots are those who come to a community in search of those things. Even […]
Read MoreNo Land Use Regulation, No RLUIPA Violation
As explained more thoroughly in “Litigating Religious Land Use Cases,” RLUIPA contains five claims under its broad statutory umbrella. And while each claim has distinct and separate elements, allclaims start with: “No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation. . . .”[1]RLUIPA’s text […]
Read MoreParking requirements for Religious Assembly: How RLUIPA helps
When it comes to abiding by land use and zoning laws, many religious assemblies and institutions face hurdles. Depending on the circumstances, meeting a city’s parking requirements can be a big one. The City of Chicago’s parking requirements, for example, seemed to be the only […]
Read MoreKavanaugh, J., May Decide Fate of “Williamson County” Rule That Plagues Religious Land Use Cases
As we wrote in October, the Supreme Court is considering whether to overrule its decision in Williamson County in the case of Knick v. Scott Township. The Williamson County rule requires property owners to exhaust state remedies before they can ask a federal court to decide whether the government […]
Read MoreNoel Sterett Argues RLUIPA Case Before Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Halloween
On Wednesday, October 31, 2018, I spent my Halloween exactly how every attorney would like to spend it: arguing an important case in front of a panel of three of the most distinguished federal judges in the country. The Honorable Judges Easterbrook, Flaum, and Brennan […]
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Mitchell CorderAdministrative Bishop Church of God, Tennessee
In my role as Administrative Bishop for the Church of God, quite often we are faced with issues that involve local governments and municipalities. Many of these issues that arise in dealing with entities are land use related. I have found Dalton & Tomich’s experience and expertise in this area to be a valuable resource and asset in every situation.
Tim RhodusLead Pastor, Cross Church Carlinville & Staunton, IL
Never one time during a year-long litigation process did Dalton & Tomich demonstrate anything other than Christ-like professionalism. They managed the legal details, while we continued to do church. How they managed themselves, managed our case, and represented our church set the table for me and our church to be where we are today.
Ronnie HolmesSenior Pastor, Church of the Open Door, Waco, TX
Dalton & Tomich’s expertise and experience helped us through a very difficult legal journey, ultimately achieving a favorable outcome. Their personal interest in helping us went “above and beyond” just the call of duty.