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We are experienced attorneys offering innovative and collaborative legal solutions that grow businesses and banks, expand churches, and build nonprofit organizations. Our blog features insight into recent case decisions, advice for budding entrepreneurs and established leaders, as well as commentary on other aspects of the legal profession that we find interesting. Welcome. Please let us know what you think.
Owning the Building Isn't Enough: What Trinity Health v. Kentwood Means for Nonprofit Property-Tax Strategy
A recent published decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals, Trinity Health-Michigan v. City of Kentwood (August 21, 2026), is worth the attention of any nonprofit that owns real estate and assumes its charitable mission secures a property-tax exemption. The…
Sacred Trust or Governance Grab? The Horizon Texas Lawsuit Against Highland Park Methodist Church
In disputes between regional conferences and local mega-churches, neutral principles give local congregations strong leverage if their deeds and corporate bylaws favor local control. However, if the local church previously executed clear contracts, express trust agreements, or charter language binding…
Zoning, RLUIPA and the Fair Housing Act in Connecticut: Speaking at the CAZEO Annual Conference.
Thank you to the Connecticut Association of Zoning Enforcement Officers (CAZEO) for the invitation to speak at its annual conference on August 4, 2026, about the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and the Fair Housing Act. Zoning enforcement…
When Tithes Meet the Courts: Understanding Leach v. Gateway Church and the First Amendment Shield
Can a church member sue their church if tithes and offerings are allocated differently than promised in a sermon or on a website? Can a donor demand a refund based on a pastor’s pulpit pledge? A ruling from the United…
A church's action to evict pastoral staff from a church-owned parsonage is not barred by eccelesiastical abstention
The First Amendment Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine does not bar civil courts from resolving real property claims involving religious entities where the dispute can be decided using neutral principles of law without determining underlying theological or doctrinal questions. A defrocked bishop…
Understanding the Fine Print: Why Due Dates and Disclosures Can Break a Commercial Case
Commercial real estate disputes often turn on a single word or a misplaced assumption. A recent opinion issued by Judge Victoria A. Valentine of the Oakland County Business Court in Kenlyn Properties-Livonia, LLC v. Livonia AF, LLC et al. highlights…
Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ: Choosing the Right Path to 501(c)(3) Recognition
If you are forming a new nonprofit, one of the first decisions you will face after incorporating is how to apply to the IRS for recognition of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3). Most small organizations have two options: the full…
THE BOUNDARIES OF CIVIL JUSTICE AND FAITH: the Sweeping Scope of the Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine in Michigan
On July 15, 2026, the Michigan Court of Appeals delivered a forceful reminder of this constitutional boundary in Rev. Dr. Marcus L. Lovelace v. Mt. Zion Baptist Church, et al. (Docket No. 371028). The court affirmed the wholesale summary dismissal…
Faith, Abstinence, and Federal Funds: The Evolving Scope of the Church Autonomy Doctrine in Tassinari v. The Salvation Army
The Tassinari decision will undoubtedly serve as a crucial benchmark for future litigation concerning faith-based non-profits and federal funding. By focusing squarely on the nature of the space and program rather than the defendant's global corporate identity, the court established…
Damages remain a remedy in land use cases litigated under RLUIPA.
In Landor, the court clarified that RLUIPA does not alter the law; rather, it bars prison litigants from seeking monetary damages from individuals who infringe their rights under the Act. This means Landor's case is more about procedure than substantive…
Site Plan Approved for Milwaukee Rescue Mission: When a Zoning Board Decides What Makes a Church
Congratulations to Milwaukee Rescue Mission for securing approval to build a new recovery facility in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Despite opposition, the Zoning Board reviewed the law and reached a favorable outcome. The key issue was what defines a church: a…
The Intersection of Sacred Spaces and Civil Statutes: Why I’m Returning to Detroit Mercy Law to Teach Law and Religion
This upcoming Fall semester, my career path comes full circle. I am returning to my alma mater, the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, to teach a comprehensive course on Law and Religion.
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