News Categories: Civil Rights, Corrections, and 42 USC 1983 Litigation

September 2019

Federal Government Sues City of Troy, Michigan for Violation of RLUIPA

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has brought suit against the City of Troy on behalf of a Muslim organization that alleges violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (“RLUIPA”). RLUIPA is a federal law that protects the First Amendment rights of religious assemblies of all

October 2019

FBMJ Attorneys Featured Speakers at Michigan Radiological Society Conference

FBMJ attorneys, Randall A. Juip and Anthony D. Pignotti, presented “Current Issues in the Overlap Between Radiology and the Law” to members of the Michigan Radiological Society on October 12, 2019, at their UpNorth Conference in Traverse City, Michigan. The conference was an opportunity for diagnostic radiologists, interventional radiologists, radiation

June 2019

SCOTUS Allows Takings Claims to Bypass State Courts

On June 21, 2019 the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 35-year old precedent and held that a private landowner who alleges the government has taken their land without just compensation can immediately sue in federal court. Previously such claims had been directed to state courts under state inverse condemnation claims,

June 2019

Supreme Court Amends Discovery Rules

By:  Christopher J. Ryan, Esq. On June 19, 2019, the Supreme Court issued an order amending multiple Court Rules in ways that will significantly alter the daily practice of attorneys engaged in civil litigation. 11 of the 16 rules contained in subchapter 2.300 (addressing discovery in civil proceedings) were amended. The

May 2019

Religious Land Use Case Survives Summary Judgement, Heads to Trial

FBMJ client, River of Life Ministries, defeated a motion brought by defendant Clinton Township to have their claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) dismissed at a hearing in U.S. District Court on May 22. This follows River of Life previously obtaining land use approval and

May 2019

Supreme Court Declines to Hear RLUIPA Matter

The Supreme Court of the United States of America (SCOTUS) declined this week to hear an Ohio case that alleged violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or RLUIPA. That the Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals keeps

September 2018

FBMJ Client Prevails in RLUIPA Matter

FBMJ attorneys have been successful in recovering all attorney fees spent by their client, River of Life Ministries, in securing formerly denied land use approval to operate their church in Macomb County. The fees were incurred as part of their federal lawsuit, Dorman et al v Clinton Township, alleging violations