Recent Cases

• Croft, et al. v. Governor of Texas
• Plano Vietnamese Baptist Church (PVBC), et al. v. City of Plano
• Palmer v. Waxahachie I.S.D.
• Free Market Foundation, et al. v. David A. Reisman, et al.
• Templo Bautista Nueva Jerusalen v. City of Duncanville
• Pleasant Grove City et al. v. Summum
• Collegiate Community Outreach (CCO) d/b/a UNT Chi Alpha, and Nathan Wesson v. City of Denton et al.
• Pastor Rick Barr and Philemon Homes, Inc. v City of Sinton
• Shatkin, et al, v. University of Texas at Arlington
• Barrow v. Greenville I.S.D.
• Morgan, et al, v. Plano I.S.D.
• HEB Ministries v. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Croft, et al. v. Governor of Texas
A lawsuit was filed against the State of Texas by an atheist who objected to the word "pray" in Texas' Moment of Silence Statute. LLI filed an amicus brief to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of a group of public school students in support of the Governor to protect the state's law which allows a minute of silence for students to pray, meditate or reflect. The statute was upheld in a federal district court but the case was appealed by the plaintiff to the Fifth Circuit.

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Palmer v. Waxahachie I.S.D.
Palmer, a high school student at Waxahachie High School was suspended for wearing a t-shirt with the name of his favored 2008 Presidential candidate. Palmer was told by the school that the message on his shirt was not "approved" by the school, which only allows messages supporting colleges and WISD clubs or organizations. Palmer and his parents were forced to file a lawsuit after the school refused to change it's dress code policy. LLI is representing Palmer in this free speech case to protect students' rights to express political opinions.

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Free Market Foundation, et al. v. David A. Reisman, et al.
LLI and it's allied attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against the Texas Ethics Commission in regards to a 1973 law regulating the selection process of the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. The law bans expenditures by organizations or "anything of value" that could sway the election of the Speaker. Under the law, even private citizens could be fined or imprisoned if they attempted to weigh in on the process. LLI demanded in it's lawsuit that the law be struck down as unconstitutional.

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Templo Bautista Nueva Jerusalen v. City of Duncanville
The City of Duncanville was using zoning laws to discriminate against the church to deny the congregation religious freedom to gather and hold services. After purchasing the building in the downtown area, the church was told a special use permit would be required in order to begin using the building for services. Templo Bautista applied for the permit, paid the necessary fees but was still denied use of the building because one land owner was opposed to the church being in the neighborhood. LLI sent a demand letter to the City and a new hearing was granted. Only then did the City agree to allow the church to occupy the building and begin to hold church services.

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Pleasant Grove City et al. v. Summum
LLI filed an amicus brief to U.S. Supreme Court representing The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and a number of other leading veterans groups defending veteran's memorials. The brief seeks to overturn the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling which stated cities must allow all privately donated monuments in public areas, regardless of  the monument's message or purpose, or not allow any monuments at all.

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Collegiate Community Outreach (CCO) d/b/a UNT Chi Alpha, and Nathan Wesson v. City of Denton, et al.
LLI filed a lawsuit in federal court to protect CCO's First Amendment rights in this church zoning case. CCO is a religious ministry located in a residential area close to the University of North Texas campus. The City of Denton told the ministry they could no longer operate out of their current property in violation of zoning laws.

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Pastor Rick Barr and Philemon Homes, Inc. v City of Sinton
LLI represents a pastor and a Christian organization that provides housing and religious instruction to men after being released from prison for misdemeanor offenses. The city completely banned this organization from existing anywhere in its city limits. LLI filed a brief with the Texas Supreme Court and oral arguments were presented. This case is the first in Texas history interpreting RFRA (the Texas Religious Freedoms Restoration Act) and will decide whether cities can ban all churches from their city limits.

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Shatkin, et al. v. University of Texas at Arlington
Two women represented by LLI attorneys filed suit against the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) for religious discrimination, after UTA denied all administrative appeals of such termination. The two women were fired from their jobs because they privately prayed after work for an absent co-worker.

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Barrow v. Greenville I.S.D.
Mrs. Barrow, a 15 year teacher with her principal's certificate for 10 years, was told by the Superintendent that she could only have the principalship for which she was recommended if she agreed to take her own children out of a Christian school. When Mrs. Barrow explained her religious objections to removing her children, she was denied the position. LLI defended Ms. Barrow and the rights of Christian parents to choose religious education for their children without government retribution. The U.S. District Court in Dallas ruled that the right of parents to choose private education was not a fundamental right and thus ruled against Mrs. Barrow. LLI attorneys appealed and won a 3 to 0 reversal before the Federal Court of Appeals. Following a two-week jury trial, the jury found that the superintendent had violated Ms. Barrow's constitutional parental rights and awarded Ms. Barrow lost wages and punitive damages and ordered the superintendent to pay LLI's attorney fees.

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Morgan, et al. v. Plano I.S.D.
A 3rd grade boy was told by Plano school officials that he could not include a religious message in his goodie bags that he was bringing to the "Winter Party" to share with his classmates. The student wanted to include the story of the candy cane along with candy cane pens in the goodie bags he and his classmates were encouraged to bring to the school party. However, school officials prohibited anything that was religious from being in the goodie bags, including the story of the candy cane. LLI filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Morgans, other students and parents suffering religious discrimination at the hands of Plano ISD. A federal judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order against Plano ISD to allow students to bring religious items to the "Winter Party." This is an ongoing case that has the potential of cementing many of the religious freedoms for our children that have taken decades to restore. In addition, Senator John Cornyn filed a brief with the Court supporting LLI's position.

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HEB Ministries v. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Tyndale Seminary was fined $173,000 by the state for using the word "seminary" and issuing theological degrees without receiving government approval. LLI attorneys filed suit in district court against the state for violating the U.S. and state constitutions. The suit, on behalf of Tyndale as well as other seminaries across the state, argued that government attempts to control the religious training of seminaries are unconstitutional. The Austin Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the state and the case was appealed to the Texas Supreme Court. The Texas Supreme Court granted review and heard oral arguments from LLI attorneys.  The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Tyndale stating the law intrudes upon religious freedom protected by the U.S. and Texas Constitutions.

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