Fraud and Emotional Distress Claims Dismissed On First Amendment Grounds

In Peeler v. Way International, Inc., (Tenn. Ct. App., July 5, 2006), a Tennessee court of appeals upheld the dismissal of claims by a doctor and his wife against Way International, a worldwide religious organization. It found that many of the claims were barred by the statute of limitations and that the others would involve the court in determining the validity of The Way's religious doctrines and beliefs in a manner barred by the First Amendment's religion clauses. The suit alleged fraud and infliction of emotional distress resulting from The Way's teachings and mind control practices that required avoiding debt and "abundant sharing" of follower's assets. The plaintiffs feared being "marked and avoided" if they did not share their assets, which were allegedly not used for The Way's outreach purposes, but rather for the "prurient interests" its leadership.