Court Refuses Interlocutory Appeal In Establishment Clause Challenge To AIG Bailout

In Murray v. Geithner, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8415 (ED MI, Feb. 2, 2010), a Michigan federal district court denied the government's motion to certify for interlocutory appeal the court's May 2009 holding that plaintiffs have standing to challenge on Establishment Clause grounds the federal bailout of the giant insurance company AIG. The lawsuit claims that AIG's involvement in Sharia-compliant financing means that federal funds are supporting Islamic religious activity. The court also refused to certify for interlocutory appeal its denial of of a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.