Texas Church Wins In Settlement of RLUIPA Case

Becket Fund announced this week that a settlement has been reached in the RLUIPA lawsuit brought by Elijah Group (a church) against the city of Leon Valley, Texas.  Last year the 5th Circuit held that the city's zoning law that prohibits churches from operating in areas zoned for business violates the equal terms clause of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (See prior posting.) Under the settlement, the city will allow the church to continue to meet on the property it leases, and the city will also pay $250,000 for the church's legal fees.