Couple Denied Utilities May Pursue Religious Discrimination Claim Against FLDS Town

In Cooke v. Town of Colorado City, Arizona, (D AZ, Feb. 13, 2013), an Arizona federal district court, while dismissing some of plaintiffs' causes of action, permitted them to move ahead with their claims that Colorado City, Arizona and two utility companies discriminated against them on the basis of religion. Plaintiffs, husband and wife, allege they were denied utility connections for their home because they are not members of the locally dominant Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The husband was a former FLDS member.  The court held that plaintiffs may move ahead with their claims under the Federal and Arizona Fair Housing Acts and Arizona anti-discrimination laws. KUTV News reports on the decision.