Another Small Business Owner Challenges Contraceptive Coverage Mandate, But With Special Symbolism

Thomas More Law Center yesterday announced that another lawsuit by a small business and its owner challenging the contraceptive coverage mandate of the Affordable Care Act was filed this week.  This time the challengers were Southern Baptist plaintiff Thomas Beckwith and the Florida-based Beckwith Electric Company, Inc. The individual plaintiff is a 93% stockholder and CEO of the company.  The complaint (full text) in Beckwith Electric Company, Inc. v. Sebelius, (MD FL, filed 3/12/2013), asserts legal challenges similar to many of the other suits that have been filed in recent months.  This suit however has two unique symbolic elements to it. First, according to Baptist Press, this is the 50th lawsuit filed challenging the mandate. Second, the suit alleges that Thomas Beckwith is "a descendant of the Beckwiths, who in 1626 endured the hardships of the lengthy and storm-ridden voyage to America on a 40-foot boat called the "Sparrow Hawk"; the Beckwiths landed on these shores to escape religious persecution in England."