Friday, November 15, 2013

Developments In Challenges To Contraceptive Coverage Mandate

On Tuesday, a petition for certiorari (full text) was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in Eden Foods Inc. v. Sebeius, (cert. filed 11/12/2013).  In the case, the 6th Circuit Court denied a preliminary injunction to a for-profit natural foods corporation and its Catholic owners who claim that the contraceptive coverage mandate under the Affordable Care Act violates their free exercise rights as protected by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. (See prior posting.) Thomas More Law Center announced the filing of the cert. petition.

In June (see prior posting), a Pennsylvania federal district court granted Geneva College a preliminary injunction pending a decision on the merits in its challenge to the requirement that it include in its student health plans coverage for contraceptives that it considers abortifacients. As reported by BNA Daily Report for Executives [subscription required], the Christian college has now filed a motion and supporting Memorandum of Law (full text) seeking a similar preliminary injunction for the health plan covering its employees. The case is Geneva College v. Sebelius, (WD PA, motion filed 11/12/2013).