Thursday, May 09, 2013

Another Contraceptive Coverage Challenge Filed By A For-Profit Small Business

Suits challenging the Affordable Care Act contraceptive coverage mandate continue to be filed. Thomas More Law Center announced the filing of a suit yesterday on behalf of a family-owned company that is a leading supplier of custom injection molding products, and on behalf of the four brothers who own and control the business. Three of the brothers are Catholic and one is Baptist. The complaint (full text) in M&N Plastics, Inc. v. Sebelius, (ED MI, filed 5/8/2013), asserts that plaintiffs in particular object to the requirement that the health insurance policies they provide cover Plan B and ella "since they believe those drugs could prevent a human embryo, which they understand to include a fertilized egg before it implants in the uterus, from implanting in the wall of the uterus, causing the death of a person." The complaint alleges that the mandate violates the 1st Amendment, RFRA and the Administrative Procedure Act.