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New York court rules that it lacks jurisdiction over pastor’s common law claims

• Holland & Knight LLP
• -
• USA
• -
• October 17 2011

In Washington v. African Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc., Case No. 11-CV-6087-CJS, 2011 WL 4352404 (W.D.N.Y. Sept. 16, 2011), the court ruled that the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment precluded subject matter jurisdiction over a pastor’s and his wife’s claim against their former church and bishop based on breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, prima facie tort, and loss of consortium