Supreme Court – On the Clock

Are Religious Organizations Subject to the Laws of Man?

February 13, 2019February 15, 2019FordHarrison LLPLeave a comment

Douglas, Jeff - 300dpi — **Jeffrey Douglas**

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed the existence and applicability of the ministerial exception in employment discrimination cases. See Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & Sch. v. EEOC, 565 U.S. 171 (2012). After conducting an exhaustive analysis of the history of separation of church and state including its origin in the first sentence of the Magna Carta, its merger during the reign of King Henry VIII, and its re-separation during the founding of this country, the Court concluded that the ministerial exemption is a critical safeguard against governmental interference in religious matters. Continue reading →

After the Scare: Sixth Circuit says Insurance Agents Are Still Independent Contractors

February 8, 2019February 11, 2019FordHarrison LLPLeave a comment

Last week, many insurance carriers breathed a sigh of relief when the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that more than 700 American Family Life Insurance agents were properly classified as independent contractors, not employees. The case is Jammal v. American Family Life Insurance Company, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 2905. Continue reading →