'legal news' Tagged Posts (Page 6)
Court Filings in Fort Worth by Southern Cone Parties
In a continuing effort to delay a hearing on the merits of the case, Defendant Jack Iker and other former diocesan leaders on November 13 filed a petition for writ of mandamus with the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, seeking a review of Judge John Chupp’s October 2 ruling on their Rule 12 motion. The court issued a temporary stay of the proceedings in the trial court. The Episcopal plaintiffs and their counsel will file responses. Additionally, on…
San Diego Superior Court Rules in Favor of Episcopal Diocese
The San Diego Superior Court ruled in favor of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego on Tuesday, November 10 in a property dispute involving the congregations of two churches that claimed to leave the Episcopal Church, taking church property with them. The dissenting congregations in the San Diego Diocese were members of St. Anne’s in Oceanside and Holy Trinity in Ocean Beach. In January 2006 and September 2006 respectively, leaders of these congregations renounced their membership in the Episcopal Church…
Georgia Court rules for The Episcopal Church regarding Christ Church Savannah
On Thursday, October 27, 2009 a trial court in Savannah, Georgia entered a summary judgment holding that, where the clergy and a majority of the parishioners left The Episcopal Church to join another church, The Episcopal Church and its Diocese of Georgia have a trust interest in the parish property. Confirming that the Dennis Canon I.7.4 was validly adopted and imposes a trust interest on the parish property, the court found “that the church property reverts to the control of…
Texas court in San Angelo decides in favor of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas
A Texas court in San Angelo entered a final judgment on October 8, 2009 in favor of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas and against former leaders of a parish who tried to remove the parish from the Episcopal Church and its Diocese. The 51st District Court of Tom Green County, Texas declared that the property of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church was held in trust for the Episcopal Church and the Diocese and that the continuing parish “is identified and…
U.S. Supreme Court declines to review California property decision
By Mary Frances Schjonberg, October 05, 2009 [Episcopal News Service] The U.S. Supreme Court October 5 refused to grant a petition of review from St. James Anglican Church in Newport Beach, which broke away from the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. The court’s order came on the opening day of its fall term and was made public without comment in a 91-page list of procedural decisions it has made affecting the agenda for the term. The breakaway congregation in June…
Information on hearing before Judge John Chupp on October 2
The Hon. John P. Chupp, judge of the 141st District Court of Tarrant County, Texas on Friday Oct. 2, 2009, granted the request of attorneys for former Bishop Iker and others who left the Episcopal Church [defendants] for a continuance in the hearing on the motion by the Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth [plaintiffs] for a partial summary judgment. The hearing is now scheduled for 9 a.m.…
Statement on Judge John Chupp’s order granting rule 12 motion
What the legal language of the order means What the legal language of the order (click here to read it and note that the hand-written portions of the order are in the judge’s own hand) means is this: essentially the court refused to strike the pleadings i.e. it ruled that the reorganized Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and the Corporation had the right to continue to sue the defendants and establish our right to seek declarative judgment. The defendants lost on their…
Statement on hearing before judge John Chupp regarding legal representation of the diocese
The Hon. John Chupp, judge of the 141st District Court of Tarrant County, Texas today ruled that attorney Jon Nelson and Chancellor Kathleen Wells are not authorized to represent the diocese or the corporation that are associated with Jack L. Iker. These attorneys have never claimed to do so. The judge denied the motion by Bishop Iker’s attorneys to remove the diocese and the corporation from the lawsuit filed April 14, 2009. While the judge did make some off hand…
Attorneys present arguments in hearing, new date set before judge John Chupp
Attorneys for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth presented arguments today in the 141st District Court of Tarrant County, Texas in opposition to two motions filed by former diocesan leaders challenging the authority of the attorneys and leaders of reorganized Diocese. The hearing was continued until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, at which time both sides will present short briefs on questions from the judge, the Hon. John P.…
Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth files motion for a partial summary judgment to recover property and assets
Attorneys for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, and the Episcopal Church have on Sept. 3, 2009 filed a motion for a partial summary judgment in the 141st District Court of Tarrant County, Texas as a step to recover property and assets of the Episcopal Church. The defendants are former members of the Diocesan Corporation’s board of trustees and the former bishop of the diocese, all of whom have left the…
Meeting for members of St George’s Episcopal Church in Macomb, IL who wish to remain Episcopalian
MACOMB, IL (Sept. 3, 2009) — Members of St. George’s Church in Macomb who wish to remain Episcopalian will hold a service at 3:30 pm on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Trinity Lutheran Church at 123 S. Campbell in Macomb. Fr. John Throop, former interim priest of St. George’s, will lead the service. A light supper will follow in the church basement. All are welcome. After St. George’s parishoners voted 25-15 on March 29 to leave the Episcopal Church (TEC) and…
Bishop Kenneth Price nominated to become provisional bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Sept. 3, 2009, Pittsburgh – A bishop from a neighboring diocese has been nominated to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh for the next several years until a permanent bishop can be elected. Fr. John Throop, former interim priest of St. George’s, will lead the service. A light supper will follow in the church basement. All are welcome. Today the Standing Committee, the diocese’s current leaders, announced that it has chosen the Rt. Rev. Kenneth L. Price, Jr. and is…
ENS: breakaway bishop seeks challenge to authority of Episcopal bishop
FORT WORTH: Breakaway bishop seeks challenge to authority of Episcopal bishop, others; September 9 hearing set in dispute By Pat McCaughan, September 02, 2009 [Episcopal News Service] Attorneys for Jack Iker have asked a Texas court for permission to challenge the authority of Provisional Bishop Ted Gulick Jr. and the standing committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. Iker, who left The Episcopal Church in 2008 but refused to relinquish church property or assets, is responding to a pending lawsuit filed by The…
The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth responds to motions filed by former leaders
Attorneys for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, the Corporation of the Diocese of Fort Worth, and the Episcopal Church are preparing a response to motions filed by attorneys for former bishop Jack L. Iker and former members of the corporation’s board. A hearing has been set for September 9 in the 141st District Court in Tarrant County. Bishop Iker and these former leaders left the Episcopal Church in 2008 and have since aligned themselves with another church, the Anglican…
Presiding Bishop’s statement on the legal issues in litigation in the Diocese of San Joaquin
July 25, 2009 [Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori issued a statement concerning the Superior Court ruling in Fresno County, California. The full text of the Presiding Bishop’s statement follows. The Presiding Bishop’s Office announced that on July 21, 2009, the Superior Court of Fresno County, California, issued an order resolving most of the legal issues in litigation involving the identity and property of the Diocese of San Joaquin. The court ruled in favor of the church and the…
Superior Court of California grants summary adjudication to San Joaquin
The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. [Ted] Gulick, Jr., the Standing Committee, and the Board of Trustees of the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth welcome the July 21, 2009 decision of the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno, Central Division that grants a summary adjudication to the continuing Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin in its litigation regarding which leaders have authority over the diocese and its property. This California decision joins other courts in Texas and other states…