Court Orders Municipality To Pay Over $39,000 in Michigan Pro-Life Case

The Thomas More Law Center ^ | 12/03/02 | Thomas More Law Center

[That Subliminal Kid]

BREAKING NEWS

Tuesday, December 4, 2002

Court Orders Municipality To Pay Over $39,000 in Michigan Pro-Life Case

In a case that has drawn national attention, Detroit Federal District Judge Victoria A. Roberts has ordered that Plymouth Township, Michigan, pay monetary damages, attorneys? fees, and costs totaling $39,545.15 and has permanently enjoined the Township from interfering with the rights of pro-life demonstrators to display signs of aborted babies.

The case began this past July in Plymouth Township when pro-life advocates began to demonstrate against Michigan Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate, Jennifer Granholm, and her ?pro-choice? stance, on the public sidewalk in front of the church she attends.  The demonstrators displayed various signs, including signs that depicted images of aborted babies.  Plymouth Township Police Officers seized the aborted baby signs on the basis that they were tantamount to pornography.

The Thomas More Law Center quickly filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of three of the pro-life advocates who were prohibited from displaying the aborted baby signs.  The Law Center sought an emergency temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Plymouth Township officials.

Within 24 hours after the lawsuit was filed, Federal Judge Roberts held a hearing and granted the emergency temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in favor of the three pro-life advocates, permitting them to display their aborted baby signs in public.  Judge Roberts also found that there was a strong likelihood that the Thomas More Law Center?s clients would prevail in showing that the police had violated their constitutional rights.  Based on Judge Roberts?s order, the pro-life advocates resumed their peaceful protest without interference from the Plymouth Township police.

This past week, Judge Roberts signed a consent judgment ruling that the First Amendment protects the display of aborted baby signs and that the Plymouth Township Police Officers violated the United States Constitution when they prevented the pro-life advocates from displaying the aborted baby signs in public and when they confiscated the signs without consent, a warrant, or probable cause.

As a result of the lawsuit, the three pro-life advocates received a total of $23,000 in monetary damages.

Thomas More Law Center attorneys Edward L. White III and Robert J. Muise handled the case on behalf of the pro-life advocates.

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The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, and related activities. The Center provides its services at no charge, and is dependent upon individual donations, foundations, and corporations for financial support. The IRS recognizes the Center as a 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible. You may contact the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit its website at

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[firewalk]

bump to read later....

[Desdemona]

ping

[Notwithstanding]

ping

[ArrogantBustard]

Hurrah!

[Notwithstanding]

...lets see how long it takes for that pseudo-FReeper who thinks the TMLC lawyers are idiots to arrive to point out how inept the winning lawyers were...

[anniegetyourgun]

Aw....Ms. Granholm is the up-and-coming lib/dem darling. Couldn't have happened to a better pro-abort. BTW, the only reason she's a star in that scummy party is that she's not a threat to Hillary. You see, she's one of the few that hasn't slept with Bill AND, Ms. G. was born in Canada and cannot, therefore, run for Prez!

[Mr. Lucky]

One of the differences between these guys and Judicial Watch is that these guys actually win cases.

[Polycarp]

Ping!!!

[hattend]

Good News! BTTT

[MHGinTN]

Ka-ching! Ring one up for freedom of speech and the campaign to represent the little ones.

[Alissa]

If PETA can use pictures of animals being killed, then it should be a no-brainer that Pro-Lifers can show pictures of the bodies of mutilated babies after abortions.

[Notwithstanding]

Such as: font class="content">City Repeals Law Banning Pro-Life Aerial Banners
Mon, Nov 25, 2002

     (ANN ARBOR, MI) — After the Thomas More Law Center successfully obtained a restraining order from a federal judge in California, temporarily halting the enforcement of a law designed to stop a pro-life group from flying its aerial tow banners with graphic images of aborted babies over the City of Huntington Beach, the City reconsidered its law and voted unanimously to permanently repeal it.

 

     On September 16, 2002, the City of Huntington Beach passed an ordinance that banned all aerial displays, including the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform’s (CBR) pro-life banners, above or within the boundaries of the City.  The Thomas More Law Center filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the Central District of California, challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance on behalf of CBR and seeking a temporary and permanent injunction to halt its enforcement.  On October 16, 2002, the date the law was to take effect, U.S. District Judge Alicemarie Stotler signed a temporary restraining order barring enforcement of the ordinance until an injunction hearing that was held on November 1, 2002.

 

     At the injunction hearing, the judge continued the restraining order until December 6, 2002, because the City wanted additional time to consider arguments presented by the Thomas More Law Center attorney representing CBR.  The City responded by conceding the strength of the Law Center’s legal arguments and calling an emergency meeting of its City Council to repeal the ordinance.  Rather than fight a losing legal battle, the City council voted unanimously on November 18, 2002, to permanently remove the ordinance from its municipal code.

 

     According to Robert Muise, Associate Counsel for the Thomas More Law Center handling this case, “We are pleased that the City acted quickly to repeal its ordinance.  However, they didn’t have much of a choice—if they didn’t do it, we are confident that the judge would have.  It’s unfortunate that the City had to spend taxpayer’s money in this litigation.  This law should have never been passed in the first place.”

 

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes religious freedom, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities.  It does not charge for its services.  It depends on contributions from individuals, corporations and Foundations. It is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

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[Chancellor Palpatine]

The award is probably valid. Sadly, this town will have to pay the price for trying to keep public order and a sense of civility in front of someone's church.

Lucky for the physical health of those protestors I don't attend there and happened to wander my family out into the middle of the protest. They'd be eating their signs.

With each act like this, they distance more and more people from their cause.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Keep flying 'em over beaches. Turn more people off your message.

You people never did understand marketing, did you?

[Notwithstanding]

I was there on several occasions, and the people who showed up for Mass with your attitude all turned out to be blowhard cowards, when push came to shove.

[Notwithstanding]

Jesus and his disciples had a big problem accepting that whole good-PR-at-all-costs thing, too.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Ah - so you were one of the people (and I use that term loosely) determined to wreck someone else's worship experience?

[Notwithstanding]

He has arrived - whiny as ever. Knew it wouldn't be long.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You enjoy stealing money from the residents of this town, don't you?