A Sun Valley megachurch that continuously defied COVID-19 pandemic health rules will not get fined, instead, it ended up with a payout of nearly a million dollars.
The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved a proposed settlement Tuesday. Under the deal, Los Angeles County and the state of California would each pay $400,000 to Grace Community Church, which has defied restrictions on indoor gatherings, masking and social distancing.
Related
“I think it is a victory for the church,” said Loyola law professor Jessica Levinson. “There are no two ways about it. The church is going to get a sizable amount of money.”
Attorneys for the church contended that local and state officials have subjected Grace Community to “unconstitutional religious discrimination.”
County health officials repeatedly cited the church over the past year for failing to adhere to coronavirus pandemic safety protocols, which officials claimed were essential to control the spread of COVID-19. The county obtained a preliminary injunction from an L.A. Superior Court judge in September 2020, but the church ignored all orders continuing to hold indoor services.
Levinson told KNX that she thinks it makes sense for the county to settle this case.
“The Supreme Court has been pretty clear since the composition of the court changed, that it is going to be very favorable to any religious institution that comes and complains about COVID restrictions,” said Levinson. “I think the county was worried about what would happen at trial given the Supreme Court precedent.”
Related
A letter from L.A. County’s legal counsel indicates this litigation, with the proposed settlement amount, could end up costing the county close to $1.4 million.
County officials declined to comment prior to the Board of Supervisors' vote on the settlement.