News Release
For Immediate Release: 7.23.24
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Dad’s Place Files Appeal Seeking Emergency Relief After Federal Judge Refuses to Block City of Bryan, Ohio’s Continued Harassment of Church
Attorneys for church serving community by keeping doors open 24/7 to anyone in need of shelter, assistance seek immediate relief from appellate court.
Toledo, OH—Today, First Liberty Institute and the law firms Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP and Spengler Nathanson PLL appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit a decision by a federal district court judge denying a preliminary injunction to protect the religious activities of Dad’s Place and Pastor Chris Avell. Dad’s Place also filed an emergency motion for preliminary injunction pending appeal.
A copy of the emergency motion is here.
“Like churches throughout history, Dad’s Place wants to be a place of safety for those in desperate need,” said Philip Williamson of Taft. “We are hopeful that the Sixth Circuit will recognize that Ohio and federal law alike protect vital ministries like Dad’s Place.”
“It’s unfortunate that we must now ask the U.S Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit weigh in and put an end to Mayor Schlade’s and the city’s harassment of Dad’s Place,” said Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel for First Liberty. “We must appeal as soon as possible for the sake of those needing the shelter Dad’s Place provides.”
In March 2023, Dad’s Place began operating its ministry 24 hours a day to serve the most vulnerable in its community. For months, Dad’s place did so without incident. However, in November 2023 as winter began in Northern Ohio, Bryan city officials issued an ultimatum to the church: cease operating 24-hours a day or face crippling penalties. After Dad’s Place refused to force those within its care out onto the streets, city officials began engaging in a campaign to harass, intimidate, and shut down Dad’s Place. To date, Mayor Schlade and officials have criminally charged Pastor Avell 19 times, threatened to criminally charge the church’s landlord, used law enforcement officials to needlessly harass and humiliate Dad’s Place and its congregants, and is now threatening to take additional actions—including daily fines of $1,000 per day and a forced eviction—to permanently shut down the church.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact John Manning at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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