News Release
For Immediate Release: 9.4.25
Contact: Natalie Konstans, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
District Court Orders State of New York to Pay Over $817,000 in Attorneys’ Fees in Religious Liberty Case
Court grants church’s motion for attorneys’ fees in full after New York passed unconstitutional laws prohibiting the possession of firearms in houses of worship.
Buffalo, NY—The United States District Court for the Western District of New York ordered the State of New York to pay over $817,000 in attorneys’ fees to His Tabernacle Family Church (“His Tabernacle”), a nondenominational church in Horseheads, New York. His Tabernacle is represented by First Liberty Institute and the law firms of Clement & Murphy PLLC and Ganguly Brothers PLLC.
You can read the order here.
“We applaud the court’s decision to grant attorneys’ fees in full,” said Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “The court recognized the dedication to and expertise in the defense of the First Amendment by His Tabernacle’s legal team and reminds lawmakers that it is expensive to ignore the clear guidance of the U.S. Supreme Court. This decision confirms what Congress intended: if the government violates the civil rights of Americans, you will pay their attorneys.”
The Court stated in its opinion, “Plaintiffs’ attorneys were uniquely suited to handle this matter. Indeed, they are among very few attorneys with the necessary skillset to litigate this case effectively—namely, specialty in First . . . Amendment litigation as well as expertise in appellate practitioners . . . . This was a rare and exceptional case, demanding experienced counsel at the top of the practice—from wherever they can be located. A reasonable client would pay for this very result…[and] the judicial system encourages lawyers to take meritorious cases like this one. To ensure that proper incentives exist to achieve that, appropriate compensation is required.”
In 2022, attorneys filed a lawsuit on behalf of His Tabernacle after the State of New York’s unconstitutional attempt to make His Tabernacle a gun-free zone, citing a violation of the church’s First Amendment rights. This lawsuit came after the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, with a key focus on the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion, not just the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The Second Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction blocking New York’s unconstitutional law in 2023.
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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 Natalie Konstans at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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