Religious Institutions
The Constitutional Right to Leave a Faith and the “Dead Hand” of Religious Obligations
Americans enjoy an inalienable First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. Recently, the California Court of Appeals reaffirmed that the First Amendment implicitly includes the right to change one’s religious beliefs, forms of worship, and religious affiliations. In certain circumstances, an individual’s freedom […]
Read MorePublic School Closings Open Door to Religious Schools and Set Stage for State and Local Legal Battles
Hundreds of thousands of parents across the country just learned that their local public schools will be closing. In Chicago alone, 330,000 students will be denied in-person instruction. Panicked parents, who are already familiar with the difficulties and inadequacies of remote learning, are looking for […]
Read MoreDalton & Tomich wins injunction against Hinds County, Mississippi on behalf of The Church at Jackson
County’s zoning ordinance violates Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) Media Contacts: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; barbara@eafocus.com; 248.260.8466; Noel Sterett; nsterett@daltontomich.com; 815.997.7221 Detroit—-September 27, 2021—National law firm Dalton & Tomich announced it has won an injunction on behalf of the Church at Jackson […]
Read MoreThe Good Book on religious property disputes is now available: Religious Property Disputes and the Law: House of God, Laws of Man, published by the American Bar Association
Detroit – August 10, 2021 – Daniel Dalton, co-founder of Detroit-headquartered law firm Dalton & Tomich PLC, and a national authority in religious property law, announced the publication of his book Religious Property Disputes and the Law: House of God, Laws of Man, by the American […]
Read MorePark and pray? Church wins preliminary injunction against City of St. Pete Beach, which attempted to forbid public parking in Church’s lot
City’s punitive measures restricting religious exercise of Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church likely violate federal law Media Contacts: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; barbara@eafocus.com; 248.260.8466; Dan Dalton; ddalton@daltontomich.com; 248.229.2329 St. Pete Beach, Fla.—January 27, 2021—Daniel Dalton, a religious property and land use attorney with […]
Read MoreHow Religious Groups May Use Their Facilities to Help the Homeless During the Pandemic
An increasing number of state and local governments are issuing “shelter-in-place” or “stay-at-home” orders. But what does that mean for those who have no shelter or home in which to stay? The homeless so often depend on shelters that are already at capacity, making social […]
Read MoreInteresting Land Use Provisions of the Illinois Religious Corporation Act
In Illinois, there is a very old and little-known law called the Religious Corporation Act of 1872 (805 ILCS 110 et seq.). The Act is still on the books and affords religious congregations an alternative way of incorporating. If a congregation does not want to […]
Read MoreHow a Pending Supreme Court Case and the Growing School Choice Movement Could Lead to More Religious Land Use Cases
This week is National School Choice Week. And coincidentally, just last week the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a key school choice case with significant religious liberty concerns. The case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, involves a scholarship program that provides […]
Read MoreWhy We Fight for Religious Liberty
I just read attorney Luke Goodrich’s excellent new book entitled Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America. Because we have the privilege at Dalton & Tomich of being on the front lines of that battle, I read the book with great interest. […]
Read MoreBuilding Faith: Protecting Religious Freedom Through Land Use Laws
Last night I was honored to speak on a panel hosted by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee, WI. The panel discussion was part of the United States Attorney General’s Place to Worship Initiative and was […]
Read MoreAbout Us
Dalton & Tomich, PLC is the national leader in successfully helping churches, other religious institutions and their insurers defend their rights in land use and zoning matters under RLUIPA, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. We have helped clients win cases against municipalities and other local government bodies from coast to coast, with experience serving both as general counsel and special litigation counsel.
Harry HoffSenior Pastor, Hope Rising Community Church, Verona, PA
In 2015, Hope Rising Community Church experienced extreme opposition, the kind that would force it to close its doors and leave behind the families and youth it was so passionate about reaching. As the lead pastor I felt helpless, inferior and as if I had no […]
Read MoreKen KalbachElder, Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, Lenox, GA
Dalton & Tomich’s assistance in our RLUIPA matter has paved the way for our church to continue serving the community and for new churches in the area to thrive in the future. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your stand for religious […]
Read MoreRev. Thomas OuweleenLead Pastor, The Urban Church, Warren, MI
The Urban Church will be forever grateful to Dalton & Tomich plc for navigating it through a difficult land use issue. Let them give you honest and caring advice because that’s exactly what they’ll do.
Read MoreKimberly KebleSenior Claims Adjuster, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance
Dalton & Tomich, PLC defended a complicated case at a church we insure. Not only is the firm professional, they understand how church business runs and work well within church leadership.
Read MoreRev. Demetrius BookerSenior Pastor, Lighthouse Community Church of God, Redford, MI
Dalton & Tomich, PLC helped us immensely in the areas of litigation and negotiation! Their professionalism and understanding of church policy helped our church be victorious in a modern day religious land use battle. RLUIPA Religious Land Use Case: Lighthouse Community Church of God
Read MoreMitchell CorderAdministrative Bishop Church of God, Tennessee
Dalton & Tomich, PLC serves as General Counsel for the 144 churches within the Church of God in Michigan. The firm provides the legal expertise we need in dealing with the issues that arise during the course of fulfilling our ministry.
Read MoreTim RhodusLead Pastor, Cross Church Carlinville & Staunton, IL
I met Dan Dalton during a dark time for our church. He was recommended as the leading RLUIPA attorney in the nation. He demonstrated wisdom, expertise, a gentle nature, a calming inter-relational skill, genuineness, and a humble demeanor, while at the same time, being sharp, […]
Read MoreRonnie HolmesSenior Pastor, Church of the Open Door, Waco, TX
Mr. Dalton’s expertise and experience helped us through a very difficult legal journey, ultimately achieving a favorable outcome. His personal interest in helping our church went “above and beyond” just the call of duty. His understanding of both legal and spiritual matters seems to uniquely […]
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