A Michigan town agreed to settle a lawsuit brought forth by a local Catholic farmer and protect his constitutional rights to religious freedom after the city barred him from participating in a local farmer’s market due to his religious beliefs.
The city agreed to pay the famer, Steve Tennes, owner of Country Mills Farm, $825,000 and asserted that Tennes can continue running his business in accordance with his Catholic beliefs without having to fear repercussions.
Tennes brought forth the lawsuit in 2017 after the City of East Lansing forbade him from participating in the local farmers market after he posted on Facebook that he follows the Catholic church’s teaching and therefore would not allow same-sex marriage ceremonies to occur at his farm.
Attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), an American legal organization that focuses on first amendment issues, represented Tennes.
“Steve and his family-run farm happily serve all customers as a valued vendor at East Lansing’s farmer’s market. The court was right to agree that the First Amendment protects Steve, like every other small business owner, to operate his business according to his faith and convictions,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kate Anderson. “We’re pleased to favorably settle this lawsuit on behalf of Steve so he and his family can continue doing what Country Mill does best.”
The City of East Lansing passed new bylines for the market that used a system of individual, discretionary assessments to tarnish Country Mills Farm and prevent them from participating. Country Mills Farm has been selling organic produce at the market since 2010. Tennes would drive 22 miles from the farm, situated in a different county, to sell the farm’s products.
After six years of litigation, a federal district court ruled in August that Tennes was free to continue participating in the farmers market and that the city could not bar him from doing so.
“We’re glad that we were able to go forward with this, and the court has come out with a strong ruling that helps not just our family but really people of all backgrounds and beliefs to realize that the government can’t choose to punish some people just because they don’t like their beliefs,” Tennes told Fox News Digital in August.
In the court’s decision, a federal judge ruled that the City of East Lansing violated Tennes First Amendment rights and his free exercise rights by preventing him from participating in farmer markets.
“The reason is simple: denying a person an equal share of the rights, benefits, and privileges enjoyed by other citizens because of her faith discourages religious activity,” the ruling states.
