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Claims By Chuch Founder Against City Employees Dismissed

By Howard M. Friedman

In Kovalev v. City of Philadelphia, (ED PA, April 29, 2009), a Pennsylvania federal district court dismissed a series of constitutional claims brought by Sergei Kovalev against the city and several city employees challenging inspection attempts and the refusal of a building permit for a small additional structure on property that contained his home as well as operations of his "International Church of Eternal Revival ." In the lawsuit, filed pro se, Kovalev claimed the inspection was instigated by a state senator whose office was nearby and that he is a victim of discrimination because he is a foreign born U.S. citizen from Eastern Europe. He says any construction was "done in an act of worship to God." The court found a lack of evidence to support his 1st, 4th and 14th Amendment claims and held that individual defendants had qualified immunity.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 05, 2009 (boomark / email).