Law360: Praying Or Parking? Religious Land Use Fights Head To Court

The US Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in March supporting Anchor Stone Church in its dispute with the city of Santa Ana, California over a permit to use its property for religious assembly. In April, US District Court Judge John W. Holcomb granted Anchor Stone’s motion seeking a preliminary injunction against the city of Santa Ana. “The church felt like they got the green light from the city,” O’Melveny partner Timothy S. Durst said. “They moved forward with the purchase … and at that point that they ran into trouble with the city. Ultimately, the planning commission and then the city council denied their use permit, and it left them stranded with property that they couldn't use and nowhere to go with their plan to have a permanent place to meet.” Anchor Stone Church is represented by Durst, Nora N. Salem, Grant Gibson, Sarah Nelson, Jace Breedlove, Mason Malpass, and Joshua Jilovec of O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

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