Frank R. O'BRIEN, et al., Plaintiffs,
v.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, et al., Defendants.
v.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, et al., Defendants.
Background:
Secular, for-profit limited liability company (LLC) and its owner
brought action for declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations requiring
group health insurance plans to include coverage for contraceptives and
other women's preventative care violated the First Amendment, the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), and the Administrative
Procedure Act (APA). Government defendants moved to dismiss.
Holdings: The District Court, Carol E. Jackson, J., held that:
(1) ACA regulations did not substantially burden plaintiffs' exercise of religion, under RFRA;
(2) ACA regulations did not offend the Free Exercise Clause;
(3) religious employer exemption to the ACA regulations did not violate the Establishment Clause;
(4) ACA regulations did not violate the Free Speech Clause;
(5) LLC and its owner had prudential standing to challenge the ACA regulations as arbitrary and capricious under the APA; and
(6) ACA regulations neither arbitrary nor capricious under the APA.
Motion granted.
***
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