Attorneys for Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church have announced that the State of California and County of Los Angeles have agreed to pay $800,000 in “prevailing party” attorneys’ fees. This occurred after state and federal courts in California issued permanent injunctions prohibiting the State of California or any of its agencies from ever again imposing discriminatory restrictions on all houses of worship.

The church and pastor have been represented by Thomas More Society Special Counsel Jenna Ellis and Thomas More Society Special Counsel Charles LiMandri, partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP. The lengthy legal battle began when California attempted to close houses of worship in March 2020, in a hasty and sweeping response to fears about the potential spread of Covid-19….

Grace Community Church, its Elder Board, and Pastor MacArthur have been the target of ongoing unconstitutional religious discrimination by the City of Los Angeles and the State of California, amid the state’s orders to cease in-person church assembly during the coronavirus pandemic….

In a series of aggressive actions, Grace and MacArthur were abused by the governing authorities. First, the City of Los Angeles, through a cease-and-desist letter, threatened Grace Community Church and Pastor MacArthur specifically with a daily fine of $1000 or arrest, after which Grace filed suit against the state and county.

The County of Los Angeles targeted the church and pastor by requesting they be held in contempt of court. Next, the county attempted to punish Grace and MacArthur by yanking a 45-year-old parking lot lease out from under the church. The cancellation of that lease by the county has since been rescinded as part of the settlement…..
The above comes from an Aug. 31 email from the Thomas More Society.