CHARLOTTE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – An Eaton County orchard and cider mill at the center of a religious liberty case involving its presence at a farmers market has settled with the city of East Lansing.
The Country Mill Orchard and Cider Mill and the city of East Lansing have reached an undisclosed settlement.
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In August, U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney ruled that the city’s move to exclude Stephen Tennes’ farm from the 2017 farmers market infringed on his religious beliefs and ruled the city hadn’t demonstrated a “compelling interest” for barring him.
The lawsuit dates back to 2017 when the city denied Tennes a vendor’s license for the farmers market. East Lansing had changed its vendor guidelines so the city’s anti-discrimination policy applied to vendors.
The decision to ban Tennes from the market came after he publicly announced he would not allow same-sex weddings at his Charlotte-area business because of his religious beliefs.
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