On September 17, 2012, the College of the Ozarks filed a lawsuit in the Western District of Missouri against the Federal Government under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (42 U.S.C. § 2000bb), the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. § 706(2)), and the First and Fifth Amendments. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, sought to enjoin enforcement of provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) extending universal contraception coverage in employer-sponsored private health insurance coverage.

Specifically, the plaintiffs believed that the Contraceptive Mandate violated its sincerely-held religious beliefs by requiring that the College’s health insurance plan contain coverage or access to coverage for elective abortion services, certain FDA-approved abortifacient drugs, and related education and counseling. The Mandate exposed the College to substantial fines for the exercise of its religious beliefs. This violated the College’s rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Additionally, the plaintiffs alleged that the Mandate’s requirements compelled the College to operate in a manner contrary to its religious beliefs, thus violating the guarantee of free speech as set out in the First Amendment.

The plaintiffs sent a notice of voluntary dismissal on January 14, 2013. Judge Wimes thus ordered the dismissal without prejudice on January 16, 2013.

This case was likely closed due to a private settlement, but we don't have any further information.

Wyatt Fore - 04/05/2013
Ginny Lee - 04/10/2017


compress summary