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The Michigan Supreme Court granted oral argument on the application in <a href="http://publicdocs.courts.mi.gov:81/SCT/PUBLIC/ORDERS/20151209_S151680_54_01_151680_2015-12-09_or.pdf"><em>Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church v. Arthur Pearson</em></a>, No. 151680.  Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church sued its pastor, Arthur Pearson, for conversion and money damages after he was convicted for embezzling church funds.  Pearson counterclaimed for breach of contract and unjust enrichment.  In April, the Court of Appeals determined Pearson’s counterclaims were non-justiciable under the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, but remanded the church’s tort claims to the trial court.  To read our previous post about the Court of Appeals decision, click <a href="http://www.wnj.com/Blogs/Appellate/April-2015/COA-considers-whether-certain-claims-in-a-church-d">here</a>.<br />

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Matthew T. “Matt” Nelson

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MSC – Can courts address claims by church against former pastor for fleecing flock?

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MSC – Can courts address claims by church against former pastor for fleecing flock?

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