Legal Update November 2011

November 6, 2011

“Is the lawsuit over?”

Well, the answer is “hopefully”! We simply don’t know.

    The third trial ended in June and we think final oral presentations will be made before Judge Bellows sometime between now and Christmas. The judge has thousands of pages of notes and arguments to review – it will take time. We think it’s likely he will announce his decision sometime early in the New Year, but it may require more time.

    This last trial focused on all the deeds and property documents of the seven churches still in the suit, and there are over 40 such documents. The judge may reach different decisions about the owner ship of different pieces of land dependent upon the specific language in each deed. This could be quite complicated.

    It is possible that the decisions reached by Judge Bellows may once again be appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court. That could take quite a bit more time, but our legal fees should be greatly reduced now.

    The vestry is praying that we can continue our generous giving to the legal fund and keep all future costs under four hundred thousand dollars.

    Sunday, November 20, is our Commitment Sunday. We are asking that you please endeavor to contribute to the legal fund as well as the general budget of the church.

John

The Rev. Dr. John Yates II
Rector, The Falls Church

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