Bryan, OH — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Sixth Appellate District Court of Appeals, advocating for Dad’s Place Church in Bryan, Ohio. The church, which operates 24/7 to serve vulnerable community members, faces legal challenges from city officials for purported fire code violations.
Represented by First Liberty Institute alongside law firms Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP and Spengler Nathanson PLL, Dad’s Place has been the subject of ongoing legal battles. AG Yost’s brief contends that the lower court’s ruling against the church neglects the Ohio Constitution’s extensive protections for religious organizations.
Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute, expressed gratitude for AG Yost’s unwavering support, stating, “We thank Attorney General Yost for his defense of Dad’s Place and his unflinching leadership in defense of religious liberty for all Ohioans. As he says in his brief, it is past time for the city to relent in its harassment of Dad’s Place and for the court to uphold the Ohio Constitution.”
AG Yost argues that using Ohio’s strict scrutiny test, the church should prevail, and the preliminary injunction should be overturned. He asserts that the city has not demonstrated compelling interests or the least restrictive means in pursuing its claims.
Pastor Avell, leading Dad’s Place, was recently convicted of a fire code violation, fined $200, and received a 60-day suspended jail sentence. The decision has been stayed for 30 days to allow for an appeal by Avell’s legal team.
Since March 2023, Dad’s Place has operated around the clock, initially without issue, even assisting individuals brought by the Bryan Police Department. However, in November 2023, city officials demanded the church cease its 24-hour operations or face severe penalties. Refusing to comply, Dad’s Place has endured repeated legal actions and harassment from city authorities.
This brief marks AG Yost’s third filing in support of Dad’s Place, underscoring his commitment to defending religious freedoms in Ohio.