Detroit — The founder of Domino’s Pizza won’t be subject to a new federal health care law requiring contraception coverage for employees while a lawsuit he filed challenging the new mandate is pending, a judge has ruled.
U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff on Thursday granted an emergency motion by Tom Monaghan to temporarily halt the enforcement of the federal Health and Human Services mandate.
Monaghan, a devout Roman Catholic, and the Domino’s Farms Corp. sued the federal government, alleging the law violates their rights and asking the court to strike it down.
“It was the best case scenario for us,” said Erin Mersino of the Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center, the lead attorney on Monaghan’s case. “It was a favorable opinion, and we are very happy for our clients.”
The lawsuit is among 11 others nationwide challenging the new mandate that became law in August.
Zatkoff’s ruling halts enforcement of the mandate against Monaghan and his property management company, of which he is the sole owner and shareholder.
Domino’s Farms Corp. manages an office complex owned by Monaghan and is not affiliated with Domino’s Pizza. Monaghan sold the pizza company in 1998.
If any of the courts rule the preventative care provision in the federal health care act is unconstitutional, it would not eliminate the law, but force Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to retool it. Read full article.
