Declaratory Judgment Action

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WI Court of Appeals – District II

Case Name: Victory Valley Church, Inc., et al v. Purported victory Valley Church

Case No.: 2015AP866

Officials: Neubauer, C.J., Reilly, P.J., and Gundrum, J.

Focus: Declaratory Judgment Action

Victory Valley Church, Inc. (Victory) was incorporated in 1988 and maintained a small membership over the years. In 2013, a dispute arose among two factions over the control of the corporation. Plaintiff Appellants (hereafter, the “Olsons”) brought a declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration that they were the lawful officers and members of the corporation. Defendant-Respondents (hereafter, the “Rangeloffs”) joined in the request for the declaration but asserted they were the legal officers and members of the corporation. The court held a trial and found in favor of the Rangeloffs. The Olson faction, upset with the court’s decision, accuses the court of meddling in church affairs and violating the First Amendment of the United States Constitution by involving itself in “ecclesiastical practices.” We affirm as the circuit court did not interfere in any “ecclesiastical practices”; the court simply answered the question the Olson faction asked the court to answer.

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.