The Supreme Court has revived a lawsuit filed by Lynchburg, Va.-based Liberty University, ordering a federal appeals court to consider the Baptist college's challenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, according to a report from The Hill.
The university initially filed suit against the individual mandate in 2010. Liberty claims it is unconstitutional for the government to mandate large employers to provide health insurance for full-time employees or face a tax. Liberty's lawyers also claim "forced funding of abortion" under the individual mandate violates the university's right to religious freedom.
In late June, when the Supreme Court upheld the mandate, it dismissed Liberty's entire lawsuit and other appeals challenging the mandate. This past summer, the university's lawyers asked to have their arguments against the employer mandate and the contraceptive mandate revived, claiming those arguments were not addressed by the Supreme Court's June ruling.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit could hear oral arguments on the case as early as spring 2013, according to a Politico report. The Justice Department declined to comment on the Supreme Court order yesterday, but last month the department said it wouldn't object to the Fourth Circuit taking up the case.
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The university initially filed suit against the individual mandate in 2010. Liberty claims it is unconstitutional for the government to mandate large employers to provide health insurance for full-time employees or face a tax. Liberty's lawyers also claim "forced funding of abortion" under the individual mandate violates the university's right to religious freedom.
In late June, when the Supreme Court upheld the mandate, it dismissed Liberty's entire lawsuit and other appeals challenging the mandate. This past summer, the university's lawyers asked to have their arguments against the employer mandate and the contraceptive mandate revived, claiming those arguments were not addressed by the Supreme Court's June ruling.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit could hear oral arguments on the case as early as spring 2013, according to a Politico report. The Justice Department declined to comment on the Supreme Court order yesterday, but last month the department said it wouldn't object to the Fourth Circuit taking up the case.
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