Mack v. Huston

256 N.E.2d 271, 23 Ohio Misc. 121, 51 Ohio Op. 2d 407, 1970 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 262
CourtCuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
DecidedFebruary 18, 1970
DocketNo. 878886
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 256 N.E.2d 271 (Mack v. Huston) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mack v. Huston, 256 N.E.2d 271, 23 Ohio Misc. 121, 51 Ohio Op. 2d 407, 1970 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 262 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1970).

Opinion

Krenzler, J.

This is an action in equity wherein the plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from turning over to the Black Unitarian Uni-[122]*122versalist Caucus .real estate at 8143 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, and other assets, including endowments, owned by the Unitarian Society of Cleveland.

The substance of the plaintiffs’ allegations is that they are members of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland, Unitarian Universalists, with an approximate membership of 280 and that the society is a religious corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the state of Ohio, and owning property located at 8143 Euclid Avenue, consisting of a church edifice and land; and that this property was purchased by the Unitarian Society of Cleveland for the purposes expressed in its Bond of Union as a Unitarian Society and that the church was used and occupied for the purposes of practicing and exercising the purposes expressed in its Bond of Union, all pursuant to its Code of Regulations.

Plaintiffs allege further that in addition to the real property the Unitarian Society of Cleveland has by bequests and subscriptions accumulated assets totaling approximately $200,000 and that these assets were given for the purposes set forth in the Code of Regulations.

The plaintiffs allege further that the defendants herein, James I. Huston, President of the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland, and the Board of Trustees, the other defendants in this case, in disregard of the Code of Regulations, called and held a meeting on November 2, 1969, for the purpose of considering the future of the church and to take action on any proposals which might come before the meeting regarding the future operations of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland and the disposal of the assets of said society and that such actions were not in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Regulations.

Plaintiffs allege further that the defendant, James I. Huston, and the other defendants responsible for the meeting, permitted the introduction of several resolutions which read as follows:

“1. That the Unitarian Society turn over the total property at 8143 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, to the Black Unitarian Universalist Caucus, who, in co-operation [123]*123with other institutions, intend to establish a .black community-controlled institution, i
“2. That the Unitarian Society grant to the Cleve-. land Black Unitarian Universalist Caucus enough’ assets, to begin the establishment of its operation. . : .
“3. That the Unitarian Society will be permitted to. continue its operation at 8143 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, for as long as the society wishes.”

Plaintiffs allege further that these resolutions were adopted by less than a majority of the membership,of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland (64 to 31) and were in vioT lation of the Code of Regulations and specifically Article III requiring á two-thirds vote of the membership to change the name of the operating enterprise, to change its location, or to terminate such operation.

Plaintiffs allege further that this ;action was in violation of Article V of the Code of Regulations requiring a. majority vote of the membership to dispose of the society ’s property, including endowments, and in violation of the trusts and purposes of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland, depriving the plaintiffs and others similarly situated of their civil rights;; that the plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law and will suffer irreparable injury unless the defendants are prevented from acting in accordance with the illegal, unconstitutional and void resolutions of November 2,1969; and that if defendants are not restrained from doing so they will act in accordance with these reso-, lutions. Wherefore, the plaintiffs pray, for a judgment against the defendants and the injunction; referred to above.

The defendants for their first defense allege that the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States bars judicial intervention by this court into the religious affairs of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland.’ ....

For their second defense the defendants admit that the plaintiffs are members of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland, a nonprofit religious corporation, duly organized and existing under the laws of the state of Ohio, whose principal place of worship is located at 8143 Euclid Avenue; Cleveland, Ohio.

[124]*124Defendants admit further that they are presently members of the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland and that the defendant, James I. Huston, is the duly elected President of the Board of Trustees and that at all times mentioned herein the Revised Code of Regulations of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland was in full force and effect.

The defendants admit further that on November 2, 1969, the members of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland, present and voting at a special meeting, voted by a majority of 60 to 31 for the foregoing three resolutions.

The defendants allege further that on December 14, 1969, pursuant to a proper notice and under the supervision of this court, the members of the Unitarian Society of Cleveland, present and voting at a second special meeting, voted by a majority of 80 to 64 to affirm the above quoted resolutions adopted on November 2, 1969; and thereafter by a majority vote of 74 to 5 (A) authorized the Board of Trustees to transfer the real property of the church to the Cleveland Black Unitarian Universalist Caucus; (B) to authorize the Board of Trustees to transfer certain personal property of the church to the Cleveland Black Unitarian Universalist Caucus; and (C) to authorize the Board of Trustees to enter into a lease-back arrangement with the Cleveland Black Unitarian Universalist Caucus for the use of the church and its related facilities at 8143 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, for a period of five years with an unlimited option to renew for additional five-year terms.

The defendants pray that the plaintiffs’ petition be dismissed.

Three organizations will frequently be mentioned throughout this opinion and in order to facilitate its reading the identification of these organizations will be simplified as follows: The Unitarian Society of Cleveland hereinafter will be referred to as “Society.” The Unitarian Universalist Association hereinafter will be referred to as “UUA.” The Black Unitarian Universalist Caucus will hereinafter be called “BUUC.” The Code of Regulations [125]*125of the Society will hereinafter he referred to as “Regulations.”

The issues raised by the pleadings and the evidence are as follows:

1. Does this court lack jurisdiction because of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States as alleged by the defendants in their first defense?

2. Were all the procedural requirements satisfied, including notice, quorum, and the required vote as set forth in Articles VII and VIII of the Regulations for the special membership meetings of November 2 and December 14, 1969?

3. Did the actions by the membership of the Society on November 2 and December 14, 1969, constitute a change of name of such operating enterprise, a change of its location or a termination of such operation under Article III of the Regulations which would require a two-thirds vote of its membership?

4.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
256 N.E.2d 271, 23 Ohio Misc. 121, 51 Ohio Op. 2d 407, 1970 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 262, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mack-v-huston-ohctcomplcuyaho-1970.