Church Property Disputes/Denominational Splits
Donors to local religious entities have a legal path to successfully sue religious denominations for return of donations based on fraud.
In a potentially groundbreaking case, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a church member may proceed with a lawsuit to recover donations when a denomination fraudulently told its members that it was using tithes and offerings for charitable means, when in fact the funds were used for a commercial enterprise.