Catholic Farmer Gets $825k Settlement from Michigan City that had Banned Him from Farmer’s Market for his Catholic Beliefs

December 15, 2023

The City of East Lansing, Michigan, has agreed to pay $825,000 to Steve Tennes, a Catholic farmer, as settlement in his lawsuit against the city for discrimination of his Catholic beliefs.

Tennes, owner of Country Mills Farm, sued the city after East Lansing barred him from participating in the local farmers market following his Facebook post announcing that, due to his Catholic beliefs, his farm would not host “same-sex marriage” ceremonies.

Kate Anderson, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which handled Tennes’ case, said it was crucial for small business owners like Tennes to operate their businesses according to their faith and convictions.

The lawsuit, which spanned over six years, culminated in a federal district court ruling in August, affirming Tennes’ right to participate in the farmers market.

The court found that the City of East Lansing had violated Tennes’ First Amendment rights by excluding him from the market based on his religious beliefs.