HHS Mandate Lawsuit Count Reaches Milestone Monday

The number of lawsuits against the Obama administration over a rule forcing employers to provide insurance covering contraceptives and possible abortifacient drugs reached 40 this week, when a medical supply company in Minnesota filed a complaint on Nov. 5. 
Stuart Lind, who owns Annex Medical, Inc., is a Catholic dedicated to “conducting business in a way that is pleasing to God and is faithful to Biblical principles and values,” according to court documents. He says the mandate is forcing him to violate his religious beliefs.
“This case follows the successful challenges of the (Health and Human Services) mandate by for-profit businesses in other states,” said Erick Kaardal of the Minneapolis-based law firm Mohrman & Kaardal, P.A., one of the attorneys representing Lind. “We are the first to file in Minnesota. We hope to have the Constitution applied to protect business owners’ religious liberties elsewhere.”
The Obama administration gave secular businesses until this past August to comply with the mandate. Faith-based organizations, including Catholic hospitals, universities and ministries, have a so-called “safe harbor” extension that gives them until August 2013 to find a way to comply.
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