Mercy Culture threatens to sue individual Fort Worth council members if shelter is denied
Mercy Culture is threatening to sue individual Fort Worth City Council members and city staff if a proposed human trafficking victim shelter isn’t approved at the Dec. 10 council meeting, according to a demand letter obtained by the Star-Telegram.
The letter alleged that voting against a site plan amendment for the proposed 100-bed shelter would be a violation of the church’s First Amendment rights.
According to the letter, “the City’s actions will be found wanting under the First Amendment, which will, in turn, expose the City officials responsible for denying the site plan amendment to personal liability for their unconstitutional conduct.”
Mercy Culture’s counsel cited Kentucky v. Graham, a 1985 U.S. Supreme Court decision, which states that an “award of damages against an official in his personal capacity can be executed ... against the official’s personal assets.”
Representatives individual council members did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Star-Telegram.
A spokesperson for Mayor Mattie Parker said she would speak about the case from the dais before the council votes at the Tuesday meeting.
“The city intends to provide representation to any councilmember or staff member sued in their individual capacity for the performance of their duties related to this site plan case,” city attorney Leann Guzman said in an email to the Star-Telegram.
The church has held the position that building its dormitory falls under church-related activity protected by its current zoning designation.
The Oakhurst neighborhood association opposed construction of the dormitory, claiming that it would bring an excess of traffic, reduce available parking, and attract crime to residential neighborhood.
An attorney representing the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association did not immediately respond to an email from the Star-Telegram requesting comment.
Representatives for Mercy Culture declined to comment ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting.
In response to a 6-4 vote rejection by the Fort Worth zoning commission in November, Mercy Culture has been active in mobilizing its supporters to pressure local officials to vote in favor of reversing that decision.
The council will vote on the measure at its Dec. 10 meeting.
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 1:32 PM.
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