THE SATANIC TEMPLE, Plаintiff, v. CITY OF BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA; COUNCILMAN CARY COOP; COUNCILWOMAN THERESA MCDANIEL; COUNCILMAN BEN STIER; COUNCILMAN PAUL CHARD; and MAYOR CHRISTOPHER MEYER, Defendants.
Case No. 19-cv-1122 (WMW/LIB)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
July 31, 2020
This matter is before the Court on the parties’ cross motions for judgment on the pleadings. Plaintiff The Satanic Temple (TST) moves for judgment on the pleadings as to Count II of its complaint, which alleges a violation of its right to free speech as protected by the First Amendment
BACKGROUND
Two resolutions passed by the Belle Plaine City Council are relevant to the legal analysis in this proceeding, Resolution 17-020 and Resolution 17-090. On February 21, 2017, the Belle Plaine City Council enacted Resolution 17-020, titled “ESTABLISHING A POLICY REGARDING A LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM IN VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK.” In relevant part, Resolution 17-020 provides as follows:
[T]he Council wishes to allow private parties access to Veterans Memorial Park for the purpose of erecting displays in keeping with the purpose of honoring and memorializing veterans . . . .
. . .
1. The City designates a limited public forum in Veterans Memorial Park for the express purpose of allowing individuals or organizations to erect and maintain privately owned displays that honor and memorialize living or deceased veterans, branch of military and Veterans organizations affiliated with Belle Plaine. . . .
. . .
9. The requesting party and not the City shall own any display erected in the limited public forum. The display must have liability coverage of 1,000,000 . . . .
. . .
13. In the event the City desires to close the limited public forum or rescind this policy, the City, through its City Administrator, may terminate all permits by giving ten (10) days’ written notice of termination to [the] Owner, within which period the owner must remove their display from city property.
On July 17, 2017, Resolution 17-020 was rescinded by the enactment of Resolution 17-090, titled “RESCINDING THE POLICY AND ELIMINATING THE LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM IN VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK.” In relevant part, Resolution 17-090 provides:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Belle Plaine, Minnesota:
1. The policy established in Resolution 17-020 is rеscinded and the limited public forum established in the Park is hereby eliminated. Private displays or memorials placed in the Park shall be removed within a reasonable period by the owner thereof or, upon notice to such owner, or they will be deemed abandoned and removed by the City.
On February 23, 2017, TST submitted an application to erect a display in Belle Plaine‘s Veterans Memorial Park pursuant to Resolution 17-020. TST received a permit on March 29, 2017. The Belle Plaine Veterans Club also obtained a permit under Resolution 17-020 to erect a display.1
Before the passage of Resolution 17-090 on July 17, 2017, Belle Plain Veteran‘s Club voluntarily removed its display from Veterans Memorial Park. Resolution 17-020 was rescinded by Resolution 17-090 on July 17, 2017. The next day, Belle Plaine notified TST by letter that the Belle Plaine City Council adopted Resolution 17-090 and enclosed a check reimbursing TST for its permit-application fee. As a result of Resolution 17-090, TST never erected its display.
Immediately after the rescission, Belle Plaine issued a press release dated July 18, 2017, which states in relevant part:
As called-for in the resolution, owners of all privately-owned Park displays currently located in the Park‘s designated space are now bеing given 10 days’ notice to remove the displays . . . .
The original intent of providing the public space was to recognize those who have bravely contributed to defending our nation through their military service. In recent weeks and months, though, that intent has been overshadowed by freedom of speech concerns expressed by both religious and non-religious communities.
The debate between those communities has drawn significant regional and national attention to our city, and has promoted divisiveness among our own residents.
While this debate has a place in public dialogue, it has detracted from our city‘s original intent of designating a space solely for the purpose of honoring and memorializing military veterans, and has also portrayed our city in a negative light.
On April 25, 2019, TST commenced this action against Belle Plaine, Mayor Christopher Meyer, and four Belle Plaine City Council Members in their individual and official capacities. Counts I and IX of the complaint allege violations of TST‘s right to free exercise of religion under both the United States Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution. Counts II and X allege violations of TST‘s right to free speech under both the United States Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution. Count III alleges a violation of TST‘s rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution. Count V alleges a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act оf 2000 (RLUIPA),
ANALYSIS
Judgment on the pleadings is proper when there are no issues of material fact to be resolved and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Faibisch v. Univ. of Minn., 304 F.3d 797, 803 (8th Cir. 2002). When evaluating the merits of a motion for judgment on the pleadings, the district court applies the same legal standard that applies to a motion to dismiss. See
I. TST‘s Section 1983 Claims (Counts I, II, and III) Against the Individual Defendants
Defendants first seek dismissal of thе claims against all individual defendants—namely, the Mayor and the individual Council Members—arguing that TST fails to state a claim for personal liability as to the individual defendants. TST does not dispute the dismissal of its claims against those individual defendants who are immune from liability for their legislative acts. But TST asserts that dismissal is unwarranted as to the claims for injunctive relief against these defendants in their official capacities.
It is well established that “[l]ocal legislators are entitled to absolute immunity from § 1983 liability for their legislative activities.” Bogan v. Scott-Harris, 523 U.S. 44, 54 (1998); Hope Baptist Church v. City of Bellefontaine Neighbors, 655 F. Supp. 1216, 1221 (E.D. Mo. 1987) (concluding that the city legislators were entitled to absolute immunity and dismissing the defendant mayor when the complaint failed to allege performance of any action by thе mayor regarding plaintiff‘s rezoning application). When determining whether an act is legislative, courts consider the nature of the act, not the motive or intent of the official performing the act. Bogan, 523 U.S. at 54; Klingner v. City of Braham, 130 F. Supp. 2d 1068, 1072 (D. Minn. 2001) (explaining that a city council‘s act of passing an ordinance, adopting a resolution, and passing a second ordinance, and the mayor‘s act of signing the ordinance into law, were legislative). Voting on a council resolution is a “quintessentially legislative” act that rests within the bounds of legitimate legislative activity. Bogan, 523 U.S. at 55.
TST identifies no factual or legal grounds that support holding the Council Members and the Mayor liable in their individual capacities for TST‘s Section 1983 claims. At best, the complaint identifies the fact that the individual Council Members voted to enact Resolution 17-020 and Resolution 17-090. Additionally, TST identifies statements by the Council Members regarding the intent of rescinding Resolution 17-020. These statements are insufficient, as this Court must consider only the nature of the act after stripping it of “all considerations of intent and motive.” Bogan, 523 U.S. at 55. TST concedes, and the Court agrees, that the enactment by vote of Resolution 17-090, regardless of the Council‘s rationale, is a “quintessentially legislative” function and an “integral step[ ] in the legislative process.” Id.
Furthermore, because all remaining claims against Defendants are disposed of by this Order for the reasons addressed below, no grounds to seek injunctivе relief remain. Without allegations to support the
II. Free-Exercise Claims (Counts I and IX)
Belle Plaine seeks judgment on the pleadings as to TST‘s free-exercise claims, arguing that TST fails to adequately allege how Resolution 17-090 substantially burdens TST‘s ability to freely exercise religion. Belle Plaine also maintains that TST fails to sufficiently allege either how the enactment of Resolution 17-090 required TST to change its rеligious conduct or philosophy, or whether Resolution 17-090‘s interference with TST‘s religious beliefs or religious practices is real and not remote. Consequently, Belle Plaine argues, it is entitled to judgment on the pleadings on TST‘s free-exercise claims under both the United States Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution.
To successfully plead and prove a free-exercise violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, TST must establish that the governmental activity at issue places a substantial burden on its religious practice. Patel v. U.S. Bureau of Prisons, 515 F.3d 807, 813 (8th Cir. 2008). Free exercise of religion is substantially burdened when a regulation “significantly inhibit[s] or constrain[s] conduct or expression that manifests some central tenet of a person‘s individual religious beliefs; . . . meaningfully curtail[s] a person‘s ability to express adherence to his or her faith; or den[ies] a person reasonable opportunity to engage in those activities that are fundamental to a person‘s religion.” United States v. Ali, 682 F.3d 705, 709–10 (8th Cir. 2012) (internal quotation marks omitted).
TST fails to allege any constraint on either conduct or expression of a central tenet of TST‘s religious beliefs. Instead TST makes conclusory statements in an effort to support Count I. For example, TST alleges that 1) “[t]he actions of Belle Plaine . . . continue to violate Plaintiffs’ rights under the Free Exercise Clause by imposing a substantial burden upon the religious exercise of Plaintiff TST and by intentionally discriminating against Plaintiff on the basis of rеligious belief;” 2) “a substantial burden has been imposed though [sic] discriminatory and arbitrary revocation/denial/rescission of Plaintiff‘s previously approved application to construct a veteran‘s memorial at Veterans Memorial Park;” and 3) “Defendants discriminated against Plaintiff TST because of animus towards Plaintiff‘s religion.”
These allegations fail to state a claim for relief for three reasons. First, although TST identifies the core tenants of its religion, TST fails to explain or allege facts that identify any central tenet of its religious beliefs that TST cannot exercise because of Resolution 17-090. Second, TST alleges no facts demonstrating that Resolution 17-090 prevents TST from expressing adherence to its faith. And third, TST fails to allege whether and how any activity that Resolution 17-090 prohibits is fundamental to TST‘s religion. Not one allegation in TST‘s complaint, either expressly or by reasonable inference, explains how Resolution 17-090 burdens TST‘s religious practice. As such, TST‘s conclusory allegations do not state a plausible claim that Resolution 17-090 violates TST‘s right to the free exercise of religion in violation of the First Amendment.
The Minnesota Constitution “afford[s] greater protection for religious
In this instance, TST sufficiently alleges the sincerity of TST‘s religious beliefs. TST fails, however, to allege any facts that Resolution 17-090 burdens the exercise of TST‘s sincerely held religious beliefs. Instead, TST merely proffers one conclusory statement in support of Count IX: “Defendants’ motivation for enacting the rescission Resolution and terminating Plaintiff‘s permit to erect a display that honored veterans was significantly or exclusively because of Plaintiff‘s religious beliefs in violation of the Minnesota Constitution.” But TST does not allege that Resolution 17-090 spurred TST to change its religious philosophy or conduct. Nor does TST allege that Resolutiоn 17-090 required TST to act in a manner inconsistent with its religious beliefs. And TST has advanced no allegation from which the Court could draw a reasonable inference to that effect. In the absence of such factual allegations, the Court need not address whether the state interest is overriding or compelling and uses the least restrictive means. Id. at 208–10 (reaching the third and fourth factors only after respondent churches established that their religious beliefs were sincere and the exercise of their religious beliefs were burdened). Accordingly, TST‘s sole conclusory allegation does not state a plausible claim that Resolution 17-090 violates TST‘s right to free exercise of religion in violation of the Minnesota Constitution.
Because TST‘s conclusory allegations do not state a plausible claim that Resolution 17-090 violates TST‘s right to the free exercise of religion in violation of the United States Constitution or the Minnesota Constitution, Belle Plaine‘s motion for judgment on the pleadings as to TST‘s free-exercise claims, Counts I and IX, is granted.
III. Free-Speech Claims (Counts II and X)
Belle Plaine also moves for judgment on the pleadings as to TST‘s free-speech claims, which allege violations of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and
“Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech.”
TST‘s First Amendment claim alleges that Belle Plaine violated TST‘s right to free speech when the City Council enacted Resolution 17-090, thereby rescinding Resolution 17-020, which established a limited public forum in Veterans Memorial Park. Even if TST had a First Amendment right to speаk while Resolution 17-020 was in effect, Belle Plaine‘s decision to rescind Resolution 17-020 and thereby close the limited public forum does not give rise to a First Amendment challenge. The parties do not dispute that Veterans Memorial Park was a limited public forum under Resolution 17-020. Therefore, to withstand Belle Plaine‘s motion for judgment on the pleadings, TST must allege that Resolution 17-090 was unreasonable and not viewpoint neutral. But TST‘s complaint fails to identify how Resolution 17-090 is unreasonable or discriminatory. Instead, the complaint identifies another organization that voluntarily removed its monument before Belle Plaine enacted Resolution 17-090 and alleges that permitting the Belle Plaine Veterans Club to display its mоnument for any amount of time suggests that Belle Plaine treated the two organizations differently. TST identifies a discrepancy in timing, namely, that TST‘s memorial was not completed and ready for display prior to the passage of Resolution 17-090. But TST alleges no facts demonstrating that Resolution 17-090 did not apply equally to all entities seeking to erect a display or that TST was the only organization excluded from displaying a monument in Veterans Memorial Park.
Plaintiff‘s free-speech claim alleging a violation of the Minnesota Constitution fails for the same reasons. The right to free speech protected by the Minnesota Constitution “is coextensive with the First Amendment,” and Minnesota courts “look primarily to federal law for guidance.” Tatro v. Univ. of Minn., 816 N.W.2d 509, 516 (Minn. 2012) (citing State v. Wicklund, 589 N.W.2d 793, 798–801 (Minn. 1999)). Because the allegations in TST‘s complaint do not state a claim for a free-speech violation under the First Amendment, TST also fails to state a claim that Resolution 17-090 violates TST‘s right to free speech under the Minnesota Constitution.
For these reasons, Belle Plaine‘s motion for judgment on the pleadings as to TST‘s free-speech claims (Counts II and X) is
IV. Equal-Protection Claim (Count III)
Belle Plaine seeks judgment on the pleadings as to TST‘s equal-protection claim, arguing that TST fails to allege any facts that Resolution 17-090 does not apply equally to private entities seeking to install a display in Veterаns Memorial Park. In response, TST argues that the retroactive nature of Resolution 17-090 uniquely targets TST because of the controversial and divisive nature of TST‘s religion or speech.
To plead an equal-protection claim in violation of the United States Constitution, TST must allege: 1) TST was singled out and treated differently from similarly situated entities; and 2) the reason for taking this action was a prohibited purpose or motive, such as discrimination based on TST‘s religion. See Ellebracht v. Police Bd. of Metro. Police Dep‘t of St. Louis, 137 F.3d 563, 566 (8th Cir. 1998). Here, TST must allege that it is similarly situated “in all relevant respects” to any group with which it compares itself. Carter v. Arkansas, 392 F.3d 965, 969 (8th Cir. 2004). A plaintiff‘s failure to demonstrate that it is “similarly situated to those who allegedly receive favorable treatment” precludes the viability of an equal-protection claim because the Equal Protection Clause does not preclude dissimilar treatment of dissimilarly situated entities. Klinger v. Dep‘t of Corr., 31 F.3d 727, 731 (8th Cir. 1994); see also Roark v. City of Hazen, 189 F.3d 758, 761–62 (8th Cir. 1999) (holding that plaintiff‘s equal-protection claim failed because no evidence of dissimilar treatment of similarly situated individuals was presented). Here, the threshold inquiry in the equal-protection analysis is whether TST is similarly situated to any institution or person who allegedly received favorable treatment under Resolution 17-090. United States v. Whiton, 48 F.3d 356, 358 (8th Cir. 1995).
TST‘s equal-protection claim alleges that the retroactive nature of Resolution 17-090 uniquely targeted TST because of its controversial religion or speech. But TST‘s equal-protection claim fails, as a threshold matter, because TST and the Belle Plaine Veterans Club are not similarly situated. Regardless of whether TST brings its equal- protection claim as a member of a protected class or as a class of one, TST must allege dissimilar treatment of similarly situated parties. Mitchell v. Dakota Cty. Soc. Servs., 357 F. Supp. 3d 891, 902 (D. Minn. 2019). TST‘s complaint fails to allege any dissimilar treatment relative to similarly situated parties. TST‘s complaint is void of any allegation as to how TST and Belle Plaine Veterans Club are similarly situated. Even so, Belle Plaine Veterans Club, the only other organization to receive a permit to place a display in the park, removed its display рrior to the passing of Resolution 17-090. To the extent TST argues that it was treated differently because TST was prohibited from erecting its display while Belle Plaine Veterans Club was able to display its memorial, TST does not allege disparate treatment of a suspect class. See, e.g., Monumental Task Comm., Inc. v. Foxx, 259 F. Supp. 3d 494, 505 (E.D. La. 2017) (explaining that city‘s decision to remove all but one statute did not involve a suspect class and applying rational basis review to analysis of the alleged differential treatment).
Even assuming that TST and Belle Plaine Veterans Club were similarly situated and that TST is part of a suspect class, TST fails to plead a viable equal-protection claim because TST does not allege any facts suggesting thаt Resolution 17-090 is discriminatory on its face or that Resolution 17-090 has both a discriminatory purpose and discriminatory impact. See Mitchell, 357 F. Supp. 3d at 902 (citing Washington v. Davis, 426 U.S. 229, 242 (1976)). TST merely alleges that Belle Plaine‘s “motivation for enacting the rescission Resolution and terminating Plaintiff‘s permit . . . was significantly or exclusively to inflict harm on a politically unpopular group . . . .” This conclusory allegation alone, however is insufficient. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 686 (conclusory allegations that defendants discriminated against plaintiff on account of “religion, race, and/or national origin” were insufficient to state a claim). Furthermore, the text of Resolution 17-090, which states that “[p]rivate displays or memorials placed in the Park shall be removed within a reasonable period” and that “[a]ll application fees . . . will be reimbursed,” demonstrates that the resolution applies equally to all entities that sought to erect a display in Veterans Memorial Park. As evidence of discriminatory impact, TST argues that the Belle Plaine Veterans Club was able to erect and voluntarily remove its display prior to the passage of Resolution 17-090. But this difference in treatment is attributable to when Resolution 17-090 was enacted in relation to the completion of each group‘s display. The fact that the Belle Plaine Veterans Club erected its display earlier than TST is not alleged to have been in Belle Plaine‘s control. And TST offers no allegation or evidence that the enactment of Resolution 17-090 was timed for the discriminatory purpose of treating TST differently than other groups.
Without any allegation that TST and Belle Plaine Veterans Club are similarly situated, that Resolution 17-090 is discriminatory on its face, or that Resolution 17-090 is discriminatory in purpose and impact, TST fails to state a claim on which relief can be granted under the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution. For this reason, Belle Plaine‘s motion for judgment on the pleadings as to this claim is granted.
V. Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act Claim (Count V)
Belle Plaine seeks judgment on the pleadings as to TST‘s claim that Belle Plaine violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA),
To state a claim under RLUIPA, a party must plead facts that trigger the jurisdictional requirements identified in the statute. Midrash Sephardi, Inc. v. Town of Surfside, 366 F.3d 1214, 1225 (11th Cir. 2004); Prater v. City of Burnside, 289 F.3d 417, 433 (6th Cir. 2002); Daywitt v. Minn. Dep‘t of Human Servs., No. 16-cv-2541 (WMW/LIB), 2017 WL 9249422, at *8 (D. Minn. Feb. 6, 2017), report and recommendation adopted in part by, 2017 WL 2265078 (D. Minn. May 23, 2017). As relevant to TST‘s allegations here, under RLUIPA, jurisdiction is invoked when a “substantial burden is imposed in the implementation of a land use regulation or system of land use regulations, under which a government makes, or has in place formal or informal procedures or practices that permit the government to make, individualized assessments of the proposed uses for the property involved.”
TST argues that, because the permit issued by Belle Plaine pursuant to Resolution 17-020 was an easement, TST qualifies for relief under RLUIPA. An easement is “an interest in land possessed by another which entitles the grantee of the interest to a limited use or enjoyment of that land.” Scherger v. N. Nat. Gas Co., 575 N.W.2d 578, 580 (Minn. 1998). An easement may arise in one of three ways: as an express easement, as an easement by prescription, or as an implied easement. An express easement arises when “[t]he written instrument creating the easement . . . defines the scope and extent of the interest in land.” Larson v. State, 790 N.W.2d 700, 704 (Minn. 2010); Hedderly v. Johnson, 44 N.W. 527, 528-29 (1890) (explaining that an identification of the land subject to the easement and the intention of the parties is sufficient to establish an express easement). An easement by prescription arises when the use оf property has been “actual, open, continuous, exclusive, and hostile.” Rogers v. Moore, 603 N.W.2d 650, 657 (Minn. 1999). An implied easement arises when there is separation of title, a use giving rise to the easement that has continued for so long that it was intended to be permanent, and the easement is necessary for the enjoyment of the land. Clark v. Galaxy Apartments, 427 N.W.2d 723, 725–26 (Minn. Ct. App. 1988).
TST alleges no facts that plausibly claim its one-year revocable permit created an easement. TST does not allege any facts to support the possession of either an easement by prescription or an implied easement. At most, TST alleges that it held an express easement before its permit was terminated. But TST nonetheless fails to аllege sufficient facts to identify the Belle Plaine permit as such. Moreover, the Court‘s research has not identified any RLUIPA case in which an easement has served as the basis for a protectable property interest. Nor has TST cited any. TST also cites no legal precedent, binding or otherwise, in which a city-issued revocable park permit was held to be an easement. In sum, no legal authority supports TST‘s invitation to extend RLUIPA to the present facts.3
Moreover, TST fails to allege any facts that Belle Plaine acted pursuant to any zoning or landmarking law. The complaint repeatedly alleges violations of
Belle Plaine‘s motion for judgment on the pleadings as to this claim is granted.
VI. Promissory-Estoppel Claim (Count VII)
Belle Plaine also seeks judgment on the pleadings as to TST‘s promissory-estoppel claim, arguing that
Promissory estoppel “allows courts to enforce a promise on equitable grounds, even where parties did not enter into a contract.” City of St. Joseph v. Sw. Bell Tel., 439 F.3d 468, 477 (8th Cir. 2006). To state a promissory-estoppel claim, TST must allege: “(1) a promise; (2) [detrimental reliance] on the promise; (3) [the] promisor could reasonably foresee the precise action the promisee took in reliance; and (4) injustice can only be avoided by the enforcement of the promise.” Id.; accord Cohen v. Cowles Media Co., 479 N.W.2d 387, 391 (Minn. 1992). A promissory-estoppel claim fails if the plaintiff does not establish each of the four elements. City of St. Joseph, 439 F.3d at 477.
The facts alleged by TST state a promissory-estoppel claim. First, TST alleges that on March 29, 2017, Belle Plaine issued TST a “permit to erect a display that honors veterans in a limited public forum.” TST alleges that this permit, issued pursuant to Resolution 17-020 to allow private parties “access to Veterans Memorial Park for the purpose of erecting displays,” is a promise. As alleged, this promise is clear and definite. Cohen, 479 N.W.2d at 391. Therefore, TST sufficiently alleges that Belle Plaine promised to permit TST to erect and maintain a display in Veterans Memorial Park for up to one year.
As to the second and third elements, TST alleges that Belle Plaine “intended to and in fact induced [TST] to rely on that promise in obtaining a permit and designing and constructing a veteran‘s memorial of approved design that honored veterans in a limited public forum.” TST also alleges that it “[d]etrimentally relied on [Belle Plaine‘s] promise and expended financial resources, time and talent to design and construct the approved veteran‘s memorial display in full performance of its obligations to [Belle Plaine].” And in doing so, TST acquired liability insurance as required by Resolution 17-020. The allegations adequately state that Belle Plaine intended to induce TST‘s subsequent reliance on that promise to its own detriment. Id. (observing that “the promisor must have intended to induce relianсe on the part of the promisee, and such reliance must have occurred to the promisee‘s detriment“). Based on these pleadings, TST sufficiently alleges that Belle Plaine should have reasonably expected that TST would expend time and resources to construct a display after receiving approval and that TST in fact expended such time and resources.
Finally, TST alleges sufficient facts that enforcement of Belle Plaine‘s promise may be necessary to avoid injustice. TST alleges that Belle Plaine violated
The cases that Belle Plaine cites are inapposite. See Plymouth Foam Prods., Inc. v. City of Becker, 120 F.3d 153 (8th Cir. 1997); Snyder v. City of Minneapolis, 441 N.W.2d 781 (Minn. 1989). Both Plymouth and Snyder involved an equitable-estoppel claim, not a promissory-estoppel claim. Belle Plaine identifies no case law that supports the analogous treatment of equitable-estoppel claims and promissory-estoppel claims. See Bracewell v. U.S. Bank Nat‘l Ass‘n, 748 F.3d 793, 796 (8th Cir. 2014) (distinguishing between an equitable-estoppel claim and a promissory-estoppel claim); Del Hayes & Sons, Inc. v. Mitchell, 230 N.W.2d 588, 283–84 (Minn. 1975) (same). Acсordingly, the cases on which Belle Plaine relies do not apply to the circumstances here.
Belle Plaine also argues that
For these reasons, Belle Plaine‘s motion for judgment on the pleadings as to TST‘s promissory-estoppel claim is denied.
ORDER
Based on the foregoing analysis, and all the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
- Defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings, (Dkt. 27), is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART as addressed herein.
- Counts I through VI and VIII through X are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
- Plaintiff Thе Satanic Temple‘s motion for judgment on the pleadings as to Count II, (Dkt. 22), is DENIED.
Dated: July 31, 2020
s/Wilhelmina M. Wright
Wilhelmina M. Wright
United States District Judge