Apollos Properties v. Leland Township, Michigan
On August 10, 2026, a lawsuit was filed in the federal district court for the Western District of Michigan against Leland Township and twenty-one local officials. The Constitutional Coalition is supporting the Plaintiffs, Bluewater Thumb Youth for Christ and Apollos Properties. The township denied Youth for Christ a permit to gather on private property, violating the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Article I of the Michigan Constitution, and various federal and Michigan civil rights laws.
The outcome of this lawsuit will establish significant precedent for the right of faith-based groups throughout the nation to meet without unconstitutional government interference.
PLAINTIFFS APOLLOS PROPERTIES, LLC, JAMES VANSTEENHOUSE, ELIZABETH VANSTEENHOUSE, MICAH CRAMER, and KYA CRAMER
DEFENDANTS LELAND TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN, CLINT MITCHELL, in his official capacity as Supervisor on the Township Board of Trustees, LISA BROOKFIELD, in her official capacity as Leland Township Clerk, SHIRLEY GARTHE, in her official capacity as Leland Township Board Treasurer, GREG KUNTZ, in his official capacity as Leland Township Trustee, STEVE SCALES, in his official capacity as Leland Township Trustee, and as Township Board Representative to the Planning Commission, ROSS SATTERWHITE, in his official capacity as former chairman of Leland Township Planning Commission, LEE CORY , in her official capacity as Chairwoman of the Leland Township Planning Commission, and as Planning Commission Representative to the Zoning Board of Appeals, SKIP TELGARD, in his official capacity as Secretary of the Leland Township Planning Commission, SAM SIMPSON, in his official capacity as Vice Chairman of the Leland Township Planning Commission, BRIAN FENLON, in his official capacity as Member of the Leland Township Planning Commission and Representative to the Zoning Board of Appeals, BILL WHITE, in his official capacity as Member of the Leland Township Planning Commission, KATHY DAWKINS, in her official capacity as Chairwoman of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, BROOKS BUNBURY, in his official capacity as Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, JAMES CARPENTER, in his official capacity as Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, SUSAN OCH, in her official capacity as Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, NANCY SMITH, in her official capacity as Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, LAUREN CYPHER, in her official capacity as a former Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, MARY LINGUAR, in her official capacity as Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, LISA PSENKA, in her official capacity as Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, TONY BORDEN, in his official capacity as alternate Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals, and LYNN DUNN, in her official capacity as alternate Member of the Leland Township Zoning Board of Appeals,
COURT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
(Case No. 1:26-cv-02307)
Media Coverage
Leelanau Ticker, Sept. 18, 2026
Law Commentary, Sept. 11, 2026
Up North Live, August 12, 2026
Interlochen Public Radio, Sept. 15, 2026
Bridge Michigan, Sept. 9, 2026
Farmington Voice, Sept. 13, 2026
Michigan Capital Confidential, Sept. 4, 2026
