Case: Stinson Electric, Inc. v. Sebelius

0:14-cv-00830 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: March 26, 2014

Closed Date: 2015

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On March 26, 2014, three individual plaintiffs and their wholly-owned family company filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota under 42 U.S.C. §1983, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Plaintiffs alleged that the provision of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ACA") that mandated group health plans include coverage for "all [FDA] approved contraceptive …

On March 26, 2014, three individual plaintiffs and their wholly-owned family company filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota under 42 U.S.C. §1983, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Plaintiffs alleged that the provision of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ACA") that mandated group health plans include coverage for "all [FDA] approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity," posed a substantial burden on their religious exercise. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

On April 30, 2014, District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz granted the plaintiffs' preliminary injunction against enforcement of the contraception mandate until thirty days after the Eighth Circuit issued a decision in O'Brien v. U.S. Dep't of Health and Human Services, 894 F.Supp.2d 1149 (E.D. Mo. 2012) or Annex Medical, Inc. v. Sebelius, No. 12–2804 2013 WL 101927 (D. Minn. Jan. 8, 2013), or until thirty days after the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius, 723 F.3d 1114 (Tenth Cir. 2013) or Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius, 724 F.3d 377 (Third Cir. 2013).

On June 30, 2014, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2751 (2014), a substantially similar case. In a 5-4 opinion by Justice Alito, the Court held that the HHS regulations imposing the contraceptive mandate violate RFRA, when applied to closely-held for-profit corporations. 

In light of this decision, on November 14, 2014, the parties jointly submitted a Stipulation for Entry of Judgment and Injunction in Favor of Plaintiffs and Stipulation for Fee Motion Briefing Schedule, which permanently enjoined the defendants from (1) enforcing the ACA's contraceptive coverage requirement, (2) assessing any penalties or fines for noncompliance, and (3) taking any other actions based on noncompliance with the requirement.

On November 18, 2014, Judge Schiltz issued a judgment accepting the parties' submission. On December 30, 2014, the parties stipulated for an extension of time for the plaintiffs' motion for attorneys' fees. On December 31, 2014, Judge Schiltz granted this stipulation in an order extending the deadline to March 3, 2015. The docket shows no record of the plaintiffs moving for attorneys' fees, and the case now appears closed.

Summary Authors

Richard Jolly (11/5/2014)

Elizabeth Greiter (12/7/2017)

Related Cases

O'Brien v. HHS, Eastern District of Missouri (2012)

Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius, Western District of Oklahoma (2012)

Annex Medical, Inc. v. Sebelius, District of Minnesota (2012)

Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius, Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2012)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13310401/parties/stinson-electric-inc-v-sebelius/

Judge(s)

Bowbeer, Hildy (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Dickey, James (Minnesota)

Fahnlander, Vincent J. (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Bildtsen, Ann M (Minnesota)

Humphreys, Bradley Philip (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

0:14-cv-00830

Docket [PACER]

Stinson Electric v. Sebelius

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Docket
1

0:14-cv-00830

Verified Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief [Jury Trial Demanded]

Stinson Electric v. Sebelius

March 26, 2014

March 26, 2014

Complaint
14

0:14-cv-00830

Preliminary Injunction

Stinson Electric v. Sebelius

April 30, 2014

April 30, 2014

Order/Opinion
17

0:14-cv-00830

Stipulation for Entry of Judgment and Injunction in Favor of Plaintiffs and Stipulation for Fee Motion Briefing Schedule

Stinson Electric v. Sebelius

Nov. 14, 2014

Nov. 14, 2014

Pleading / Motion / Brief
18

0:14-cv-00830

Order for Injunction and Judgment

Stinson Electric v. Sebelius

Nov. 18, 2014

Nov. 18, 2014

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13310401/stinson-electric-inc-v-sebelius/

Last updated June 23, 2025, 12:31 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT Verified Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief - Jury Trial Demanded against All Defendants. ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0864-3919067.) Filed by Patricia Archambault, Paul Archambault, Robert Archambault, Stinson Electric, Inc.. Filer requests summons issued. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet) (Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 03/26/2014)

March 26, 2014

March 26, 2014

PACER
2

TEXT ONLY ENTRY: CLERK'S NOTICE OF INITIAL CASE ASSIGNMENT. Case assigned to Judge Patrick J. Schiltz per Civil Rights Other List referred to Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham. Please use case number 14-cv-830 (PJS/JJG). (MMP) (Entered: 03/26/2014)

March 26, 2014

March 26, 2014

PACER
3

Summons Issued as to Internal Revenue Service, John Koskinen, Jacob Lew, Thomas Perez, Kathleen Sebelius, United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Department of Labor, United States Department of the Treasury. (MMP) (Entered: 03/26/2014)

March 26, 2014

March 26, 2014

PACER
4

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Patricia Archambault, Paul Archambault, Robert Archambault, Stinson Electric, Inc.. Internal Revenue Service served on 3/27/2014, answer due 5/27/2014; John Koskinen served on 3/27/2014, answer due 5/27/2014; Jacob Lew served on 3/27/2014, answer due 5/27/2014; Thomas Perez served on 3/27/2014, answer due 5/27/2014; Kathleen Sebelius served on 3/27/2014, answer due 5/27/2014; United States Department of Health and Human Services served on 3/27/2014, answer due 5/27/2014; United States Department of Labor served on 3/27/2014, answer due 5/27/2014; United States Department of the Treasury served on 3/27/2014, answer due 5/27/2014. (Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 04/04/2014)

April 4, 2014

April 4, 2014

PACER
5

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and Stay - Expedited Handling Requested by Patricia Archambault, Paul Archambault, Robert Archambault, Stinson Electric, Inc.. (Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 04/11/2014)

April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

PACER
6

NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION 5 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and Stay - Expedited Handling Requested : at date and time to be determined. (Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 04/11/2014)

April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

PACER
7

MEET and CONFER STATEMENT re 5 Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by Patricia Archambault, Paul Archambault, Robert Archambault, Stinson Electric, Inc.. (Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 04/11/2014)

April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

PACER
8

AFFIDAVIT of Service by Patricia Archambault, Paul Archambault, Robert Archambault, Stinson Electric, Inc. re 5 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and Stay - Expedited Handling Requested, 6 Notice of Hearing on Motion, 7 Meet and Confer Statement (Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 04/11/2014)

April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

PACER
9

AFFIDAVIT of Service by Patricia Archambault, Paul Archambault, Robert Archambault, Stinson Electric, Inc. re 5 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and Stay - Expedited Handling Requested, 6 Notice of Hearing on Motion, 7 Meet and Confer Statement (Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 04/11/2014)

April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

PACER
10

NOTICE of Appearance by Ann M Bildtsen on behalf of Internal Revenue Service, John Koskinen, Jacob Lew, Thomas Perez, Kathleen Sebelius, United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Department of Labor, United States Department of the Treasury. (Bildtsen, Ann) (Entered: 04/11/2014)

April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

PACER
11

MOTION for Admission Pro Hac Vice for U.S. Government Attorney Bradley P. Humphreys by Internal Revenue Service, John Koskinen, Jacob Lew, Thomas Perez, Kathleen Sebelius, United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Department of Labor, United States Department of the Treasury. (Bildtsen, Ann) (Entered: 04/11/2014)

April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

PACER
12

TEXT ONLY ENTRY: ORDER granting 11 Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of U.S. Government Attorney Bradley Philip Humphreys for Internal Revenue Service,John Koskinen,Jacob Lew,Thomas Perez,Kathleen Sebelius,United States Department of Health and Human Services,United States Department of Labor,United States Department of the Treasury. Approved by Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham on 4/11/2014. (MAP) (Entered: 04/11/2014)

April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014

PACER
13

NOTICE by Internal Revenue Service, Jacob Lew, Thomas Perez, Kathleen Sebelius, United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Department of Labor, United States Department of the Treasury re 5 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and Stay - Expedited Handling Requested of Non-Opposition (Humphreys, Bradley) (Entered: 04/15/2014)

April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014

PACER
14

ORDER granting 5 Motion for Preliminary Injunction. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Patrick J. Schiltz on April 30, 2014. (CLG) (Entered: 04/30/2014)

April 30, 2014

April 30, 2014

RECAP
15

NOTICE of Change of Address by Erick G Kaardal (Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 06/16/2014)

June 16, 2014

June 16, 2014

PACER
16

TEXT ONLY ENTRY: CLERK'S NOTICE OF REASSIGNMENT. Due to the retirement of Magistrate Judge Graham, this case is reassigned to Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer. Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham no longer assigned to the case.NOTE: the new case number is 14-cv-830 PJS/HB. Please use this case number for all subsequent pleadings. (kt) (Entered: 08/06/2014)

Aug. 6, 2014

Aug. 6, 2014

PACER
17

STIPULATION for Entry of Judgment and Injunction in Favor of Plaintiffs and Stipulation for Fee Motion Briefing Schedule by Patricia Archambault, Paul Archambault, Robert Archambault, Stinson Electric, Inc.. Jointly Signed by Sylvia M. Burwell, United States Department of Health and Human Service, Thomas Perez, United States Department of Labor, Jacob Lew, United States Department of the Treasury, John Koskinen, and Internal Revenue Service. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) 1, # 2 Exhibit(s) 2)(Kaardal, Erick) (Entered: 11/14/2014)

1 Exhibit(s) 1

View on PACER

2 Exhibit(s) 2

View on PACER

Nov. 14, 2014

Nov. 14, 2014

RECAP
18

ORDER FOR INJUNCTION AND JUDGMENT. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Patrick J. Schiltz on November 18, 2014. (CLG) (Entered: 11/18/2014)

Nov. 18, 2014

Nov. 18, 2014

PACER
19

JUDGMENT (Attachments: # 1 Civil Notice - appeal)(MMP) (Entered: 11/18/2014)

Nov. 18, 2014

Nov. 18, 2014

PACER
20

STIPULATION for Extension of Time to File Plaintiffs' Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs by Internal Revenue Service, John Koskinen, Jacob Lew, Thomas Perez, Kathleen Sebelius, United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Department of Labor, United States Department of the Treasury. Jointly Signed by Stinson Electric, Inc., Paul Archambault, Patricia Archambault, and Robert Archambault. (Humphreys, Bradley) (Entered: 12/30/2014)

Dec. 30, 2014

Dec. 30, 2014

PACER
21

ORDER FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS. Signed by Judge Patrick J. Schiltz on December 31, 2014. (CLG) (Entered: 12/31/2014)

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

PACER

Case Details