Case: Jones v. Mahaniah

1:25-cv-12449 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Sept. 3, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]

On September 3, 2025, Plaintiffs, through the Alliance Defending Freedom, sued individuals involved with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families's (“DCF”) decision to revoke the licenses of Christian foster parents based on their religious beliefs. 

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (9/14/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71262612/parties/jones-v-mahaniah/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Whiting, Samuel (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-12449

Verified Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Sept. 3, 2025

Sept. 3, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71262612/jones-v-mahaniah/

Last updated Sept. 14, 2025, 10:15 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Greg Schrock, Nicholas Jones, Audrey Jones, Marianelly Schrock Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMADC-11215583 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by Greg Schrock, Nicholas Jones, Audrey Jones, Marianelly Schrock. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibits to Complaint, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Local Category Sheet)(Whiting, Samuel) (Entered: 09/03/2025)

1 Exhibits to Complaint

View on RECAP

2 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

3 Local Category Sheet

View on RECAP

Sept. 3, 2025

Sept. 3, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse, Henry W. Frampton, IV, Mallory Sleight, Andrew Nussbaum, and James Compton Filing fee: $ 625, receipt number AMADC-11215708 by Audrey Jones, Nicholas Jones, Greg Schrock, Marianelly Schrock.(Whiting, Samuel) (Entered: 09/03/2025)

Sept. 3, 2025

Sept. 3, 2025

RECAP
3

Case transferred to Central Division (Worcester). (NMC) (Entered: 09/04/2025)

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

PACER
4

Civil Cover Sheet & Category Sheet re 1 Complaint, (Revised) by Audrey Jones, Nicholas Jones, Greg Schrock, Marianelly Schrock. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Case Relatedness)(Whiting, Samuel) (Entered: 09/04/2025)

1 Certification of Case Relatedness

View on RECAP

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

RECAP

Case Transferred Out - Divisional Transfer

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

PACER
5

Case transferred in from Eastern Division (Boston) on 9/8/2025 Case Number 1:25-cv-12449. (SB) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER

Case Transferred In - Divisional Transfer

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 3, 2025

Closing Date: Sept. 4, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are Christians previously eligible to receive foster children.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Alliance Defending Freedom

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services, State

Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, State

Manager of the Northern Regional Licensing Unit of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, State

Supervisor of the Northern Regional Licensing Unit of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, State

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Free Exercise Clause

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Classification / placement

Foster care (benefits, training)

Juveniles

Discrimination Basis:

Religion discrimination

Affected Religion(s):

Christianity