Lower courts disagreed over whether that opinion constituted a final ruling; the trial court thought it had a trial to hear, the appeals court said no, it was over, and Thursday, the Supreme Court reversed the appeals court.
In its ruling, the high court said that it never meant to establish ownership of the property two years ago.
“Based on the arguments the parties presented, we did conclude ‘on this record,’ that the general church owns the disputed property.”
It is interesting that very few of these property fights seem to have been finally decided. Most are still subject to rights of appeal.