The Court of Appeals effectively said it will not tolerate legal shenanigans to delay a trial to decide whether the denomination may seize South Carolina property, including churches and the diocesan symbols. In asking the Court of Appeals to dismiss the action, the Diocese of South Carolina argued that TECSC is appealing a court order that is \u201cunappealable\u201d\u009d.<\/p>\n
South Carolina\u2019s Court of Appeals justices agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are grateful that the court recognized that TEC and TECSC are misusing the judicial system to delay resolution of this case,\u201d\u009d said the Rev. Jim Lewis, Canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese. \u201cTheir strategy of using legal motions to delay court decisions caused eight months to be wasted when they asked the federal court to override the state court injunction. As in that matter, the courts sided with the Diocese of South Carolina.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
TEC has a long history of dragging out legal battles, apparently in hopes of draining the resources of parishes and dioceses it seeks to punish for leaving the denomination. According to the latest published reports, TEC has spent more than $40 million on litigation in the past few years. TEC routinely appeals court decisions in hopes of wearing down its opposition \u201d\u201c and to intimidate parishes and dioceses that wish to leave the denomination.<\/p>\n