Shijin Zhao v. Brooke S. Yang

How courts have described this case

Verbatim parenthetical descriptions written by other courts when citing this decision. Ranked by citation-network relevance.

• noting that jurisdiction is improper where the court must determine whether the diocese has the authority to control the parish
• holding Episcopal Church is hierarchical for all purposes, including determining property disputes
• noting that the court should not exert jurisdiction over a church property dispute where “the question of the right to use and possess the... church property is inextricably intertwined with the question of which individuals hold authority to act on behalf of [the local parish]”
• “the Dennis Canon merely confirmed the preexisting relationship between [TEC], its subordinate dioceses, and the parishes thereunder.”
• “Based on our review of the record we conclude ... that the Episcopal Church is hierarchical.”

Source: CourtListener parenthetical corpus (CC0).