Former Church Member’s Consent to Chruch’s Disciplinary Practices Bars His Tort Suit Against the Church and Pastor for Wrongful Dismissal

Under tort law principles, a person who consents to another's conduct cannot bring a tort claim for the harm that follows from that conduct. This is because no wrong is done to one who consents. Because the plaintiff consented to the church's practices, and his active engagement with the church indicated his continuing consent, the church's actions disciplining the plaintiff were not unlawful. Smith v. Calvary Christian Church, Michigan Supreme Court (2000).May a disgruntled former member...