Judge denies county's motion to dismiss Cramer lawsuit

A federal judge has denied Ottawa County’s motion to dismiss the First Amendment violation claims levied against it and the county’s Board of Commissioners by the Rev. Jared Cramer of Grand Haven.

In an opinion published Tuesday, Judge Jane Beckering, presiding over U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, stated that the county’s arguments to dismiss Cramer’s complaints of religious discrimination “lacked merit,” and she gave the defendant 21 days to respond before the case moves forward to the discovery phase. Cramer’s attorney, Sarah Riley Howard, will then have the opportunity to collect evidence from the county, including calling on witnesses to give testimonies under oath in deposition about the allegations.