PENNSYLVANIA: Porn Shop Loses Suit To Stop Harassment From Catholic Group

A federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit from a Pennsylvania porn shop, which sought to stop a local Catholic group from protesting outside the store and harassing its customers. The suit is a rare win for Alliance Defending Freedom. Via their press release:

The corporation filed the lawsuit, Routes 202 and 309 Novelties and Gifts v. The King’s Men, with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under a hodgepodge of extraordinary claims, including racketeering, creating a private and public nuisance, and violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The King’s Men reply brief explained to the court that Adult World failed to show any evidence of its exaggerated claims. “The constitutionally protected freedom of people to express their views in public areas has been an essential part of American life since the nation’s founding,” added Senior Counsel Brett Harvey of ADF, which provided funding for defense of The King’s Men. “We are very pleased that this ministry can continue its work and advance its values without the threat of baseless litigation.”

The King's Men, which claims chapters in 14 states, have reportedly picketed the store hundreds of times since 2006 and say that their protests have forced the closure of seven Pennsylvania porn shops. Adult World claims that they sprinkled "holy water" on its grounds and buried "miracle medals" in its landscaping. King's Men is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.