Shen Yun Performing Arts, a renowned classical Chinese dance company based in New York, is asking a court to dismiss a civil lawsuit brought by two former performers.
The statute of limitations has passed, and the plaintiffs have failed to allege any unlawful activity, lawyers for the company stated in a July 7 court filing, detailing several other deficiencies in the suit. If the suit were to succeed, it would outlaw common religious practices protected under the Constitution, the filing suggests.
“They are trying to turn everyday religious activity into a federal crime, and it’s just not,” said Justin Butterfield, an attorney for Shen Yun with the Texas-based law firm Butterfield & Patterson….