Attorney obtained a dismissal of a slander claim against the Board of Directors of an orthodox Jewish congregation

Attorney obtained a dismissal of a slander claim against the Board of Directors of an orthodox Jewish congregation. Defense attorney moved for a dismissal on the pleadings, arguing that the court's involvement in the case would violate the establishment clause of the first amendment. This motion was denied based on a lack of discovery, but defense attorney then convinced a religious court to invoke a thousand year old procedure to summon the litigants for a hearing before the tribunal. The religious court ordered the plaintiff to dismiss his claims in civil court, and the appellate court enforced the decision of the religious court and dismissed the suit.