San Jose church won’t have to pay $217,500 in COVID fines after California Supreme Court denies petition

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. — In a victory for a San Jose church who openly flouted COVID rules at the height of the pandemic, the California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a petition by Santa Clara County asking that Calvary Chapel pay more than a quarter million dollars in court fees. “We feel really relieved,” said Mariah Gondeiro, the attorney representing Calvary Chapel. As a result, the church won’t have to fork over $217,500, which was previously decided by a 6th District Court of Appeal ruling issued over the summer. In that decision, the court reversed the fees stemming from court o...