The Hobby Lobby case on the so-called contraceptive mandate may end up having far-reaching consequences for corporate law, but it does not yet. As it stands, and despite wide pronouncements on the constitutional rights of shareholders in some closely held corporations, the case has a limited reach.
There are a number of reasons for this.
In the wake of the case, small business owners might be wondering if their religious convictions might allow them to escape laws that offend them. I respond with caution. Not only would the conflict between religion and a law meant to be applicable to all have to be evident, but there would also have to be a demonstrable alternative available to achieve the law’s purpose. It is too early for business-owning families to flock to legal offices with an eye on avoiding otherwise lawful obligations.