In September 2012, Hobby Lobby filed a lawsuit against the United States over new regulations requiring health insurance provided by employers to cover emergency contraceptives.
Through the 2000s, the entire antiquities market—especially Hobby Lobby staff—had been widely and publicly warned of the proliferation of fakes, all manufactured with the same cheap flaws that are obvious to expert analysts.
We took a closer look at Hobby Lobby's biggest controversies over its nearly 50-year history. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. On Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced that it had seized an ancient tablet from Hobby Lobby that had been illegally smuggled into the US.
The Hobby Lobby case has always been about one thing only; the Greens’ right to live out their faith in their business without government unduly intruding on their ability to do so.
Despite proof, the Hobby Lobby owners claim they "didn't know" about the artifacts' history. The New York Times reported that a property law expert "warned company executives that the artifacts might have been looted from historical sites in Iraq, and that failing to determine their heritage could break the law."
In 2017, Hobby Lobby was fined $3 million after authorities accused the company of buying thousands of historical artifacts that had been smuggled out of Iraq. Prosecutors said that the tablet had originally been brought to the U.S. by an antiquities dealer who had bought it from the family of a London coin dealer.
Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby bought the tablet with the purpose of displaying it at the Washington, DC-based Museum of the Bible, which is funded by the family of the arts and crafts chain's founder, David Green.
the Gilgamesh Dream TabletThe $1.7m cuneiform tablet, known as the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, is one of the world's oldest surviving works of literature and one of the oldest religious texts. It was found in 1853 as part of a 12-tablet collection in the rubble of the library of Assyrian King Assur Banipal.
The chain has 969 stores in 47 states. A Christian-owned company, Hobby Lobby incorporates American conservative values and Christian media....Hobby Lobby.A Hobby Lobby location in Stow, OhioProductsArts and crafts suppliesRevenue$5 billion (2018)OwnerGreen familyNumber of employees43,000+ (2020)9 more rows
Prosecutors said Steve Green, the president of the $4 billion company, agreed to buy more than 5,500 artifacts in 2010 for $1.6 million in a scheme that involved a number of middlemen and the use of phony or misleading invoices, shipping labels and other paperwork to slip the artifacts past U.S. customs agents.
$1.67 millionHobby Lobby bought the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet for $1.67 million in 2014. Now it's being returned to Iraq. A 3,500-year-old clay tablet that was looted from an Iraqi museum 30 years ago is headed back to Iraq.
Hobby LobbyHobby Lobby, whose owners established the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., bought the tablet for $1.6 million in a private sale from an auction house, according to court documents.
In 2019, the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet was seized by US officials and was returned to Iraq in September 2021.
The U.S. government seized the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet in September 2019, with the Department of Justice calling it “stolen Iraqi property” in a legal complaint. Hobby Lobby has already been forced to restitute over 11,000 artifacts—mostly papyrus fragments, cuneiform tablets, and clay seals—to Egypt and Iraq.
The $1.7 million cuneiform tablet, known as the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, is one of the world's oldest surviving works of literature and one of the oldest religious texts. It was found in 1853 as part of a 12-tablet collection in the rubble of the library of Assyrian King Assur Banipal.
Mart GreenMardel Christian & Education Founded by Mart Green, son of Hobby Lobby owner David Green, this independent retailer of Christian materials, office supplies and educational products has over 30 stores in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
Hobby Lobby president Steve Green and Cary Summers, the president of the Museum of the Bible – which is funded by the Green family and whose collection centers on the Green family’s antiquities – have insisted this is a case of improper paperwork and inexperience in collecting antiquities rather than illegal intentions.
The government’s complaint and stipulation of settlement, both filed on July 5, attest that the artifacts originated in Iraq and had been smuggled into the country.
One common take in the aftermath of the announcement was some variant of “Hobby Lobby is funding ISIS.”. This claim has been used to condemn Hobby Lobby, or else to mock them, given the incon gruence of a relationship between ISIS and the famously conservative Christian Green family.
This may actually be something of a victory for Hobby Lobby. Many have pointed to this incident as a black mark on Hobby Lobby, the Greens, and the Museum of the Bible, and a serious setback for them.
The Museum of the Bible is partnering with (that is, significantly funding, in return for loans of material) major institutions like the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Rome State Archives. The museum is also currently funding a major archaeological excavation in Israel at Tel Shimron.
This is all true. Looting involves destruction and loss of information on a truly massive scale: not only do the objects themselves lose all contextual information, but after being looted, any object deemed valueless on the antiquities market will be discarded or destroyed.
However, several experts, among them, Donna Yates and Roberta Mazza, have suggested that the actions of Hobby Lobby are not innocent. In fact, the Greens had sought the advice of Patty Gerstenblith, a leading expert on cultural property law, in 2010 – and proceeded to ignore her warnings. This case has already seen extensive discussion.
Nevertheless, Hobby Lobby went ahead and paid $1.6 million for 5,500 pieces that were then smuggled into the United States through Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Hobby Lobby President Steven Green, who arranged the sale, blamed inexperience, saying the company didn't "appreciate the complexity of the acquisitions process" and relied on dealers ...
A day after craft chain Hobby Lobby agreed to pay a $3 million fine and return smuggled Iraqi artifacts, two professors called on the company to reveal the source of thousands of other antiquities in its massive Bible-themed collection.
In a deal with the feds, Hobby Lobby agreed to return the 5,500 items, pay $3 million and put new procedures in place. It does not appear there will be any criminal charges stemming from the investigation that began when customs officers intercepted one of the shipments.
In a close 5-4 decision, the Court decided in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. that closely held corporations can refuse to provide birth control coverage to their employees if doing so would violate the corporation's "sincerely held religious beliefs." Hobby Lobby had argued that their Christian faith precluded them from providing birth control as part of a larger health care benefits package.
Some of these employers, such as Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corporation, were strongly opposed to birth control, in particular the "morning after" pill, which prevents implantation of a fertilized egg. Before the ACA, another famous Supreme Court case permitted the government to infringe on religious freedom if it was an incidental ...
Sylvia Burwell was listed as petitioner in this Supreme Court case because she was the Secretary of Health and Human Services at the time of the decision.
Hobby Lobby had argued that their Christian faith precluded them from providing birth control as part of a larger health care benefits package. Below, you’ll find an explanation of the background behind the Hobby Lobby case, its implications with regard to contraception and religious freedom, the Court’s decision, ...
Thus, Hobby Lobby argued that even as a corporation it has religious rights comparable to any American. In September 2012, Hobby Lobby filed suit in federal court in Oklahoma based on its First Amendment Free Exercise of Religion right and the RFRA. The 10th Circuit Court ruled that Hobby Lobby was a person with religious freedom.
On July 5, 2017, the U.S. brought a civil in Rem action to forfeit the contents of the five packages under the theory that their importation was contrary to law. Authorities kept their case confined to civil court, and refrained from pressing criminal charges against Green and his associates as there was no evidence of looting or conspiracy. Under the representation of Pearlstein, McCullough & Lederman, Hobby Lobby was able to obtain a settlement in July 2017. Hobby Lobby agreed to pay $3 million to the U.S. Department of Justice and to surrender 3,594 artifacts. Additionally, the company agreed to adopt internal policies on the importation and purchase of cultural property, hire qualified outside customs brokers and counsel, and submit quarterly reports to the government on any cultural property acquisition within the next eighteen months. PML’s lead partner on the case, Michael McCullough, stated that the settlement was “just” and a “template for future cultural property disputes.”
According to a complaint filed in the United States District Court in the Eastern District of New York, in 2010 Green paid $1.6 million for 5,548 artifacts – 1,500 cuneiform tablets, 500 cuneiform bricks, 3,000 clay bullae, 35 clay envelope seals, 13 extra-large cuneiform tablets, and 500 stone cylinder seals. Green purchased the artifacts following a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he and Carroll inspected the items on July 15, 2010. The artifacts were sold by an antiquities dealer from the UAE and two other dealers from Israel (“the dealers”). The dealers informed Green that the artifacts belonged to a fourth dealer from Israel who was not present. According to the Complaint, the dealers also told Green that the “objects were acquired in the late 1960s from ‘local markets.’” This and other purchases were sent to the U.S. primarily by the UAE dealer, to Hobby Lobby and its corporate affiliates – Crafts, Etc.! and Mardel, Inc.
In 2018, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York directed Hobby Lobby to return the artifacts and pay a fine of US$3,000,000. Hobby Lobby returned over 5500 items in May 2018.
Beginning in 2009, representatives of Hobby Lobby were warned that artifacts they were purchasing were likely looted from Iraq. The purchases had been made for the Museum of the Bible, which they were sponsoring.
As of 2020. , the chain has more than 900 locations nationwide. David Green, the son of a preacher, declares on the Hobby Lobby web site, "Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles.".
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., formerly Hobby Lobby Creative Centers, is an American retail company. It owns a chain of arts and crafts stores with a volume of over $5 billion in 2018.
In 1972, David Green opened the first Hobby Lobby store in northwest Oklahoma City. Green left his supervisor position with variety store TG&Y to open a second Hobby Lobby in Oklahoma City in 1975. He opened an additional store in Tulsa, Oklahoma the next year. Hobby Lobby grew to seven stores by mid 1982, and the first store outside Oklahoma opened in 1984. When Green expanded the scope of the business to include furniture and high-end cookware during the early 1980s, it led to losses as the economy slowed. He returned to an arts and crafts emphasis and by late 1992, the chain had grown to 50 locations in seven U.S. states. As of 2020#N#[update]#N#, the chain has more than 900 locations nationwide. David Green, the son of a preacher, declares on the Hobby Lobby web site, "Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles." Hobby Lobby stores and facilities are open for business every day with the exception of Sunday. According to CEO David Green, this is to allow employees to have more time to spend for worship, rest, and family. on March 4, 2019, Orland park announced that it would open a new Hobby lobby In orland park place. in 2020, Norridge announced that it would open a new hobby lobby in Harlem irving plaza. Their full-time hourly wage had been $15 since 2014. They announced on September 14, 2020 that it would be raised to $17 effective October 1, 2020.
In September 2013, a shopper reported being told by a store employee, in Marlboro, New Jersey, that Hobby Lobby did not carry merchandise celebrating Jewish holidays, as the store did not "cater to you people.". David Green issued a formal apology to the Anti-Defamation League, who accepted it in a published statement.
Supreme Court, ruled 5–4, that Hobby Lobby and other "closely held" stock corporations can choose to be exempt from the law based on religious preferences , based on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act but not on the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
This landmark ruling, as Bloomberg first reported, is one of first impression, meaning it is a case in which a legal issue has never before been decided by that governing jurisdiction.
Efforts to prevent transgender people from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity are nothing new, of course.
In its arguments, Hobby Lobby unsuccessfully claimed Sommerville, who came out to family in 2009 and transitioned at work in 2010, could simply use the unisex bathroom it installed in 2013.
Although it was not a part of the appellate case, that potential next round could feature a religious objection to Sommerville’s claim. Christian groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom have already gone to court to fight transgender inclusion in school sports and access to affirming healthcare.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby's right to withhold reproductive benefits, determining that private companies were allowed to be exempt from the law on the basis of religious preferences. The ruling led to widespread protests and rallies around the country.
While the Green family attorney told The Oklahoman the suit was "financially motivated and an attempt to tarnish the family's reputation," the Jones family attorney said the Hobby Lobby family had aspirations of taking control of what was then the sixth largest charity in the world.
Shortly after the Supreme Court ruling, religious group leaders banded together to send a letter to the White House calling for an exemption from Obama Administration policies that prevented discrimination on the basis of sexuality. Using the decision and the precedent from the Hobby Lobby case as its catalyst, the group urged autonomy in hiring and operation decisions.
A Hobby Lobby store. Joe Raedle/Getty Images. It's been a particularly controversial year for Hobby Lobby, from endangering employees during the coronavirus outbreak to prompting a boycott over a pro-Trump store display. However, the arts-and-crafts store — led by the conservative Christian founder and CEO David Green and his family — has had ...
In 2017, federal prosecutors found that Hobby Lobby illegally smuggled rare and stolen artifacts to the US by shipping the items to its Oklahoma City headquarters in boxes labeled as ceramic tile samples. The Green family first started collecting the biblical antiques in 2009, despite warnings from a property law expert contracted by Hobby Lobby at the time.
Unlike most retail executives, who adhere to a strict separation of church and state policy, Green regularly references God in company memos, including Hobby Lobby's commitment to "honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles.".
According to reports, when a customer inquired if the store sold decor for Jewish holidays, an employee allegedly responded that Hobby Lobby "does not cater to your people.".