According to Lubbock Lights, a handwritten civil petition was filed in Lubbock County on Nov. 6 that lists only one word on the defendant line: “God.” The filing, made by resident Britani Taylor, requests $900,000 in damages, though the box beside the amount was left unchecked and the total sum she ultimately seeks remains unclear.
That same afternoon, Taylor submitted a second petition, filing it just Eighteen minutes after the first. The second petition names the Longview Police Department as the defendant and also contains no attorney representation. Both filings were submitted without legal counsel, indicating a pro‑se approach by the plaintiff.
The case that names “God” was assigned to Judge Les Hatch of the 237th District Court, while the Longview Police Department case was placed before Judge John Grace of the 72nd District Court. The court records do not clarify whether the two petitions are related, leaving the connection between the lawsuits uncertain.
In the petition against “God,” Taylor wrote $900,000 on the damages line but did not check the accompanying box, suggesting she may be seeking additional compensation referenced elsewhere in the handwritten document. The Longview petition mentions items such as clothing, shoes, and a car, but the legible portions do not identify a specific police incident that prompted the claim.
District Clerk Sara Smith told Lubbock Lights on Friday that neither case has a hearing scheduled. Both filings are listed as open in the court’s docket, with no service, response, or ruling indicated in the case summaries at this time.
The filing follows a rare precedent. In 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported on an Associated Press story about a Nebraska state senator who sued God. That case was dismissed because the defendant could not be served—there was no address for “God.” The precedent underscores the procedural challenges such lawsuits face.
What’s next: With no hearing dates set, the petitions remain open and unserved. Residents interested in the outcome can monitor the Lubbock County court docket for any updates on service, response filings, or future scheduling. Until a court takes action, the cases will stay in limbo, leaving the community to wonder how the legal system will address a claim against a non‑addressable defendant.
Sources: lubbocklights.com
