Jury Rules Against Topeka Church - Awards $11 Million
Associated Press
A jury in Baltimore is ordering Topeka's Westboro church to pay $11 million to the father of a Marine who was killed in Iraq. Albert Snyder sued after church members demonstrated last year at the funeral of his son, Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder. Westboro members say the Iraq war is punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It later awarded $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress. The defense says it will appeal, and one of the church's leaders, Shirley Phelps-Roper, says members will continue to picket military funerals. Snyder's lawsuit named the church; its founder, the Rev. Fred Phelps; and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, as defendants. Snyder claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event. The attorney for the Topeka church is asking for a mistrial. A motion filed Monday says statements by U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett have hurt the chance for a fair trial. Church members believe soldiers' deaths are God's retribution for America's tolerance of homosexuals. Attorney Jonathan Katz's motion says the judge described his clients' writings "rambling." The attorney included some of the judge's other comments as extending beyond mere expressions of impatience, dissatisfaction, annoyance or anger. He also said prosecutors were speaking with the media despite a gag order imposed by the judge.
1 comment:
Another case of wrong theology, and wrong application. Apart from this guy's followers, (some 70 only and mostly extended family members I have read,) I believe most if not all genuine followers of Christ will be glad that they have lost the court case, as what they did is not only legally and morally wrong but also scriptualy wrong too!(Romans 12 : 17 - 21.& Romans 13: 1 - 5.)
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