Westboro Baptist Lunatics Lose $11 Million Dollar Lawsuit
Jury Awards Grieving Father Nearly $11 Million in Verdict Against Military Funeral Protesters
A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals out of a belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
Albert Snyder of York, Pa., sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.
Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder
The Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder Story
The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.
Westboro Baptist Lunatics
Snyder's attorney, Craig Trebilcock, had urged jurors to determine an amount "that says don't do this in Maryland again. Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again."
Church members routinely picket funerals of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, carrying signs such as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."
A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries. But the Maryland lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.
The church and three of its leaders _ the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, 46 _ were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.YEAH!!!!
Fred Phelps The Leader Of The Westboro Baptist Freaks With Of All People 'Al Gore'! And Al Gore Just Won The Nobel Peace Prize. Hmmm
Even the size of the award for compensating damages "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court, U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted.
Snyder claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.
The church members testified they are following their religious beliefs by spreading the message that soldiers are dying because the nation is too tolerant of homosexuality.
Their attorneys maintained in closing arguments Tuesday that the burial was a public event and that even abhorrent points of view are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.
Earlier, church members staged a demonstration outside the federal courthouse. Church founder Fred Phelps held a sign reading "God is your enemy," while Shirley Phelps-Roper stood on an American flag and carried a sign that read "God hates fag enablers." Members of the group sang "God Hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America."
Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.
Here's A Video I Snatched From....Conservative Intelligence Report...Showing What Happens When These Loones Are Caught And Families Have Had Enough :-) God Bless This Family And All The Pro-Victory Folks That Obviously Couldnt Take It Anymore.
http://view.break.com/189664 - Watch more free videos
Story Here
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This isnt anywhere near the justice they deserve, but it is justice none the less. Maybe if enough folks bankrupt these people they will get the hint that they are seriously disturbed and need psychological help from the obvious brainwashing Fred Phelps has done to his children over the years. Still, that is NO excuse for what these people have been doing and have been able to get away with all this time. Maybe we wont be seeing these idiot's at Funerals for our Brave Fallen Soldiers anymore. And this will probably open up the door for thousands of lawsuits. But Hey, you reap what you sew and these loones got what they deserved. Watch the Video, it's priceless and if you cant stand this group as much as I cant, it will make your day :-)
Also Blogging:
Conservative Intelligence Report
A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals out of a belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
Albert Snyder of York, Pa., sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.
The Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder Story
The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.
Snyder's attorney, Craig Trebilcock, had urged jurors to determine an amount "that says don't do this in Maryland again. Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again."
Church members routinely picket funerals of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, carrying signs such as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."
A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries. But the Maryland lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.
The church and three of its leaders _ the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, 46 _ were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.YEAH!!!!
Even the size of the award for compensating damages "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court, U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted.
Snyder claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.
The church members testified they are following their religious beliefs by spreading the message that soldiers are dying because the nation is too tolerant of homosexuality.
Their attorneys maintained in closing arguments Tuesday that the burial was a public event and that even abhorrent points of view are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.
Earlier, church members staged a demonstration outside the federal courthouse. Church founder Fred Phelps held a sign reading "God is your enemy," while Shirley Phelps-Roper stood on an American flag and carried a sign that read "God hates fag enablers." Members of the group sang "God Hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America."
Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.
http://view.break.com/189664 - Watch more free videos
Story Here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This isnt anywhere near the justice they deserve, but it is justice none the less. Maybe if enough folks bankrupt these people they will get the hint that they are seriously disturbed and need psychological help from the obvious brainwashing Fred Phelps has done to his children over the years. Still, that is NO excuse for what these people have been doing and have been able to get away with all this time. Maybe we wont be seeing these idiot's at Funerals for our Brave Fallen Soldiers anymore. And this will probably open up the door for thousands of lawsuits. But Hey, you reap what you sew and these loones got what they deserved. Watch the Video, it's priceless and if you cant stand this group as much as I cant, it will make your day :-)
Also Blogging:
Conservative Intelligence Report
Labels: Justice, Lawsuit, Westboro Baptist Lunatics
posted by Marie's Two Cents | 12:01 AM
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