Father wins millions from war funeral picketers
gimmesometruth27
St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
This is interesting. The father of a soldier killed in Iraq is awarded $11 million in damages from the Phelps family and Westboro Baptist Church, you know, the "god hates fags" people. What are your thoughts on this? I am all for the first ammendment, but these people habitually abuse that right. I think the only way to keep them from doing this is to hit them in their pocketbook, and evidently $11 million is more than the church has in assets.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21566280/
BALTIMORE - 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 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.
Award 'exceeds the net worth' of defendants
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://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21566280/
BALTIMORE - 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 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.
Award 'exceeds the net worth' of defendants
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.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
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I guess it would depend on wether funerals could be considered public or private.
I will protect the Westboro Church's 'right' to spew their hatred... even if it is in direct opposition of my own beliefs... but, will hold them accountable for the consequences their words have on other people.
...
Also... good luck collecting from these assholes.
Hail, Hail!!!
While I'm totally against those people protesting the funerals (not against their right to protest, though), I think the award is excessive.
Hopefully this will stop them, though.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Amen
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"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
I guess to me it all depends on exactly what kind of protest they had. I mean there is a fine line between protesting and harassment. If a guy stands in front of my house all day and yells obscenities at my windows I don't think that is covered under the first amendment. If they did have a peaceful, respectful protest on public property that is a different story.
"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."
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
I however would feel it quite appropiate for someone to protest one of their funerals with something along the lines of 'God hates you assholes'.
What these people have been doing are not peaceful protests. Not by a long shot. The court recognized the discrepancy and judged accordingly.
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except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
That's my view, also. As soon as his opinions violate your privacy, it is no longer a matter of free sppech. Freedom of Speech is not protected when it violates your right to privacy. Same thing if they yelled into a bullhorn and damaged your hearing... they are responsible and must be held accountable for their actions.
The same thing applies to the Westboro Church. It is not necessarily what they have to say... and more in the manner in which they express them.
Hail, Hail!!!