View Full Version : Sometimes, Justice Prevails !
spare_change
10-31-2007, 10:09 PM
Kansas church liable in Marine funeral protest
Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:24pm EDT
By Jon Hurdle
BALTIMORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A jury on Wednesday ordered an anti-gay Kansas church to pay $10.9 million in damages to relatives of a U.S. Marine who died in Iraq after church members cheered his death at his funeral.
Church members said Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's death was God's punishment of America for tolerating homosexuality, and they attended his 2006 funeral in Maryland with signs saying "You're going to hell" and "God hates you."
The federal jury determined the Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, and three of its principals invaded the privacy of the dead man's family and inflicted emotional distress.
Albert Snyder, the Marine's father, testified that his son was not gay, but the church targeted the military as a symbol of America's tolerance of gays. Matthew Snyder died in combat in Iraq in March 2006.
The jury awarded Snyder's family $2.9 million in compensatory damages plus $8 million in punitive damages in the first civil suit against the church, which has demonstrated at some 300 military funerals the past two years.
The lawsuit said church Web sites vilified U.S. soldiers, accusing them of being indoctrinated by "fag propaganda."
"I hope it's enough to deter them from doing this to other families. It was not about the money. It was about getting them to stop," said Snyder, of York, Pennsylvania.
The church, which is unaffiliated with any major denomination, is headed by Rev. Fred Phelps, who has led a campaign against homosexuality for years. Most of the estimated 70 members of the church belong to his extended family.
"It will take the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals a few minutes to reverse this silly thing," Phelps said.
His daughter and co-defendant, Shirley Phelps-Roper, vowed to continue protesting military funerals and called the court's decision a blow against free speech.
Outside court on Wednesday, Phelps and his children waved placards with slogans such as "Pray for more dead kids" and "God hates fag enablers," while passing drivers and pedestrians shouted abuse at them.
Defense attorney Jonathan Katz urged jurors not to award punitive damages because the $2.9 million in compensatory damages was already three times the defendants' net worth.
"It's enough already to bankrupt them and financially destroy them," Katz said.
Craig Trebilcock, an attorney for Snyder, said jurors should award sufficient punitive damages to deter Westboro from repeating its actions.
WandaRing
10-31-2007, 10:20 PM
OMG...I'm lost for words. How can anyone be so cruel and judgemental to upset a family and their friends at a funreal... :cry:
cherokeered
10-31-2007, 10:34 PM
someone I worked with once told me..."God don't like ugly"...would like to see these people's faces on judgement day...........how pathetic people can be.....and how cruel to one another....
cheerymissy_34
10-31-2007, 10:44 PM
I cant believe how cruel some people can be
and to think "christians" are supposed to be forgiving and to not judge...seems to me that they need to read there bible a little more
mrdiscreet
10-31-2007, 10:53 PM
God bless the American jury system
scoobertina
10-31-2007, 10:57 PM
I can't believe how harsh some God fearing people are... one reason I chose to believe in my own personal way....
and God bless that man, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, for choosing to fight for the freedom that those men and women of the church abused.. the right of freedom of speech... how ironic... he fights for that only to have people abuse him in his death....
mrdiscreet
10-31-2007, 11:02 PM
I wonder if there is any way they could be criminally prosecuted ....
ClassyBabe
11-01-2007, 12:25 AM
This particular issue really pushes my hot button. It completely sickens and horrifies me. Thank you, soldiers, for your bravery and sacrifices.
Shiane
11-01-2007, 12:44 AM
It was attention they wanted, and attention they got. They don't make them any lower than this bunch. My hat is off to our justice system.
My idea of punishment would be to dump them all off in Iraq and see how long it takes them to beg our miliatary men and women to protect them.
mrdiscreet
11-01-2007, 12:51 AM
It was attention they wanted, and attention they got. They don't make them any lower than this bunch. My hat is off to our justice system.
My idea of punishment would be to dump them all off in Iraq and see how long it takes them to beg our miliatary men and women to protect them.
Abso-f*ing-lutely well said
Sad note is probably as less chance of collecting anything than from OJ Simpson
Shiane
11-01-2007, 01:00 AM
Abso-f*ing-lutely well said
Sad note is probably as less chance of collecting anything than from OJ Simpson
You're probably right, but like my granny used to say....
You can't get blood out of a turnip, but you can sure stomp the shit out of those greens.:55
redtruck98
11-01-2007, 01:37 AM
I feel terrible for the family...they lost a son let them bury him in peace. If they want to target the military head off to the Pentagon and voice your concerns but don't take it out on the individual troops/families.
A church.....?
Well said Shiane, "It was attention they wanted, and attention they got."
KS has had a number of similar happenings. It is very sad. My father has attended a number of funerals to keep "church" protesters from interfering with the funeral. It truly is sad.
someone I worked with once told me..."God don't like ugly"...would like to see these people's faces on judgement day...........how pathetic people can be.....and how cruel to one another....
If God is God, then they will be judged according to there own beliefs. What I find so sad is the children I have seen with this group and what they are being taught.
Abso-f*ing-lutely well said
Sad note is probably as less chance of collecting anything than from OJ Simpson
LOL at the Time Warp!!!!!!!!
:lmao
Pebbles
11-01-2007, 08:48 AM
Glad to see that this church ... whose members cheered a soldier's death as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality has been told to pay $10.9m (£5.2m) in damages.
On Wednesday, the jury ordered the church and three of its leaders to pay $2.9m in compensatory damages, and an additional $8m for invasion of privacy and for causing emotional distress.
Albert Snyder's attorney, Craig Trebilcock, had urged jurors to agree an amount "that says 'Don't do this' in Maryland again. Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again".
Defence attorney Jonathan Katz's argument that the $2.9m in compensatory damages already far exceeded the defendants' net worth and would be enough to "bankrupt them and financially destroy them" was ignored.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7072404.stm
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html
This isn't like any Baptist Church I attended.
Glad to see that this church ... whose members cheered a soldier's death as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality has been told to pay $10.9m (£5.2m) in damages.
On Wednesday, the jury ordered the church and three of its leaders to pay $2.9m in compensatory damages, and an additional $8m for invasion of privacy and for causing emotional distress.
Albert Snyder's attorney, Craig Trebilcock, had urged jurors to agree an amount "that says 'Don't do this' in Maryland again. Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again".
Defence attorney Jonathan Katz's argument that the $2.9m in compensatory damages already far exceeded the defendants' net worth and would be enough to "bankrupt them and financially destroy them" was ignored.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7072404.stm
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html
This isn't like any Baptist Church I attended.
I was raised Baptist. It's nothing like any Baptist Church I've ever attended. In fact in Chicago there are many churches with homosexual members. It is unfortunate that ( Christians ) can't seem to be " CHRIST LIKE ".
I think this is the exception rather than the rule. The norm does not get into the news in this country very much.
springs
11-01-2007, 09:31 AM
I'm very happy that the system put it to these nut jobs. I'm also pleased that everyone had the ability to restrain themselves from actually hurting them...
I'm very happy that the system put it to these nut jobs. I'm also pleased that everyone had the ability to restrain themselves from actually hurting them...
Very good point!!!!!:55
PunkyBob
11-01-2007, 09:43 AM
Put them out of business completely. One reason I do not have a religion is the hypocrisy and bigotry involved. As far as you are concerned...believe, worship in your own way...do what your soul tells you is right...but keep it out of my life and my face.
How can anyone possibly know what god thinks???
How utterly dreadful...that poor family...bad enough to lose a child...
"Free speech"? Is that what they're hiding behind? No shame, no heart, no humanity. Paradise is for all of god's children...wait...except these folks...and those folks...and them...and possibly us, too...
Pebbles
11-01-2007, 09:44 AM
I sure hope they lose the appeal and that every asset is seized. Phelps is still being obnoxious and arrogant about this, but I bet if he loses his house, cars, retirement money... he won't be bugging too many people then.
Loser. It was bad enough when they harrassed Matthew Shepard's family and friends, but crashing the funerals of dead soliders with their anti-gay crap is beyond low. There is obviously no connection between tolerance for gays in America and the Iraq war. They're just trying to be as outrageous as possible to get attention and putting the families through more hell to get press. It just doesn't get much more evil than doing that to grieving parents and widows
Sensual Woman
11-01-2007, 10:55 AM
Put them out of business completely. One reason I do not have a religion is the hypocrisy and bigotry involved. As far as you are concerned...believe, worship in your own way...do what your soul tells you is right...but keep it out of my life and my face.
How can anyone possibly know what god thinks???
How utterly dreadful...that poor family...bad enough to lose a child...
"Free speech"? Is that what they're hiding behind? No shame, no heart, no humanity. Paradise is for all of god's children...wait...except these folks...and those folks...and them...and possibly us, too...
What God thinks and wants is in the Bible - lunatics like these twist His words for their own perverse pleasure. God never condones persecuting people. Free speech is an oxymoron - once words are spoken, they are out there and cannot be taken back. Words and actions have the power to hurt and to heal. You can only ask for and receive forgiveness. These people haven't the faintest idea what it means to "Love thy neighbor." Whether you agree with the war or not, thanks and great respect should be given to those who risk their lives in the armed forces because they are offering themselves for our protection...and I for one think they should be honored, not ridiculed, chastised, humiliated, or put down. We should be on our knees thanking them and honoring them for their sacrifice.
I hope these stupid people lose everything.
Phelps is a hate filled homophob who goes around the country with his band of fellow nazi's, carrying signs that say "God Hates Fags." "Thank God For AIDS."
and other such hate filled slogans.
Annie
11-01-2007, 07:07 PM
Phelps is a hate filled homophob who goes around the country with his band of fellow nazi's, carrying signs that say "God Hates Fags." "Thank God For AIDS."
and other such hate filled slogans.
Whatever happened to "Judgement is mine, sayeth the Lord"? Some folks just don't get that concept... and never will.
Rev. Phelps has been this crap for a long time. He showed in Wyoming after the murder of Matthew Shepard, the young gay man who was beaten and tied to a fence.
He and his followers showed up with his "God Hates Fags." and "Thank God For AIDS." signs back then.
His narrow minded and very hate filled version of religion is something that must be faced, the only way to end this kind of hate, is to confront it.
cyclops
11-02-2007, 08:43 PM
What a bunch of total wankers!!!!
What a bunch of total wankers!!!!
TUt! Tut! cyclops they are Christians... :rolleyes:
cyclops
11-02-2007, 08:51 PM
TUt! Tut! cyclops they are Christians... :rolleyes:
Terry Christians :D
mrdiscreet
11-03-2007, 10:33 AM
Defense attorney Jonathan Katz urged jurors not to award punitive damages because the $2.9 million in compensatory damages was already three times the defendants' net worth.
"It's enough already to bankrupt them and financially destroy them," Katz said.
What he didn't say is that the punitives can't be washed out in bankruptcy, so it was very important that the judgment no be only compensatory damages.
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