Jury awards father $11M in funeral case

[wil]

Jury awards father $11M in funeral case

By ALEX DOMINGUEZ, Associated Press Writer Wed Oct 31, 6:23 PM ET

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.
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.

Could it be they were pleased with the verdict?

[flowperson]

wil...
I saw this on another news site and they mentioned that the church was from Topeka, KS.
Isn't this the same church that used to stage demonstrations at abortion clinics which often became violent ? Topeka rang a bell in my head.
Didn't they call themselves the lambs of G-d ? Just asking.

flow....

[Impqueen]

Why would they be pleased?

Great to see them getting a little come-uppance.

[wil]

Namaste Flow and Impqueen,

I don't know if it is the same group or not.

As for why could they be pleased, all conjecture mind you, but I believe it possible that they agree with many of the ideas of this church/preacher but not the in your face outward acts that are done. It could be that they hope to back off of the public stunts.

[greymare]

first of all this kind of demonstration brings out all the "only in america..." syndrome. Regardless of what you think about the war in Iraq and regardless on your views on Homosexuality, to invade a funeral is disgusting. A families grief is personal and in my view is no way a public affair. This kind of demonstrating is insulting to the family and the deceased (regardless of how he died). Quite frankly these people(demonstraters) need to be locked up. I know that in america people are allowed to have their free speech, so are we here is Australia but if that went on over here, those demonstraters would have been hospitalized. Fair dinkum, you guys have really blown me away on this one.

[bob x]

The "Operation Rescue" people (anti-abortion protesters) and "Westboro Baptist Church" (the "God Hates Fags" group) are not the same, although it is not coincidence that both came out of Topeka.

[greymare]

If i ever get to the USA I know for sure one place I WONT be visitin. topeka.

[Pathless]

Originally Posted by Article About Moronic Bigots

Members of the group sang "God Hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America."

Damn!! Talk about anti-American!

[greymare]

how do you guys tolerate these idiots??????

[Pathless]

Originally Posted by greymare

how do you guys tolerate these idiots??????

I find it works best to roll your eyes and laugh. Other responses I've used: increased blood pressure, fear and loathing, complaining.

America, land of the ignorant, ignominious and intolerant. Hey, it's home.

[pattimax]

Originally Posted by greymare

first of all this kind of demonstration brings out all the "only in america..." . you guys have really blown me away on this one.

Don't kid yourself, idiots are everywhere.

[greymare]

yes patti, I know they are everywhere but we really do have a saying.... only in america... and these bunch of losers have proved it well and truly. Here they wuld have been beaten up and once the cops realized what was goin on they probably would have had tolock them up for their own safety. Its like those shows that the usa is famous for.... ricky lake.... jerry springer.... Here we dont go on national tv and tell our spouse we are having an affair with their partners best friends,bisexual, interracial crossdressing father. We go to the pub , tell our mates, get beat up by some well meaning interferer and then go home and apologise. or just leave. eithere way, is better than on national tv.

[pattimax]

I guess freedom of speech does have its underbelly. (and it's so vocal.)

[greymare]

yeh

[17th Angel]

that is bs.... lol