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Verdict against Westboro Church
Topic Started: Oct 31 2007, 05:44 PM (233 Views)
kyyankgrrl
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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.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_...GXvIibOZLkDW7oF

**********

Excellent!!! And don't start crying about Free Speech - the U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized there are limitations to free speech. Now, maybe they will think twice before they run around spreading their vicious, cruel hatred and ignorance.
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nath87
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stupid f-n ppl
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Bloss
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this won't stop them they will keep on coming
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Cubbies10
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Yer and the Media like Fox will keep giving the idiots attention
“Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living.”

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TheHugeUnit
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2BCano,Nov 2 2007
08:47 PM
Yer and the Media like Fox will keep giving the idiots attention

I'm doing my part, I no longer watch Family Guy. The shows so stupid it gives me headaches.
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The Doctor Is In
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Man people have gotten stupid.
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OriolesManiac88
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Id kick their asses if they ever showed up at a loved ones funeral...
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MoRivera
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Usually America defines free speech. Apparently, this speech cost $11,000,000
Jesus built one Church. He also said to follow Him. If you are not in His Church, you aren't following very well.
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bostonfanatic87
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OriolesManiac88,Nov 3 2007
09:34 AM
Id kick their asses if they ever showed up at a loved ones funeral...

I would more than gladly get arrested for one of them.
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