Thread: Jury awards father $2.9M in funeral case

Oct. 31, 2007, 3:07PM
Jury awards father $2.9M in funeral case


By ALEX DOMINGUEZ Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

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BALTIMORE — A grieving father won a $2.9 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 staged a demonstration at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

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.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BALTIMORE (AP) — A grieving father won a $2.9 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.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/ ... 62077.html

Good. I do not even have the words to describe how I detest these scum bags that protest our soldier's funerals. The signs they hold are disgusting -I refuse to even type the words. I am sure you could see them on the web if you wanted to.

I am so thankful for the group-forgot the name-that rides on motorcycles to block these losers away from the family's view.

If I ever drove by and saw these scum I would probably get out of my car and go after them and probably go to jail. These trash are right up there with Jane Fonda and all the others who treated our wonderful soldiers so horribly.

I grieve for the family and the dispicable actions of these people who have lost thier souls

Rest in piece battle buddy, you will not be forgotten

oh HELL YES

UPDATE at 4:01 Central time


Jury awards father $2.9M in funeral case

By ALEX DOMINGUEZ Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

BALTIMORE — A grieving father won a $2.9 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.

U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted the size of the award for compensating damages "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court. The jury was to deliberate later on punitive damages.

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.

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 the deaths of soldiers are due to the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

Their attorneys argued in closing statements 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.

The judge said the church's financial statements, sealed earlier, could be released to the plaintiffs.

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.

Originally Posted by jamesw62

oh HELL YES

You needed this:

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/balti ... TFG0SDV819

baltimore Sun Comment section on this story

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/ ... b01_layout
Baltimore Sun Story

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/ ... 62645.html

update. check this out

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."

Who made you the Boss of who gets to demonstrate or protest against Whatever they want?????

Who made you the Boss of which parts of Our Constitution should be smoothered????

You all are as bad as the other fools who want to trample & ignore Our Constitution & tell US what we can do!!

What happened to: "I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it"???
What are you all going to do when the government or NGOs use similar lawsuits to Financially bankrupt and shut-up orgs such as ALIPAC etc??????

You are all hypocrites. You dont even deserve the right to be here.

the so called preacher was just on the Rick sanchez program called "out in the open" and the first words out of his mouth to the host was
"oh you been brainwashed just like everyone else" and this so called preacher complained that its violating his first amendment rights to protest at these funerals. The CNN host literally could not get in a word edge wise and when he was able to ask one question, the so called precher said "you can ask as long as its not one sided" he sounds like one of those old senile men who just likes to ramble on and on and on and on.......