Jury awards father $11M in funeral case

[GaryC 7]

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 ** 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_...uneral_protests

[Fandango 1,440]

Focking horrible POS douchebags!

Good for the father, but the money's not the issue for him, I'm sure....

God Bless Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder.....we are forever indebted to you.

[GaryC 7]

Focking horrible POS douchebags!

Good for the father, but the money's not the issue for him, I'm sure....

God Bless Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder.....we are forever indebted to you.

As long as these azzholes are broke and cannot spread their vile filth any more is enough for me. God will deal with them at the appropriate time.

[Ban Hammer 13,643]

too bad this bunch does not believe in setting themselves on fire to protest.

[GaryC 7]

too bad this bunch does not believe in setting themselves on fire to protest.

They will get set on fire at some point.

[Ban Hammer 13,643]

too bad this bunch does not believe in setting themselves on fire to protest.

They will get set on fire at some point.

not soon enough. someone needs to spill some gas on them and afterward a few smokers follow them around

[Aymerlu 3]

yeah, that's real God like

[Jasman0717 9]

Those people are F****** up. Howard has had them on a few times for some good laughs. IDIOTS

[Cassie 8]

These people give Christians a bad name, which drives me crazy. But ain't freedom of speech great???? :wacko:

[mRx 16]

This judgement, and the fact that the Patriot Guard has discouraged them from coming out and whoring for attention, it seems like WBC is pretty much finished.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Heh...I thought this was going to be rant over frivolous lawsuits. Glad to see Gary in favor of a lawsuit! See, Gary...sometimes suing is the only way to rectify the situation.

[jodee 30]

These people sicken me to the bone. I had to attend a memeorial for one of my husbands soldiers a few months ago in Germany, and when I was online searching for information, I actually came across a website and advertisement from these sick individuals about the protest they were going to stage at this boys stateside. funeral..I hoped that some family members did not happen to stumble across it in search for information, really disgusting, and sad, this group of people.

Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder R.I.P

Edited November 1, 2007 by jodee

[David-Rhosie 0]

Watch; at some point soon they'll suddenly become privately funded!!!!! Try to sue them then, when it's not their money. They should eat ###### and die.

[Toshtishtash 1]

Oh my...

F*****g idiots. How the hell do they even THINK that they are doing gods work???

I'm glad they got what they deserved. (Well... they didn't really.. But some of it at least)

[MissStacey 1]

I remember when I had first seen the Phelps family- it was here on VJ and it was posted under "America's most hated family" I was absolutely stunned

and sickened by what I saw.