Jury orders Westboro Baptist to pay millions to father of fallen Marine
Originally published 02:56 p.m., October 31, 2007
Updated 03:03 p.m., October 31, 2007
Baltimore — A federal jury has ruled that a fundamentalist Kansas church was wrong to picket the funeral of a fallen Marine in Maryland.
The jury awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages to the family of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq. It found that the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka invaded the family's privacy and intentionally inflicted emotional distress when it demonstrated at Snyder's funeral last year. The protesters carried signs with messages like "God hates fags" and "Thank God for dead soldiers."
The jury will now consider punitive damages. But the judge has already pointed out that the compensatory damage award is far more money than the defendants have.
Members of the small church routinely picket military funerals. They argue that U.S. troops are dying as punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality.
In an opening statement Tuesday, Shirley Phelps-Roper compared church members to biblical prophets who sought to save doomed nations that had strayed from God.
Phelps-Roper is a member of the Westboro Baptist Church. The church was sued by Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., over a protest at the funeral of his son in Maryland.
After the Westboro Baptist Church protested at his son's funeral, Snyder filed an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against the church. He was also seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Snyder's doctor says he has health problems and trouble sleeping.
A number of states have passed laws limiting funeral protests, and Congress has banned such protests at federal cemeteries.
Comments
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Oct. 31, 2007 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)wendy (anonymous)
Hurray!!!! There is still hope for upright Christian Americans against religious anti American fanatics. God Bless the jury that found them responsible. Now if Mr. Snyder will do the right thing and donate a very large portion of the 2.9 million towards the Red Cross and /or the Patriot Guard it will help show Mr. Phelps group what a true Christian is!
Oct. 31, 2007 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)dpbear (anonymous)
Yeah the Evil Church got theirs in Court.
They sure dont live a very Christian Life,Preaching Hate.
I'm Sure Jesus wouldn't protest at Funerals.
Remember he hungout with Prostitutes,& Fishermen.
I bet they skip out on paying...
Nov. 2, 2007 at 1:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)likearock (anonymous)
Evidently it's true; You reap what you sow.
The pompous and self rightious are made small and rediculous.
And anyone who would attempt to teach others by the use of redicule will always fall short of their objective.
People who cause disturbance in this world, whether they be straight or gay, christian or non-believer, taliban or little old ladies are themselves disturbed.
What people (all people) should do is try to make their own individual selves a better person and then probably the world would be a better place for everyone with far less abuse.
Nov. 2, 2007 at 2:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)likearock (anonymous)
GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS.
Those few Americans who have strength enough to serve their country when duty calls.
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