Was the family awarded enough, or should the court have granted more? Part of the story is below:
BALTIMORE (AP) - 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 federal 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."
2007-10-31 13:54:23 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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.
Did the 11 million put them out of business ?????
Then it wasn't enough.
What they can't stay in Kansas and harass their own State?
2007-10-31 13:59:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was just about to post a question about this same thing!
Let's just say this is the closest evidence I've seen yet that there is a God.
Hurray for the jury!
Hurray for the state of Maryland!
I hope they are cleaned out, and I hope that this is just the first of many lawsuits filed against those monsters.
The point is not free speech here. The key is "intent to inflict emotional distress." It's about time they were taken to task for it. If it was simply them exercising their right to free speech, then they could choose to protest elsewhere. You do not picket outside someones funeral with signs "thanking God" that they are dead if the INTENTION is not to torment the grieving.
2007-10-31 14:02:48 · answer #2 · answered by Jess H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why is it that people fail to recognize that along with freedom of speech goes the freedom of others to respond to what has been said?
I am hoping this is the beginning of the end for these racist, heterofascist, warmongers.
U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted that the size of the compensatory award "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants", according to financial statements filed with the court.
2007-10-31 14:05:45 · answer #3 · answered by H.I. of the H.I. 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the money was the object. The man was burying his child, for God's sake...that is neither the time or the place for hate-mongering!
I think Snyder knows that he'll never collect this judgment. 11 million dollars is more than the Wesboro Baptist Church is worth...
But it does spell "the end" for Freddy and the Offenders...and that is what Maryland was after!
As a Christian, I say...Thank you, Mr. Snyder, and thank you Craig Trebilcock...and thank you, God!!
2007-10-31 14:02:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Being in the Military myself, I would have to say that it is a little much to be awarded, but the church had no right to do what they did. Their act made them look like a hate cult rather than a group of God's children. At least the old man is in a good rating with his taxes now!
2007-10-31 13:58:51 · answer #5 · answered by Joey 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Well, I will put my 2 cents in. I suspect that the judgment was excessive, but only because it is more than the net worth of the defendants. But don't think for one second that this will stop these hatemongers from promoting hate. Like we have seen in the OJ Simpson case, having a monetary judgment solves NOTHING for the people who have been judged.
EDIT -- To H.I. -- Well said!
2007-10-31 14:22:07 · answer #6 · answered by Tikhacoffee/MisterMoo 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Did the demonstration break the law?
Love Jack
2007-11-01 02:13:29 · answer #7 · answered by Jack 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you insane? It should have never made it to court. You just won't be happy until a person can't even think the word God in the US.
Joey, Your husband in the military too? Ohhh I see why you think it was excessive.
2007-10-31 13:57:39 · answer #8 · answered by tuyet n 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋
Everyone is entitled to due process.....and the system works. The rational have spoken.................
2007-10-31 14:00:00 · answer #9 · answered by Outside the box 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This whole charade is depressing. I want my cut.
2007-10-31 14:06:40 · answer #10 · answered by butch 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋