Justice!

[kestra]

It never ceases to amaze me how so many Christians act so un-Christ-ian.
Do they really believe Jesus is giving them the thumbs up for such actions? Good grief.

[Aristotle]

Malacasta already stole my line!

From reading the article, this seems like a bad decision, frankly.

I think these people are disgusting, but that really isn't enough. I am reminded of a quote that is attributed to Voltaire: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

The right way to deal with this seems to be what some states (and the federal government) have already done. They have passed laws outlawing protests in cemeteries. Free Speech is vital, but the Framers and Founders never believed that speech and assembly were absolutely inviolate.

Now, $6 million was awarded for invasion of privacy. I would really have to read the exact statute to know for sure if that finding was legitimate. Perhaps there is something to that aspect of the law that would lead to a legitimate cause of action. But the whole "emotional damages" part is pretty bogus.

If it was a legitimate, legal protest then you really just have to suck it up and work to have some kind of law passed protecting funerals and cemeteries. If there was some sort of privacy law in place that would apply here, then in that case the ruling my be fair and legitimate.

[xaxer]

I hope these assholes
get sued by every soldier's family and they all
get as much.
Then Phelps and his "family"
can move to some other country!

********************************************

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.

[Maelgrim]

Can't someone take him out back and introduce him to the business end of a knife for a few days? Please?

You know the fuckarse is just going to rort it from his congregation anyway... Wait, punishing the stupid, I like it! I hope this opens up the doors to some kind of class action.

Good on ya, Snyder.

[Darion]

Merged Xaxer's other thread with this one.

[Gromgor]

Stupidity should neither be protected nor prosecuted by the law. I do believe this sets a bad precedent.

However I feel that the death of a soldier should an honored occassion. Protesting at a funeral of a fallen soldier in my mind is as bad as disrespecting or intentionally destroying the US Flag....

And while I don't know all of the laws regarding that, I feel if someone wishes to destroy a US Flag they should be ejected from the country.

[xaxer]

Gets Better!!!

they added more $ for Damages!!


The federal jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon and awarded $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for emotional distress.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11012007...hit_514248.htm

[Fynn]

Since most articles only provide the basics, its hard to know exactly how this case was tried, but from all appearances, the verdict sounds like a mistake, and one that will be quickly corrected in appeals. As for knifing him in an alley, I wouldn't shed a tear, but I wouldn't support the action either. The Phelps and Falwells out there thrive on attention and say outrageous things to get that attention. And I susspect they'd rather be knifed in an alley than ignored.

[anthson]

You can't ignore someone protesting a funeral holding a sign that says "thank God for your dead loved one." All I have to say is "Thank God for biker gangs."

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Fynn
And I susspect they'd rather be knifed in an alley than ignored.

Heh. I think you are right about that.