Jury Awards Father Nearly $11 Million in Funeral Protesters Case »
Posted by: postaphis 9 months, 3 weeks ago198 Comments Report this Story
The father of a fallen Marine was awarded nearly $11 million Wednesday in damages by a jury that found leaders of a fundamentalist church had invaded the family's privacy and inflicted emotional distress when they picketed the Marine's funeral.
Read Full Story at foxnews.com
Join the Discussion 
+ Add Comment
Comments So Far: 198
-
-
-
MichaelRhodenteComment removed: User banned.3 Replies
-
-
0%
Jaydee409 months, 3 weeks ago
How in the world do you get justice out of money? Yes these people are idiots but making their insurance pay the ridiculously large amount is going to hurt you more in the long run than it will ever hurt them. Every time some court give a decision like this the insurance companies raise their premiums and we all pay. And can some one please tell me what kind of damages they could have done that dictates 11 million dollars?
Reply-
0%
saneman9 months, 3 weeks ago
Insurance? I doubt whether there is an insurance company anywhere that would cover intentional torts. Even if you had life insurance and intentionally killed yourself, your policy would not cover such intentional acts. Please let me know which insurance companies would cover such actions.
Reply -
0%
nahual9 months, 3 weeks ago
These very same moron, the Phelps, demonstraded at a funeral of a gay mantaht had been murdered by homphobes. They stood across the street from the Church where services were being held and held up all sort of offensive signs and when the family stepped out they were met by these morons chanting obscene antigay rants...Freedom of speech should not protect this sort of criminal behavior and it is only permitted because it is a "religious group" doing the harrassment.
Let them appeal, that will cost them more money
Reply -
0%
antitrust9 months, 3 weeks ago
First of all, how would an insurance policy cover such an incident? My understanding would be that if their "church" had a insurance, it is certainly only valid at their place of "worship." I doubt that they have walking insurance that covers them from demonstrating so vehemently. What is going to happen is that they lawsuit is against their organization and only funds from that "church" can be applied to the lawsuit. My guess it is non-profit and that all the church's monies are donated via these idiots. So, the organization will claim bankruptcy and nothing will occur. They will simply form another church and continue with their protests. Of course, I oculd be wrong, just my two cents.
Reply -
0%
jaern9 months, 3 weeks ago
How would you feel if an uninvited church came to one of your loved one's funerals and said, "Thank God your child/wife/parent is dead. God hates fags!!"
Maybe God was listening and decided to send a message and stop these people from using His name in such an awful way.
Reply
-
-
0%
lvrofwolves9 months, 3 weeks ago
True..it won't undo the damage in this caes, but hopefully it will protect others that are grieving for their lost loved ones, from these horrible people. If they no longer have the funds to do these things, hopefully it will stop them, or at least put a big damper on them.
Reply
-
-
0%
quiescence9 months, 3 weeks ago
I am deeply disturbed at how many of us - including those of a supposed liberal mentality - are so quick to ignore the major constitutional issue at stake here.
I have no doubt that there are many who would claim emotional distress at the sight of those who protest against the Iraq war, or in favor of gay rights, or economic reforms, etc. On the basis that someone somewhere will find such political speech emotionally distressful (and at times, many, if not most, will find such political speech distressful), this case, if not overturned, sets an extremely dangerous precedent.
For the record, I strongly disagree with Westboro Baptist Church's message. However, I strongly support their first amendment right to engage in political speech on public property.
Reply
-
-
-
MichaelRhodenteComment removed: User banned.3 Replies
-
-
-
-
MichaelRhodenteComment removed: User banned.8 Replies
-
-
-
0%
BronxBomber9 months, 3 weeks ago
OH MAN! 11 million! That's a lot of dead presidents! He certainly deserved that for the BS he went through!
Reply -
0%
Itachirumon9 months, 3 weeks ago
I still pity this poor man...because this is far from over, Phelps will appeal several times...watch the report on CNN when they have both the father by remote video and phelps on the phone (seperately of course, thank God) Phelps wouldn't let anyone else speak, the guy had to talk over his head just to be heard
Reply -
0%
aniokly9 months, 3 weeks ago
I had an opportunity to talk to a baptist pastor, not a fundamentalist. He did not
beleive these people had a right to do what they did, and would be appaled to have to pay for this suit. Well, as I mentioned to Brother Danny, this is just the beginning. They cannot back away after the fact. Hopefully the Father will attach all their money now, so they cannot run with it. They have the 11 million dollars. He just has to attach it quickly. This is very good news. These people make me sick.
Reply -
-
0%
abntv9 months, 3 weeks ago
Unfortunately the military would have an extremely hard time proving a case of invasion of privacy or distress..I would think that other family members could independently sue for the same distress.
Reply -
baddad59Comment removed: User banned.
-
0%
crghss9 months, 3 weeks ago
A military funeral just means you are provided a honor guard to do the ceremony.
Reply
-
-
0%
Endoscopy9 months, 3 weeks ago
Sock it to them. This is definitely not Christian behavior. This kind of thing should never take place at a funeral.
Reply -
-
-
MichaelRhodenteComment removed: User banned.3 Replies
-
-
-
-
0%
GWHayduke9 months, 3 weeks ago
There is a group comprised of mostly vetrans, who are supporting the families of fallen soldiers.
The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) escort families of fallen soldiers to funeral services and stand between the funeral proceedings and protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church, who picket the ceremonies with anti-American and anti-homosexuality slogans.
Reply
-
-
0%
nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
"Before the jury began deliberating the size of punitive damages, U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted the size of the compensatory award "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court."
"Defense lawyer Jonathan Katz reminded jurors that punitive damages are designed to deter future conduct, but not bankrupt or financially destroy."
Looks like the jury ignored the defense lawyer - GOOD FOR THEM!
It's time someone stood up to these bullies
Reply -
-
0%
jonmaverick9 months, 3 weeks ago
This is the part where the sub-human members of the Westboro Baptist Ch__ch discover that God hates broke people.
Reply -
0%
aceofspades19 months, 3 weeks ago
Big money judgements have worked in the past against bigots like these- when the criminal law doesn't get them -the pocket book does - remember the suit against the KKK - I got a laugh when there meeting hall had to be auctioned or the suit against that Nazi - he is't doing much rabble-rousing now.
Almost forgot - OJ -justice will out
Reply -
0%
Bruedaddy9 months, 3 weeks ago
The nerve of these people. It just goes to show the level of stupidity of people in general.
They don't espouse ANY of the virtues of Jesus. They are Haters.
If they showed up at the funeral of my loved one and did that I know I would be spending the night in jail.
I would beat the sensless - EVERY one.
Dammit they make me ANGRY.....
O.K...trying to calm down....
Reply-
0%
lvrofwolves9 months, 3 weeks ago
I agree with you Bruedaddy, I'm against violence, but if they were to picket a funeral of a family or friend of mine, all bets would be off.
I'm all for free speech
-
