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Home Front: Culture Wars |
Marine's Father Sues Funeral Protesters |
2006-06-05 |
HT Drudge - apparently other people can sue as well, huh? The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters from a fundamentalist Kansas church filed an invasion-of- privacy suit against the demonstrators Monday. It is believed to be the first lawsuit brought by a soldier's family against Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., whose members routinely demonstrate at military funerals around the country. Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, is seeking unspecified damages. The younger Snyder, 20, died March 3 after an accident in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. He was buried in Westminster, Md. "We think it's a case we can win because anyone's funeral is private," Snyder lawyer Sean Summers said. "You don't have a right to interrupt someone's private funeral." Members of Westboro say the military deaths in Iraq are God's punishment for America's tolerance of gays. They typically carry signs with slogans such as "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for IEDs," a reference to the roadside bombs used by insurgents. The church has inspired dozens of state laws banning funeral protests, including a Maryland law that did not go into effect until after Snyder's memorial. Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokeswoman for the small congregation, said it is the first time Westboro has been sued by a soldier's family. "We were exercising our First Amendment rights," she said. ___ |
Posted by:Frank G |
#5 I'm not so sure about that. They only have to win once in awhile to seriously dent his finances. He has to keep winning or pay possible large settlements. He may have an army of lawyers - but he has to convince the juries of his peers to win. That's tough to get 12 non crazy people on his side. He's counting on intimidation to win. I think his days are numbered. Personally - I'd like to see him piss off the wrong guy. |
Posted by: 2b 2006-06-05 23:35 |
#4 IIRC all of Phelps dozen or so children are lawyers so they may well be able to outlast the average litigant. |
Posted by: AzCat 2006-06-05 23:15 |
#3 This church should be investigated for it's political activism and taken of the non profit books. Then Phelps and his deranged followers will dry up and go the way of mother sheehan. |
Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-06-05 20:34 |
#2 Thank God for IEDs If Fred Phelps wasn't going to Hell before this, he is now. This guy is America's version of the Taleban. Twisted sh!t! |
Posted by: Zenster 2006-06-05 20:04 |
#1 One of those rare instances where they have no idea if it would be better for the case to appear before a jury, or just before a judge. |
Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-06-05 18:28 |