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| God Hates Phelps to the Tune of $11M! |
| 2007-11-01 |
| Church ordered to pay $10.9 million for funeral protest A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals in the belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania, 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 jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned later in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress. 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. Good. Let's keep it that way. It ensures that any contributions they receive will end up in good hands. 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." Looks like God hates you more. A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries. What?! Congress passed a law that makes sense? How'd that sneak through? But the Maryland lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman. Hopefully the first of many. One at a time . . . . 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. So how does that "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" sign fit into this "defense", Phelps? Shouldn't you be praying for no more dead soldiers since it would indicate progress towards your 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. Within reason, yes. You are without. 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. |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #25 GLAD? Probably some variant of GayLesbianAllianceDroids |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-11-01 22:01 |
| #24 GLAD? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-11-01 21:32 |
| #23 swksvolFF, I don't think I'm unusual, and I NEVER held Kansas or the Baptist Church responsible for this cancer. Healthy cells mutate and become malignant, what can you say? Proximity doesn't equal agreement. Frank |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-11-01 20:47 |
| #22 The court found that this was an intentional tort, so the judgment debt is non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. That's huge good news, Mike. As lawyers, the Phelps' have a very public revenue stream. It'll be rather difficult for them to conceal any earnings from the court. These rectal cavities have finally taken the hit they should of received right after their attempt to erect a monument conmemmorating the death of Matthew Shepherd and his "entry into hell". Just as with any other cowardly act of theirs, they did not seek to place the monument at the roadside location of Shepherd's foul murder but, instead, sought to erect it in Matthew's home town of Casper. Their sole intent was inflicting the greatest possible grief and suffering upon Shepherd's family and friends. These scumbags have no limits to the calculated depths they will stoop to in order that they inflict maximum pain upon their victims. They make a barn cat toying with a mouse look positively humane. PS: I really, really like Swamp Blondie's idea! |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-11-01 18:56 |
| #21 Campus PD with a couple of local, blue barricades, their own taped off section. They had to, I would go 20-1 odds on a matchup favoring local GLAD at half strength to phelps' group :) Plus phelps' crew would have cameras to capture assaults by the counters. Now it must be known that many of the phelps group are lawyers and (rumored) to bankroll on assault lawsuits. I know they didn't make it to the KNG 731 departure - Patriot Guard did. Checked WeaselZipper, perhaps an answer to Christiano-Fascist Awareness? Also a lesson about lawfare used to silence; be sued into silence...any other midwesterners cair to comment on that? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2007-11-01 17:52 |
| #20 swksvolFF, they get police protection? WTF??? |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-11-01 17:29 |
| #19 Thank you Mike for the link to dunderground, never would have gone myself-dcon room is to the right ;) The cynics over there are just clueless when they speak of it being a lawyer/fallen soldier case. A lurker here at most, I generally snipe snarks and only weigh in on things I know about. I grew up with these jackasses. My grade school teachers (nearly 20 years ago) would tell us "there will be some people there yelling things. Our teachers would say, "Look at your classmate in front of you and walk straight into the building." When I was in school on campus is when I saw such signs (listed above) for grade schoolers going into an art exhibit and that is when I realized what was really going on. P2K is right when stating this could have been taken care of a long time ago (damn the faculty for allowing them on campus contrary to the rules for student protests). It is not just a 'right wing' deal. It is not cliche to say that every vehicle sporting GLAD stickers invariably had a 'Phuck Phred' bumper sticker. There is a cadre of people dedicated to stopping the westboro madness and here it is. Unfortunately it took the death of a brave lad to come to this decision but it appears someone finally hit the snake on the head with a throwing knife, hopefully it sticks. Zen is right that these are cowardly antagonists in the worst way. They must have a minimal amount of publicity and police protection or they do not show up, and they always target functions where attendees can not or would not respond. Their technique is malicious - touch one and they sue and you bet, they are right in your face and outside of the official protest lines. Oh, but don't go in their marked protest territory or else... Corks and tabs will be popped across Kansas tonight. As a very blue friend of mine in east Kansas so eloquently phrased his response, "Hell yeah! I read about this in the paper. That bastard and his whole disgusting family and suck my balls. I'm all about free speech, but what they do and have been doing for all these years is so unbelievably horrible that they should have theirs revoked. PHUCK PHRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2007-11-01 17:18 |
| #18 The court found that this was an intentional tort, so the judgment debt is non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. I went over to DU expecting to see a bunch of them crying about the "KKKrushing of dissent in BushCo AmeriKKKa," but I was pleasantly surprised to see even they are cheering. |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-11-01 15:58 |
| #17 Zen gave me an idear on how Phelps & Co can pay off this judgment..... Rage in the Cage featuring Phelps' Whelps vs Dykes on Bikes on pay per view! ;) |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie 2007-11-01 15:41 |
| #16 Phelps and company are just lucky that somebody didn't use them for sighting in their latest rifle. |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2007-11-01 14:36 |
| #15 Why don't they go to San Francisco and the Castro district and do their protest? Why don't you see them waving signs during Gay Pride parades? Because they would not be tolerated - they would be pummelled. But for a soldier's funeral you have god fearing tolerant people who just shake their heads and roll their eyes. JiB nails it. Phelps and clan are the absolute worst sort of cowards. They go after the absolute most vulnerable victims when they are literally defenseless. It's like someone who hates Islam beating up a five year-old Shiite kid instead of taking on the local imam. If Phelps were intellectually honest and had a shred of moral integrity, he'd go to San Francisco on gay pride day and try his luck. You'd need tweezers and a powerful microscope to recover the remains. Protesting amongst those who are automatically restrained out of decorum and respect for the deceased is like challenging a double amputee to a fist fight. It is the easy way out and demonstrates an obscene degree of moral predation. As P2k succinctly noted, I as well can only hope that this decision represents a "softening up" of the legal context required for a jury to acquit anyone who even pretends to "lose it" and turns any of these religious bigots—not Christians by any means—into a stain on the sidewalk. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-11-01 14:30 |
| #14 Tsunami, it sounds like your position is that people at a funeral have no right to be left alone. Good thing you weren't on the jury. But then, you would have been one of those jury candidates that the plaintiff's lawyer would have excused. Now consider that if one of the bereaved at that funeral had beaten the crap out of Phelps he might have a hard time getting the DA to prosecute the bereaved. And if the DA did prosecute he might have a hard time finding a jury that would convict. Yeah, you have a right to free speech but if you have a habit of provoking people at funerals you might end up getting stomped. In that respect you could say the jury did Phelps a favor because sooner or later that is exactly what would have happened if he hadn't been stopped in a more peaceful and civilized manner. And besides all that, how you compare the funeral of a young man who died serving his country to a school kid getting a D in math? That is a bad analogy. Takes a deep breath after exercising all that restraint and goes back to work... |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-11-01 14:20 |
| #13 Phred Phelps and his brood of insane lawyers will no doubt appeal with or without the aclu.. They can find cult sanctuary in Jonestown. |
| Posted by: Phinater Thraviger 2007-11-01 14:14 |
| #12 Tsunami funerals are by their very nature private events. Freedom of speech does not even come close to applying. That's my opinion for what it's worth. |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2007-11-01 13:21 |
| #11 Tsu either has not witnessed a phelps gathering or agrees with the tactics they use. This is not a walk down main street chanting slogans, fine expect a counterprotest like one would for any other controversial parade - this is in your face, aggrivated, and intentially trying to instigate violence and happens within the boundaries of private property; that is they don't stay on their side of the thin invisible line of rights - what say you about the rights of those attending who have to walk blocks to the funeral because the phelps people block off parking and egress the day before huh? What about their rights to assemble peacefully? What it is is a gauntlet of coreographed mayham complete with aggrevated and violent rhetoric flashing signs much worse than those reported in this case; that is stick figures bu!!F@c'n and crotch eating and such at events where children are going to museums or saying their last goodbyes to a loved and valued family member. Visual Assault and Public Indecency come to mind. Absolutely no comparison to little Johnny getting a bad grade so get your sh!t straight or STFU - I will take you to the well on this. I have chili to eat so tsu, wash off. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2007-11-01 13:07 |
| #10 Why don't they go to San Francisco and the Castro district and do their protest? Why don't you see them waving signs during Gay Pride parades? Because they would not be tolerated - they would be pummelled. But for a soldier's funeral you have god fearing tolerant people who just shake their heads and roll their eyes. Good for you Mr. Snyder - whatever you get your deserve. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-11-01 13:00 |
| #9 in the meantime, i've been waiting for these guys to get their holier-than-thou arses handed to them for a few years now... candy, anyone? |
| Posted by: Querent 2007-11-01 12:59 |
| #8 Gee Tsu, you end up with a Constitution as thick as a phone book or the EuroCon v1.0 trying to cover every instance of human behavior. Some things are not constitutionally mandated or protected cause they're mandated or protected by the culture. Lawyers will argue otherwise, but they have yet to deliver a system that is pure of injustice or negative unintended consequences themselves. Basic principles should apply - as my old man said - your right to swing your fist ends at my face. The Westboro folks are the out of control kid down the street who takes misogynistic delight of harassing the dog tied to the tree in your neighbor's yard. One day, that rope is going to break. The dog will pay because the rest of us remained silent while the punk gets away with sociopathic behaviors. We wring our hands and rationalize, we just don't have the guts to deal with the heart of the issue - the punk. That's why we end up with a library of laws, cause we don't want to deal straight forward with the problem, so we continually paper it over and over and over. If the Westboro folks were cognizant human beings they'd take this as a wake up call for when the next jury decides that the defendants will be 'not guilty' by reason of temporary mental derangement for their bodily harm. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-11-01 12:00 |
| #7 While I am happy on some level to see these obnoxious bastards take one in the nuts, I disagree with the idea of a law banning protests at funerals, and I disagree with the judgement on principle. The whole emotional distress thing is BS. You DO NOT have a freaking right to not have your feelings hurt. Your little Johnny Snowflake got a D in math? Sue the teacher/school for making him sad! Total BS. These Westboro jerks are the extreme end of this, and perhaps if there was some sort of extended and ongoing harassment a suit would be in order, but emotional distress (and invasion of privacy, really) from a protest at the funeral is total BS. I rank this up there with lawsuits against the KKK or Neo-Nazis -- yes, they are idiot racist jerks, but they have a right to say what they want, within the law. Freedom of Speech and the right to protest are more important than the feelings of grieving parents. Sorry. I can't believe you think winning an $11M judgement for suing someone for being a jerk is a good thing. |
| Posted by: Tsunami 2007-11-01 11:44 |
| #6 Looks like God hates you more. While true, I surely doubt that Mr. Phelps et al will "get the clue" about God's hatred of HATE (as well as homosexuality). Kinda like how the muzzies never get a clue of Allan's anger through tsunamis, earthquakes, etc. On a personal note (as a Christian), I agree somewhat with his stance that maybe God is lifting His hand of protection from this land for such things as abortion and "gay rights". However, I also note, that as a general rule, DoD employees probably hate homo's as much or more than your average 'merican. It can ruin morale, inflict drama when it's not needed, etc. in a group of people who "need their head in the game" more than ANYONE else in the U.S. I loathe Phelps and crew, and I personally don't consider them Christians at all, just agenda-pushers, much like those they claim to hate (the gay rights agenda-pushers). |
| Posted by: BA 2007-11-01 11:36 |
| #5 I don't know. I can think of quite a few people who would do a pay-per-view of a 'Big Brother' type show of them in prison. Proceeds to those afflicted by their malace; hosted by guests of Patriot Guard. Mr. Snyder and family should receive a emblem, signed by everyone of conscience in Kansas, of St. Patrick for helping rid us of snakes we couldn't touch; God bless his son and may he rest in peace. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2007-11-01 11:07 |
| #4 A word to phelps, You have no home in this country. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-11-01 10:52 |
| #3 Saw one of the Phelps women on Fox News. She is a hate filled individual that goes over the nut case line. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-11-01 10:31 |
| #2 If they want to spout their hate on a street corner, fine. Free speech and all. But not at a funeral. That is the family's private time to mourn and say goodbye. You disrupt that for your own personal hate politics, you deserve a bullet between the eyes. Or at least to have all your worldly goods taken from you. Couldn't happen to a nicer group of assholes either. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-11-01 10:07 |
| #1 I hope this is just part I. Part II or III should involve either a RICO action against them, or a federal injunction, of the kind used to disassemble criminal gangs. No free association with each other, no free speech to discuss it on broadcast, children put in foster care, prohibited from going near graveyards, loss of any exemptions or protections for being a "church", and any violations to be in front of a judge for contempt, not a jury trial. An injunction can be more restrictive than putting them in prison. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-11-01 09:07 |