Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder was killed in March 2006 in Iraq.
Westboro cult members protested at his funeral.
The father of the fallen Marine wept in court describing the pain the Kansas clan caused his family.
Now they will pay him.
49 ABC News reported:
Baltimore — The father of a fallen Marine has been awarded $2.9 million by a jury that found leaders of a fundamentalist church had invaded the family's privacy when they picketed the Marine's funeral.STACLU is following the tragedy.
The protesters from Topeka-based Westboro Baptist church at the funeral of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder carried signs with messages like "God hates fags" and "Thank God for dead soldiers." They say the deaths are punishment for the country's tolerance of homosexuality.
In an opening statement Tuesday, Shirley Phelps-Roper compared members church members to biblical prophets who sought to save doomed nations that had strayed from God.
Phelps-Rogers is a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, which was being sued by Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., over a protest at the funeral of his son in Maryland.
Snyder's doctor says he has health problems and trouble sleeping.
His son, Matthew Snyder of Westminster, was killed fighting with the Marines in Iraq.
After the Westboro Baptist Church protested at his son's funeral, Snyder filed an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against the church. He was also seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The church says it's exercising its free speech rights.
Michelle Malkin has a roundup on today's decision.
Previously:
Family Sues Westboro Devils For Picketing Marine Son's Funeral
Father of Slain Marine Weeps During Funeral Protest Trial
UPDATE: The AP reported:
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 to the Marine's father, Albert Snyder of York, Pa.
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ReplyDeletewoot$$ great news, good on him!! (thumbsup)
God Bless Soldiers everywhere for putting THEIR
lives on the line to protect us ALL from terrorism!
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Nice thoughts about the Trial Lawyers' Association! Whoever woulda thunk it?
ReplyDeletebg said it beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThe Westboro cultists aren't Baptist by any legitimate definition. They only use the name to give them the appearance of legitimacy however with the national publicity of their attrocious actions, such an appearance has long dissolved.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the lawsuit itelf, many of Fred Phelps' offspring and children-in-law are attorneys so expect this to be appealed, delayed, etc. so as to prolong any payment or payments they may be ordered to make. Furthermore, knowing their past behavior, I fully expect them to refuse to pay even if the SCOTUS upholds the lower courts rulings. This might bring about interesting confrontations when seizures are ordered on their properties. Again pointing out the devious attorneys who are blood-related or related by marriage to Phelps, expect all properties to be hidden as best as they can from legal inquiries further delaying any monetary gains by victims of their abuse.
Please note I intentionally use the plural (victims) because I also further expect more lawsuits given the successful nature of this intitial one.
The Westboro crowd isn't finished by any stretch of the imagination but they are riding the downward slope of oblivion with failed brakes and oil-slicked tires.