Award over funeral protest may not stand

[Twisp]

BALTIMORE -- Leading constitutional scholars say the multimillion-dollar award this week to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq is likely to be overturned because the church members who protested his son's funeral enjoy broad protection under the 1st Amendment.

Wednesday, a jury in U.S. District Court in Baltimore found in favor of Albert Snyder, the Marine's father, after deliberating for about nine hours over two days.

Jurors unanimously agreed that the Snyders' privacy had been breached by the Westboro Baptist Church, a family-based conservative religious group that assembled on public property near the funeral motorcade. As mourners for Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder drove by March 10, 2006, members of the fundamentalist Christian church based in Topeka, Kan., held up signs reading such things as "Thank God for dead soldiers."

The $10.9-million verdict marked the first successful civil claim against Westboro, whose congregants have picketed with anti-gay placards at military funerals across the United States.

Experts on the 1st Amendment expressed doubt that the verdict and sizable damage award against Westboro would survive appellate review before the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.

"I have spoken to a number of 1st Amendment attorneys today, and every one of them believe the case will be reversed and should be reversed," said Ronald K.L. Collins, a scholar at the First Amendment Center in Washington.

In contentious rallies, Westboro members regularly preach that tragic losses of life, from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, represent moral payback for the general acceptance of homosexuality in U.S. society.

Three adults and four children from the group picketed at Lance Cpl. Snyder's funeral at St. John Roman Catholic Church in Westminster, Md.

Westboro members insisted that their demonstration, about 1,000 feet from the Westminster church, took place legally. Albert Snyder, who lives in York, Pa., argued that news of the protest -- he did not see the demonstrators' message boards on the day of the funeral -- deeply disturbed him and exacerbated his depression over the loss of his only son.

Westboro members have 10 business days to ask the federal judge who oversaw the case to review the verdict and damage award. Afterward, according to attorneys, they have 30 days to decide whether to appeal. Unless they can post a bond worth 120% of the award, they must secure a judge's order to stave off payment to Snyder, according to his attorney.

Jonathan Katz, an attorney for the church and its founder, said he planned to ask U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett to suspend the judgment while his clients appeal.

www.LAtimes.com

I think it should be overturned. As low as the protest might have been, free speech should be free speech for everyone.

[Thad]

I'm surprised someone has not gunned these people down or burned their church down, something.

i think i did hear there was a recent attempt to do just that (burn their church down).


I seriously think that if they keep this up much longer something drastic is going to happen to them. I think people have reached their limits with these people


DID YOU HEAR! About their new Q & A Blog ???? Woooow is it ever something else !! they are the meanest people i have ever seen or heard of in my life. on par with Mass murderers!

[Thad]

**QUESTiON**

I have always wondered HOW they can afford to travel all over the nation every week -

how are they able to afford this?? anyone know ?

[Twisp]

Here is the wiki link to them:

Wikipedia

[Thad]

I just watched a video clip of them in one of their church services


anyone see it ?


All the women are required to wear veils, scarves or head coverings.


I found that very interesting

[Kae]

I think it is sad how these children are learning hatred at such a young age. It will be so integrated into the way they think.

[chaotic_resolve]

Unfortunately, I'd have to agree with this lawsuit being overturned.

As much as I loathe this rotten bunch of devils parading as christians, I value the 1st Amendment too much to sacrifice it because of them.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

Unfortunately, I'd have to agree with this lawsuit being overturned.

As much as I loathe this rotten bunch of devils parading as christians, I value the 1st Amendment too much to sacrifice it because of them.

So true..

We can only assure for ourselves the rights we assure for those we most despise.

[drummerboy_dave]

You know, this is not a criminal case. This is simply a punative cash award based upon their own callous actions. Those actions weren't declared "illegal' by the court. So, I don't see any restriction of the first amendment here.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Thad

**QUESTiON**

I have always wondered HOW they can afford to travel all over the nation every week -

how are they able to afford this?? anyone know ?

Fred Phelps made a lot of money as an attorney successfully suing Topeka area establishments and businesses in the civil rights era.

Then he developed some sort of mental disease and went wacko with his "church." He was disbarred many years ago.

His very large family lives on "church" property and his very vocal daughter is an attorney now as are most of his children. He more or less disowned one son who didn't go to the mail order law school that everyone else attended.

Their compound was the scene of an apparent bombing attempt several years ago. Minimal damage was done to one of their vans and no one was hurt. Their sign gets shot up from time to time.

As Christians we should pray for the healing of this man and his family. They live in cult like conditions and according to reports from family that have escaped they were subjected to some very cruel treatment as children at this man's hands.

At one time the kids (now the adults) were forced to sell candy door to door to pay the bills while their father's mind was circling the drain. They have since been successful in suing others who have "persecuted" their self righteous cause.