Now THIS is GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Subject: Jury Sides With Father Of Fallen Md Marine
Jury Sides With Father Of Fallen Md Marine
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
WBAL Radio as reported by Scott Wykoff and The Associated Press
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A federal jury in Baltimore has ruled that a fundamentalist Kansas church
was wrong to protest the funeral of a fallen Marine in Westminster.
The jury awarded $2.9 million to the family of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder,
who was killed in Iraq. It found that the Westboro Baptist Church
invaded the family’s privacy and intentionally inflicted emotional distress
when it picketed Snyder’s funeral last year.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:04 pm
UPDATE: The jury has awarded an additional $8 million in punitive damages — $6 million for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress
10.9 total!!!!!
November 1st, 2007 at 5:51 am
This is indeed good news! I am sure there will be appeal after appeal, after all, the man in charge was a lawyer. But, this sends a strong message to these evil people.
November 1st, 2007 at 7:34 am
Although I emotionally agree with the verdict, I don’t agree with it logically. This was in a public area, and the offenders were exercising their free speech rights.
It is speech that is offensive that must be protected. And you can’t get any more offensive than these people.
November 1st, 2007 at 10:59 am
Wino,
The court decided that there is a boundary between the Cemetery being a public place and a funeral being a privet event, and that their actions crossed over that boundary. It comes down to the cruel and malicious comments made to the family during a private time that I think caused the jury to find the way they did. Also I think the jury is sending a message to those that have extreme views, and that is that they have gotten to brazen and hiding behind the first amendment will not provide you protection if you participate in these sorts of acts.
November 1st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
The permits issued in the Houston area for these A$$wipes designate “no closer to any church or cemetery than 500 feet”…..
November 1st, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Just remember the term “slippery slope.” A public place is a public place. Unless the cemetery is private property, then their first amendment rights have been violated. Denying them their first amendment rights under the auspices of a court is even worse than doing it on the street.
The PGR has the answer to this. Show up in force and drown them out. Note that the PGR does not condone nor use force, other than the sound of their exhaust.
I think assholes should be allowed to speak like this. It makes them easier to identify.