Phelps family loses in court

[IEATV8S]

Father of slain Marine wins case against foul Phelps family
By Michelle Malkin • October 31, 2007 04:12 PM

I pointed you last week to the legal case of Albert Synder, who took the foul Phelps family to court over their reprehensible protests of fallen military heroes. Snyder claimed invasion of privacy and emotional harm from the radical haters’ demonstration at his son’s funeral. Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder died in Anbar province in a vehicle accident last year. The verdict is just in from the Baltimore Sun:

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of a Westminster Marine who was killed in Iraq, today won his case in a Baltimore federal court against members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church who protested at his son’s funeral last year.

The jury of five women and four men awarded Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages. The amount of punitive damages to be awarded has not yet been decided. The jury deliberated for about two hours yesterday and much of today.

Snyder was the first in the nation to attempt to hold members of Westboro Baptist Church legally liable for their shock protests at military funerals after the church protested the military’s inclusion of gays at the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, a 2003 Westminster High School graduate who died March 3, 2006, in a vehicle accident in Anbar province.

In June 2006, Snyder sued the tight-knit fundamentalist Christian church and three of its members individually. The father argued that Westboro’s demonstrations exacerbated his pain and suffering in March 2006 while he mourned the death of his only son.

Specifically, he charged that they violated his privacy, intentionally inflicted emotional harm and engaged in a conspiracy to carry out their activities. The jury decided in Snyder’s favor on every count.

The Synder website has legal documents from the case here. Send him a note of congratulations and thanks here.

Michelle Malkin » Breaking: Father of slain Marine wins case against foul Phelps family

[Weester]

Soldiers are dying in Iraq because we recognize Gays in this country???
Those wacky Christians are at it again!...................


I agree with the courts decision, but doesnt this violate "Freedom of Speech"?

[STAGE 2]

Originally Posted by Weester

Soldiers are dying in Iraq because we recognize Gays in this country???
Those wacky Christians are at it again!...................


I agree with the courts decision, but doesnt this violate "Freedom of Speech"?

1) Phelps isnt a christian. His congregation is solely made up of family members.

2) This isn't a free speech issue. There is no government action here. Even if there was, the first amendment does not protect harassment. If these folks wanted to stand on a corner and pedal there tripe thats legally fine. However going to the funerals of fallen heroes to do this is not protected as its not speech.

If there were ever people in need of a bullet these are them.

[Weester]

1. Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of a Westminster Marine who was killed in Iraq, today won his case in a Baltimore federal court against members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church who protested at his son’s funeral last year. Baptists are Christians!

2. The funeral was in a public place! So why cant they protest???
Again, I agree with the courts decision!

[86NYGN]

Originally Posted by Weester

1. Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of a Westminster Marine who was killed in Iraq, today won his case in a Baltimore federal court against members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church who protested at his son’s funeral last year. Baptists are Christians!

2. The funeral was in a public place! So why cant they protest???
Again, I agree with the courts decision!

Have no fear Weester "Perry Mason" is on the case. LOL

[G. Price]

Originally Posted by Weester

Soldiers are dying in Iraq because we recognize Gays in this country???
Those wacky Christians are at it again!...................


I agree with the courts decision, but doesnt this violate "Freedom of Speech"?

Just curious... Where did you derive your hatred for Christians?

[Weester]

"Just curious... Where did you derive your hatred for Christians?"

I dont "hate" Christians, but I do dislike "Fundamentalists"!
Anyone who condemns those who disagree with them should not be trusted!

[IEATV8S]

Originally Posted by Weester

1. Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of a Westminster Marine who was killed in Iraq, today won his case in a Baltimore federal court against members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church who protested at his son’s funeral last year. Baptists are Christians!

2. The funeral was in a public place! So why cant they protest???
Again, I agree with the courts decision!

Why not read the article and others on the internet for your answers!

At least you agree with the jury decision!

[IEATV8S]

Originally Posted by STAGE 2

1) Phelps isnt a christian. His congregation is solely made up of family members.

2) This isn't a free speech issue. There is no government action here. Even if there was, the first amendment does not protect harassment. If these folks wanted to stand on a corner and pedal there tripe thats legally fine. However going to the funerals of fallen heroes to do this is not protected as its not speech.

If there were ever people in need of a bullet these are them.

Hay Stage, I see you got "Hamilton Berger" on your case! No problem, Perry Mason always won his cases against Berger! LMAO!!!!!!

[slow87]

You can't use the first amendment to get out sexual harassment charges for telling your secretary she has a nice arse. They harassed him to the point of him becoming distressed, and thats what they got sued for.

Mr. Snyder should be a role model for self control. No doubt I would be facing assault charges if in the same situation.

[Weester]

Hypothetically

What about protesters that dislike a political figure, they follow him around and speak out against him, can they be sued?

[IEATV8S]

Originally Posted by Weester

Hypothetically

What about protesters that dislike a political figure, they follow him around and speak out against him, can they be sued?

Not the same, comparing apples to oranges!

[Weester]

"Not the same, comparing apples to oranges!"

Not really,

These people are Religious Fundamentalists that believe we are being punished by God because we allow "Gays". Based on their beliefs, they have gone to grave sites and protested!

Anti war activists protest all the time based on their beliefs, why cant they be sued when they protest?

A person that thinks the first amendment is "holly" will surely disagree with you!

I personally believe that there has to be "limits" on the first amendment, others will say that it is a "slippery slope" and want all speech to be allowed!
I say they are cowards, afraid to take a stand!

[STAGE 2]

Originally Posted by Weester

1. Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of a Westminster Marine who was killed in Iraq, today won his case in a Baltimore federal court against members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church who protested at his son’s funeral last year. Baptists are Christians!

2. The funeral was in a public place! So why cant they protest???
Again, I agree with the courts decision!

1. There is no "church". They have a name, but thats it. The only "members" are Phelps' family. These folks are not baptist. They have no affiliation with any other religious organization and certianly dont practice anything the bible teaches. I can call myself a cat, but that doesn't make me one.


2. Because not every public place is a public forum. A library is a public place, but you cant protest in the fiction section. No one is denying them their freedom of speech. They can go to any street corner they want to. They simply cannot do this at the funerals of soldiers. The first amendment doesn't protect harassment, or "fighting words" or speech intended to incite.

Prohibiting them from doing this at the funerals doesn't stop them from speaking, it stops them from harassing and inciting potential conflicts. Thats why this ins perfectly fine and why laws that place time place and manner restrictions are usually acceptable while laws regulating the content of speech are usually not.

[a trail rider]

Originally Posted by Weester

Hypothetically

What about protesters that dislike a political figure, they follow him around and speak out against him, can they be sued?

Public officials aren't protected as the average citizen is protected, so no... Can't be sued.

This group was sued based on harrassment primarily. Protesting in public, when permits are awarded, is one thing. Going from funeral to funeral and harrassing the families of the dead... Not protected as free speech because it's not free speech. Further, they were blatently slandering others without justification. That too, is illegal.

[The Blob]

First you say this...

Originally Posted by Weester

"Not the same, comparing apples to oranges!"
Not really,
Soldiers are dying in Iraq because we recognize Gays in this country???
Those wacky Christians are at it again!...................

I agree with the courts decision, but doesnt this violate "Freedom of Speech"?

Then you make the incredible leap of logic by defending them...

These people are Religious Fundamentalists that believe we are being punished by God because we allow "Gays". Based on their beliefs, they have gone to grave sites and protested!

Anti war activists protest all the time based on their beliefs, why cant they be sued when they protest?

A person that thinks the first amendment is "holly" will surely disagree with you!

I personally believe that there has to be "limits" on the first amendment, others will say that it is a "slippery slope" and want all speech to be allowed!
I say they are cowards, afraid to take a stand!

It's also quite amusing how you go out of your way to find religious whack jobs, then label them "Christians" with the specific intent to put the stink on all Christians, then claim you are not doing it.

YET... you are very quick to pull out the "anti-Semite" card.

[ZEROLAG]

Originally Posted by Weester

I agree with the courts decision, but doesnt this violate "Freedom of Speech"?

Soilders like those killed and the one's before you gave you that right of freedom of speech, as well as all your freedoms. Don't disrespect them as there being laid to rest.

[Weester]

"Soilders like those killed and the one's before you gave you that right of freedom of speech, as well as all your freedoms. Don't disrespect them as there being laid to rest."

I agree with you 100%...I think thant this decision should also apply to other fanatical groups in this country, but they hide behind the 1st amendment! There are groups in this country whos sole goal is bringing down our nation, ie: KKK, American Nazis, Muslim extremists, etc etc!

I'm not supporting what these Fundamentalists/phelps did. I was only trying to show how easy it is to hide under the 1st amendment!

[Weester]

"Then you make the incredible leap of logic by defending them..."

Whos defending them???? There are people in this country that would defend their right to protest based on the 1st amendment! Its absurd!



"It's also quite amusing how you go out of your way to find religious whack jobs, then label them "Christians" with the specific intent to put the stink on all Christians, then claim you are not doing it."

Same could be said for those who claim ALL Muslims are out to destroy all non-believers!

People who live in glass houses shouldnt throw rocks.......