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Pious Perverts See other Pious Perverts Articles Title: Funeral protest lawsuit: Westboro Baptist Church to pay $5M, not $10.9M Maryland District Court Judge Richard D. Bennett rejected the post-trial motions of the Rev. Fred Phelps, two of his daughters and his Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church on Monday but did cut the federal jury award to the father of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder from $10.9 million to $5 million. In his 55-page opinion and order, Bennett affirmed the jury's verdicts against Phelps, the church, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress. In October, the jury awarded Albert Snyder, a Spring Garden Township resident, $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages for the church members' actions at his son's funeral in Westminster, Md., in 2006. On Monday, Bennett ordered the compensatory damages to stand while reducing the punitive damages to $2.1 million. Bennett explained his decision partially resulted from the defendants' ability to pay the lesser amount. Sean Summers, the York lawyer who represented Albert Snyder free of charge, said they were "very happy" with Bennett's "thorough" analysis of the case "which is very favorable to us." He said they had expected Maryland case law would result in a reduction of punitive damages. During the trial, Summers said, the defendants "disclosed $1 million in assets." He said he suspected that amount to be higher "but we don't think they have $5 million either." Summers said bankrupting a defendant is not an acceptable legal intent, but "one of Mr. Snyder's goals has been to prevent them from terrorizing other families." Lance Cpl. Snyder was killed March 3, 2006, in Iraq when his Humvee overturned as he was protecting a convoy. During his funeral a week later, Phelps and others held up signs that thanked God for dead soldiers and derided homosexuality. They told reporters they believed soldiers' deaths were the deserving result of America's tolerance of homosexuality. "If we take all of their assets, then they won't be able to do that anymore," Summers said. The jury had awarded Albert Snyder $1.5 million in punitive damages from each of the defendants. Bennett reduced that amount to $300,000 from Phelps, $1 million from Westboro Church, $600,000 from Phelps-Roper and $200,000 from Phelps-Davis. Bennett deferred ruling on the defendants' request to postpone payment of the award pending their appeal before the Maryland Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. In accordance with Maryland court rules, defendants are required to post a bond equal to 120 percent of the award. The Phelps have asked for a waiver of the bond. Bennett said he was "not inclined" to grant the postponement until the Phelps can establish "their ability" to post the bond "or other means to secure the total judgement." Summers said posting the bond would be favorable to Snyder if the defense appeal fails. "If we prevail on appeal, we collect the bond and we don't have to chase them for the money," he said. Fred Phelps clashes with Rick Sanchez over Snyder verdict
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#5. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
Awful and very strange, but I don't understand the lawsuit.
Look at this timeline. Look at his history of doing harrassment based slap suits. He can dish it out, but he sure can't take it. I don't have any sympathy for Fred.
good grief! Thanks for the link.
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