Phred Phelps Phucks ordered to pay Marine's family for legal costs and violating right to privacy

[Little Wing]

http://www.wgal.com/news/10515987/detail.html

Anti-Gay Church Must Pay Marine's Family

A Kansas church has been ordered to pay $3,150 for costs and fees associated with a summons and complaint filed by the father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by the extremist group.

Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., is suing the Rev. Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church after church members demonstrated at the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, of Westminster, and posted pictures of the protest on their Web site.

Lance Snyder was killed in Iraq in March. Members of the Topeka church claim U.S. soldiers are killed as God's punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality.

His father's federal lawsuit, filed June 5, alleges church members violated the family's right to privacy and defamed the Marine and his family at the funeral and on the church's Web site.

[derby378]

1. It's a start...

Bankrupting that cult has a very strong appeal...

[Goblinmonger]

3. It worked for the White Aryan Resistance

thanks to the Southern Poverty Law Association.

[BushOut06]

2. On what grounds?

As much as I utterly despise this "church" (cult is more like it), and everything they stand for, I'm not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I'd love nothing more than to see them hit with a string of lawsuits and bankrupted. On the other hand, it seems like it could be setting a dangerous precedent. If they're protesting on public land, and they're taking photos of activity that's happening in plain sight, couldn't this logic be applied to other legitimate protest groups as well?

[seriousstan]

4. As per the article.....

His father's federal lawsuit, filed June 5, alleges church members violated the family's right to privacy and defamed the Marine and his family at the funeral and on the church's Web site.

Phelps and the church refused to grant a waiver in the serving of summonses in connection with the federal lawsuit, making the church liable for those costs.

Court documents say the church has 30 days to make the payment to Snyder.

[Ikonoklast]

7. Defamation, most likely

If I took pictures of your funeral and then posted them on a public website with a statement that you were killed by God because you fought for a country that supported homosexuals, I think that I could be sued to bankruptcy.

The picture taking was legal, no doubt, but what they do with them can be illegal.

[Deep13]

10. public disclose of private fact, ...

...or false light. Also, intentional infliction of emotional distress.

[Mabus]

8. The grounds were defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress

per the court doc (PDF file) http://www.matthewsnyder.org/Complaint.pdf

More documents at http://www.matthewsnyder.org/Documents.html

[BushOut06]

9. Sounds good to me

I just didn't want to see some neo-con group trying to use these sort of tactics against legitimate anti-war demonstrations, or any other type of protetst.

[Warpy]

17. I'd have to see the commentary on their website

and I'm all out of A-200, so that's out.

If there was commentary of any sort mentioning Snyder by name, the family may have a case for libel if there was any negative commentary at all.

But yes, we need to get this "church" exposed for what it is, have its tax exempt status removed, and force its books open.

My guess is that there's a lot of Scaife money in there and that all this is so that local governments will attack more of the Bill of Rights to stop these religious frauds.

The best way until the IRS belatedly removes their tax exempt status was shown us by the bikers who set up a perimeter around the funeral and raised flags so the mourners couldn't see these pieces of human garbage.

[Deep13]

5. They phinally phound a phather who will phight back.

I don't known if that is true, but it has a lot of Fs in it.

[Initech]

6. I would love to see these assholes bankrupted.

They're evil. This is where that fine line is blurred between free speech and hate speech.

[SeattleGirl]

11. When "free speech" is used to defame, harm, defraud, etc.,

it is no longer "free speech". That's what Phelps and his minions don't get. Or don't care to understand. Hopefully this little fine will be a good kick in the backside to him.

[Initech]

13. Exactly, and it drives me crazy when people defend him here.

What Fred Phelps is practicing is NOT FREE SPEECH. It is speech meant to incite hate and violence. It is NOT FREE SPEECH in any way, shape or form. Same goes for Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, Tucker Carlson, and so on.

[SeattleGirl]

14. Agreed.

If he thinks homosexuality is wrong, or whatever, yes, he has the right to say that. But to invade privacy. to post pictures of someone's funeral accompanied by lies about said person/persons, that crosses the line. I'm absolutely passionate about free speech, but as you said, what Phelps is practicing is not free speech.

[jgraz]

15. Your reasoning is a little troubling

I'd be perfectly happy if someone walked up to Fred Phelps and set him on fire. But that doesn't mean that we can extend the reasoning to broadcasters, even undeniable asshats like the ones you listed.

Tucker Carlson is a dick, but he would never picket a Marine's funeral. And if he does, I hope somebody throws him in jail.

[terrya]

16. And thrown in jail

Illinois has passed legislation that bans this disgusting shit. I'd love to see those motherfucking hatemongers have their sorry asses in jail for violating this law.

[Initech]

18. Sad thing is - he has tons of lawyers.

I think he even is a lawyer himself. :puke:

[lectrobyte]

12. Always nice to read some good inspirational news like that around

the holidays! Thanks for posting it.