Westboro Church finally taken to court...

[MobBoss]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305279,00.html

The family of a Marine killed in Iraq has sued a Baptist church for picketing their son's funeral and is turning to the Internet to drum up support.

Albert Snyder, the father of fallen Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, took the stand this week in the Baltimore trial against the Westboro Baptist Church and testified that protesters waving signs at Matthew's burial made him nauseous. He'd wanted a private service for his son.

"They turned this funeral into a media circus and they wanted to hurt my family," Snyder said on the stand Wednesday. "They wanted their message heard and they didn't care who they stepped over. My son should have been buried with dignity, not with a bunch of clowns outside."

I dont think I could want someone to win a lawsuit more than the father of the marine. Personally, I hope he bankrupts them.

Anyone from around the Batlimore area able to comment on this from the local news?

 

[skadistic]

Even if these "people" go broke it wont stop them.

 

[MobBoss]

Even if these "people" go broke it wont stop them.

Then we just keep on sueing them till we own all their crap.

 

[Trafalgar]

There is a limit to free speech, and these "people" prove it.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305279,00.html



I dont think I could want someone to win a lawsuit more than the father of the marine. Personally, I hope he bankrupts them.

As do I.

Anyone from around the Batlimore area able to comment on this from the local news?

Despite living in Towson, this is the first I've heard of it. Of course, I don't watch the local news, either. Maybe Chieftess does, if she ever comes here anymore.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well, loathsome as they are I will not deny their humanity. Nor will I deny their right to free speech; how strong is his case, according to our legal experts here? Certainly, I would love to see them bankrupted, but only as long as the judgment against them is according to the law and no one's personal feelings influence it.

 

[Shadylookin]

what law did they break? Sure they're jackasses, but that isn't illegal.

 

[Trajan12]

what law did they break? Sure they're jackasses, but that isn't illegal.

I'm not sure you're allowed to protest too close to a funeral, or something along those lines.

 

[LesCanadiens]

I hope the man is able to sue them into a smoking hole in the ground. People such as Fred Phelps have no place in a free society. Yes, I understand the apparent contradiction there.

 

[Trafalgar]

In my view there should be a law against any protest at a funeral. It is a question of common decency. No person or group should have the right to disrupt a burial service.

 

[JollyRoger]

Albert Snyder, of York, Md., is seeking unspecified monetary damages for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress as a result of the Topeka, Kan., church's protest at his son's funeral in Westminster in March 2006.

I could see the plaintiffs winning at the trial level (assuming its being tried before a jury), but losing on appeal. Invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress are fairly challenging claims to win on all the way up the appeals chain.

 

[Damnyankee]

If there is a god, he will bankrupt the Westboro church. I would actually consider donating to the Marine family to help pay for law fees.

 

[Gogf]

Nor will I deny their right to free speech

I will. All freedom of speech is not protected. You can't yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater or leak classified information. Aggressive disruption of a funeral is another case in which freedom of speech should be restricted.

I'll add my voice to chorus of people saying that we truly hope they win this lawsuit.

 

[MobBoss]

Well, loathsome as they are I will not deny their humanity. Nor will I deny their right to free speech; how strong is his case, according to our legal experts here? Certainly, I would love to see them bankrupted, but only as long as the judgment against them is according to the law and no one's personal feelings influence it.

what law did they break? Sure they're jackasses, but that isn't illegal.

Again, free speech does have its limits. Please note that this isnt a lawsuit to curtail their free speech, but to make them accountable for those things that they do say. If the father wins this lawsuit, I am sure the Westboro folks could continue to engage their free speech as long as they have assets to pay for it.

 

[ArneHD]

Though I have no sympathy towards them, I wouldn't want their right to free speech infringed on either. Perhaps because of the mind numbing number of people who might do the same on the internet, and thus giving lawmakers a cause for bringing down this bastion of free speech as well.

 

[Japanrocks12]

Their aggressive disruption of the funeral is as sick and as insensitive as Phelps doing the same thing at a funeral for a homosexual person

 

[Shadylookin]

Again, free speech does have its limits. Please note that this isnt a lawsuit to curtail their free speech, but to make them accountable for those things that they do say. If the father wins this lawsuit, I am sure the Westboro folks could continue to engage their free speech as long as they have assets to pay for it.

the only limit to free speech that i'm aware of is the imminent harm principle. While calling the marine bad names outside a funeral is against any sort of common courtesy, it doesn't present any chance to harm, and I don't think it is a grounds to sue on. Plus you can't sue someone based on an opinion so they can basically say whatever they feel about the US and it's soldiers.

At best you could probably only nail them for violating a city sound ordinance or having a gathering without a permit.

 

[MobBoss]

the only limit to free speech that i'm aware of is the imminent harm principle. While calling the marine bad names outside a funeral is against any sort of common courtesy, it doesn't present any chance to harm, and I don't think it is a grounds to sue on. Plus you can't sue someone based on an opinion so they can basically say whatever they feel about the US and it's soldiers.

Well, I would disagree. People most certainly can be harmed by words, and I think this man was harmed. It would make me sick as well if someone did this to one of my kids funeral. I would be shocked if a jury didnt find in his favor as well.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Like I said, I really hope they get hit hard. But equally, I hope that this happens according to the laws as they now exist. If there are limits to free speech that prohibit what they have done, then get them for it. If there aren't, they shouldn't be sued just for being despicable.

 

[skadistic]

the only limit to free speech that i'm aware of is the imminent harm principle.

Slander, liable, defamation of character.


But lets also remember this isn't the government suing or taking away rights. The 1st Amendment says that Congress shall make no law restricting the free excise of speech.