LF: Marine Dad Ordered to Pay Legal Fees of Those Disrupting Son's Funeral

Title: Marine Dad Ordered to Pay Legal Fees of Those Disrupting Son's Funeral
Source: POLITICS DAILY
URL Source: [None]
Published: Mar 31, 2010
Author: Tom Diemer
Post Date: 2010-03-31 11:45:47 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 673
Comments: 3

The father of a Marine killed in action in Iraq has been ordered to pay the legal costs of members of an anti-gay church whom he sued after they picketed his son's funeral, carrying placards bearing anti-homosexual epithets. The dad, Albert Snyder of Westminster, Md., called the ruling a "slap in the face."

"By the court making this decision, they're not only telling me that they're taking their side, but I have to pay them money to do this to more soldiers and their families," Snyder said, according to CNN.

It all stems from a legal battle that started after a handful of demonstrators from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., picketed outside the Maryland funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder with signs expressing such sentiments as "God hates you" and "Thank God for dead soldiers." The vitriol apparently had nothing to do with Snyder as an individual; church members have demonstrated at other events with similar signs. Founded by Pastor Fred Phelps, the church believes God is punishing the United States for "the sin of homosexuality" by allowing wars and soldiers' deaths.

Albert Snyder, horrified by the disruption, filed a federal lawsuit claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy. He won at the first level and was awarded $10.9 million in compensatory and punitive damages. But the 4th District Court of Appeals reversed the ruling, saying Phelps and his people were protected by First Amendment free-speech rights. Then last week, the court ordered Snyder to pay $16,000 in legal fees accumulated by Westboro Baptist in defending itself.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case in another test of how far the First Amendment can stretch in guaranteeing the right of free expression

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace

Whats far more troubling are these three appellate court judges. O'Reilly outted all three of them last night, including photo's.

I suspect the USSC will grab this case very very soon and rule on it, and put a stop to these sick fucks belonging to the Westboro Baptist Cult.

They didn't need to be "outed"...they heard the case publically and signed their decision.

The "protesters" had and have every right to demonstrate in public. It doesn't mean that they should have chosen to exercise that right at that moment. But inflaming passions against the judges is JUST AS BAD.

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace