Man Suing the westboro church

[JB73]

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

good for him!

Those nuts are a pain, and I'd like to see them lose this case. I don't remember seeing anyone else attempt to bring suit against them, is this the first???

could be precedent setting, I don't think "free speech" covers private affairs like a funeral, as it is not a public location, or public affair.

[Tigeress]

Originally posted by JB73
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305279,00.html

good for him!

Those nuts are a pain, and I'd like to see them lose this case. I don't remember seeing anyone else attempt to bring suit against them, is this the first???

could be precedent setting, I don't think "free speech" covers private affairs like a funeral, as it is not a public location, or public affair.

Barley and Snyder law firm should do the case pro bono, imo.

Those WBC wing nuts are going to get themselves whacked someday if they don't stop their hate filled self-serving public behavior against fallen war heroes.

Else, some irate Marines are going to nail them all... permanently, or put parachutes on them and drop them into Tehran with dynamite strapped to them with signs on them saying "Christian Suicide Bombers".

TIGERESS

[Tiger]

I've been waiting for a distraut family member to flip out and cause some serious bidily harm to these whack jobs.

[JB88]

i wonder if people picket their church while they are holding services.  they should.

[crockett]

Of all the things they could protests about.. it's this?

claiming the deaths are punishment for the country's tolerance of homosexuality

I knew they were whack jobs, but even that's pushing it. Sadly I think he will have a hard time winning this case. If they protested on public property, than as screwed up as it is, I don't think he can win.

It's one of those things that unfortunately we have to accept, if we are to stand true to the 1st amendment with out restrictions that might show up elsewhere.

I say, find out who these people are and gather up people from the net, to go picket each of these A holes homes. I'd say give them each a personal taste of what they are dishing out.

[JB88]

protest them at the local diner while they are trying to eat.

protest their hotel rooms when they travel.  

protest them while they sleep.

[Dichotomy]

Originally posted by Tiger
I've been waiting for a distraut family member to flip out and cause some serious bidily harm to these whack jobs.

According to the website they are.

I think if it ever gets to a jury trial it's going to be very interesting.  I just finished reading the motions and the court has denied every motion to suppress or dismiss.

[john9001]

where does "freedom of speech" end and harassment begin?

[Dichotomy]

Originally posted by crockett
Of all the things they could protests about.. it's this?

claiming the deaths are punishment for the country's tolerance of homosexuality

I knew they were whack jobs, but even that's pushing it. Sadly I think he will have a hard time winning this case. If they protested on public property, than as screwed up as it is, I don't think he can win.

It's one of those things that unfortunately we have to accept, if we are to stand true to the 1st amendment with out restrictions that might show up elsewhere.

I say, find out who these people are and gather up people from the net, to go picket each of these A holes homes. I'd say give them each a personal taste of what they are dishing out.

Actually they are suing on several fronts and the case looks pretty good from where I sit.  

Summary
Defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress

Count 1
Defamation

Count II
Invasion Of Privacy - Intrusion Upon Seclusion

Count III
Invasion Of Privacy - Publicity Given To Private Life

Count IV
Intentional Infliction Of Emotional Distress

Count V
Civil Conspiracy

The Westboro people maintain a number of websites and, apparantly, posted all over them about the family, what they were going to do, and crowed about it afterwards.  

Like I said it will be interesting to watch.  Where are our members who are lawyers and what do they think?

Ooops sorry, I acted like I had a brain, I'll go back to being class clown now

[JB88]

do we have members who are lawyers?



never heard tell of that.

[Dichotomy]

A couple of them actually.  I hate to admit it but reading legal documents is kind of interesting to me so I read the motions back and forth.  Apparantly the WBC dodged every attempt at a summons and already got a summary judgement against them.

[LePaul]

Its a pity ammunition is so pricey these days.

Cuz they should be shot like the traiterous dogs they are.

[JB73]

Originally posted by JB88
do we have members who are lawyers?



never heard tell of that.

we have 2 or 3 I think. I forget exactly who, but I know there's a few.

[gpwurzel]

Donation made....hopefully they'll put these halfwits right outta sight.........my FIL lives in 29 Palms CA, so I know quite a few of the Marines that are there (being a drunkard is useful sometimes.....even if they cant play pool for %&*$ lol...) and I'd support each and every one of em were I able.


to all serving, served and considering serving

Wurzel

[indy007]

During a March 26, 1993 protest at Topeka's Vintage Restaurant, a riot broke out and eight WBC members were hospitalized for various minor injuries; WBC now pickets the restaurant every day, as well as the places of business where employees went after leaving the Vintage in an attempt to escape Westboro. In addition, the congregants hold a memorial service every year on the 26th, commemorating what they refer to as "the Vintage Massacre".

In 1994, a woman tried to run down protesters in Topeka after one of them screamed obscenities at her while her pick-up truck was parked at a stop light. She was arrested, but was later found not guilty due to temporary insanity.

In 2002 Blue Valley North High School held productions of The Laramie Project play. Westboro members made it known that they were coming to picket the school. To their surprise many students cut class to meet the picketers and a small riot ensued with a few instances of car vandalism. The school later made tickets to the shows "buy ahead" in order to keep Westboro members from interrupting the play. Subsequently Phelps' website started declaring that "God Hates Blue Valley North" and proceeded to picket every year's graduation ceremony following the event.

In 2003, WBC member Charles Hockenbarger, who was in his 70s at the time, had his face crushed in a beating after standing on a street corner holding a sign reading "THANK GOD FOR SEPT. 11". Hockenbarger was recovering from open heart surgery at the time and ignoring the usual doctor's orders for bed rest. Westboro posted photos of the aftermath of the attack on its homepage, claiming that the (still unidentified) perpetrator was a homosexual and that the attack had been part of a murder conspiracy to kill Hockenbarger, though offering no proof of these allegations.

During a protest at the 2005 presidential inauguration of George W. Bush, WBC protesters were slapped, kicked and had their signs forcefully taken by other protesters.

There have been differing reports on actions at an October 5, 2005, picket of a Wisconsin soldier's funeral. One report was that Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls asked Paulette Phelps to move so he could protect her. Her group called him a Nazi and refused to comply. A conflicting claim put forth by members of the WBC alleges that Sheriff Nehls punched Paulette Phelps in the face. Video of the purported incident at godhatesstudmuffins.com — which claims to show Nehls striking one of the church members — is ambiguous, and at the point the purported attack takes place, the camera is pointed at the ground (indeed, large portions of the video are made up of shots of Westboro members' feet and the ground).[54]

During a picket in Seaford, Delaware on May 21, 2006, a mob broke through police lines and tried to assault WBC members who fled into a police van. Some of the mob then began banging on the van attempting to get inside. Two windows of the van were shattered before the van could get away. Five people face criminal charges.[55]

It has suggested that a Liberty University student who intended to bring a bomb to the funeral of Jerry Falwell may have intended to use the device against a WBC protest at the funeral.[8][9]

Can't say that I feel sorry for them.