Breaking: Father of Slain Marine Wins Case Against the Reverend Phelps
I am breaking my own rule and will post the name Phelps! He is many things, but he is not a messenger of God. The verdict is in:
Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of a Westminster Marine who was killed in Iraq, today won his case in a Baltimore federal court against members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church who protested at his son’s funeral last year.
The jury of five women and four men awarded Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages. The amount of punitive damages to be awarded has not yet been decided. The jury deliberated for about two hours yesterday and much of today.
Snyder was the first in the nation to attempt to hold members of Westboro Baptist Church legally liable for their shock protests at military funerals after the church protested the military’s inclusion of gays at the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, a 2003 Westminster High School graduate who died March 3, 2006, in a vehicle accident in Anbar province.
In June 2006, Snyder sued the tight-knit fundamentalist Christian church and three of its members individually. The father argued that Westboro’s demonstrations exacerbated his pain and suffering in March 2006 while he mourned the death of his only son.
Specifically, he charged that they violated his privacy, intentionally inflicted emotional harm and engaged in a conspiracy to carry out their activities. The jury decided in Snyder’s favor on every count.
Michelle points out:
The Synder website has legal documents from the case here. Send him a note of congratulations and thanks here.
The fight’s not over.
Matthew Snyder, of Finksburg, Maryland, died from a non combat-related vehicle accident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, California. Died on March 3, 2006. Matthew was 20 years old.
Matthew graduated from Westminster High School in 2003. After graduation, he enlisted in the Marines on October 14, 2003, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. In August of 2004, Matthew was assigned to Combat Logistics Batallion-7, Twentynine Palms, Calif. as a generator mechanic.
“He was a hero and he was the love of my life.” – Albert Snyder, Matthew’s Father
The family of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, US Marine Corps, has begun this civil lawsuit* against Mr. Phelps and certain members of the so-called Westboro Baptist Church to bring an end to the reign of terror and abuse that they inflicted upon the grieving families of US service members killed in defense of our nation. Using innocent children to deliver their twisted message of hatred and fear, the defendants in this suit have sought to attack the memory of our departed heroes, to strip their loved ones of their dignity, and to use abuse and intimidation as a tool for preventing surviving family members from reaching closure over their loss.
It is the sincere hope of Mr. Al Snyder, Matthew’s father, that this suit will spark similar legal actions against Mr. Phelps wherever he seeks to inflict harm upon the memory of our heroes and their families. If you feel strongly that such actions should be stopped, please consider a donation to help offset the legal expenses of bringing this suit.
*This is a private civil lawsuit that is separate from any actions being pursued by states or the federal government against Mr. Phelps. While those cases involve Government action and potential 1st Amendment issues, this case is distinct. This case simply alleges that one does not have the right to conspire to use lies in order to inflict intentional harm upon persons who are grieving the death of their children.
Funerals are not the place to protest people. They are private affairs. They are the last moments a family or friend has with the deceased. Whether we like a person or not, whether they were soldiers, cold blooded killers or just your average joe, everyone deserves a moment of silence, a prayer or a simple goodbye. Nobody, including Phelps, has the right to take that away from them!
Update from Jay at Stop The ACLU:
Via Blue Crab Boulevard, punitive damages award at $8 million, added to the $2.9 million, Mr. Snyder has won and Westboro Baptist Church must pay almost $11 million dollars.
The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.
Snyder’s attorney, Craig Trebilcock, had urged jurors to determine an amount “that says don’t do this in Maryland again. Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again.”
October 31, 2007 - 04:23 PM on October 31st, 2007
Great News! i hope this puts those s.o.b.s out of business for good!
October 31, 2007 - 05:43 PM on October 31st, 2007
A little update:
The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.
October 31, 2007 - 05:51 PM on October 31st, 2007
Phelps is lucky he hasn’t gotten beaten to a pulp. Plenty of Vets I know have vowed to confront Phelps if he ever shows up around here.
November 1, 2007 - 06:32 AM on November 1st, 2007
I read about a case of a crippled veteran who also was injured in a non-combat accident. The army denied to give him the purple heart.
That’s also a kind of disrespect towards somebody who was ready to do everything for his country, that should be convicted!
November 1, 2007 - 06:40 AM on November 1st, 2007
4- Why don’t you get the info together and post it. Until then, it has nothing to do with the topic, nor does it appear that he had earned one….but to be fair to him, he has you pleading his case, so I’m sure some facts were left out in the translation.
November 1, 2007 - 06:46 AM on November 1st, 2007
Funeral Protestors Get Their Day In Court And Lose
They lost to the tune of $11 million:
A Baltimore federal jury awarded nearly $11 million Wedn…
Popularity: unranked [?]…
November 1, 2007 - 08:00 AM on November 1st, 2007
Matthias why don’t you look into the conditions under which a Purple Heart is awarded before you make such a post, as Pam suggests. I think you will find the answer to your question.
You’ve only made yourself look silly with that post.
November 1, 2007 - 08:08 AM on November 1st, 2007
Now maybe its time for all those who were harrased by those animal rights and enviromental extermists to be allwed to sue them
November 1, 2007 - 08:18 AM on November 1st, 2007
5,7- I read that article in the German magazine “Stern” some time ago, so it is difficult for me to post something that you may read to.
I also think that this case is not unfamiliar as it appears to be one rule of the purple heart medal that it is only given to soldiers that are wounded in combat (to answer your comment, Robert).
But even if this case is compliant with US military rules, it does not have to be okay with me. The guy I refer to sits in a wheelchair for the rest of his life with a meager pension and it would have cost Uncle Sam nothing to show some respect to his efforts…
And yes: it has nothing to do with this thread!
November 1, 2007 - 08:21 AM on November 1st, 2007
7- Like that’s gonna happen
November 1, 2007 - 08:23 AM on November 1st, 2007
How wrong one may perceive things, if he does not know all the facts…
When I read this article an two hours ago, I thought these were anti-war activists who were protesting at the funeral. Now I read at the German Spiegel-page that these fundamentalists protest against the Army due to its acceptance of homosexuals…
…yes, yes… it’s always those evil muslims who are disrespectful towards people, make unjustified protests and bash homosexuals…
November 1, 2007 - 08:26 AM on November 1st, 2007
9- A good friend of my parents served in WWII. He was allowed to come home from overseas to bury his 4 year old. During the leave he went to a pool, dove in and was a quadrapalegic from that day forward. He didn’t receive a Purple Heart, but he was(monetarily) taken care of for the rest of his life.
The medals given are for designated honors. If they were given to everyone for anything, then they would not really mean anything would they?
Get the story, I’m sure you can dig it out on google.
November 1, 2007 - 08:55 AM on November 1st, 2007
12- The conditions under which the Purple Heart is awarded sounds as complicated as a life insurance contract (Paragraph 2-8, Army Regulation 600-8-22). However the general common principle is that you have to get somehow wounded (without the various exceptions) to get it. So it is something passive that you don’t have to do actively something for- unless you commit some automutilation action.
So it is nothing you have to do something actively that you get the PH for- except risking your life every second that you are in the war area. And that is something that is valid for both the guys who is shot and the one suffering post traumatic stress disorder or the one having a car accident in Baghdad.
November 1, 2007 - 09:50 AM on November 1st, 2007
13, Mattias, you are so clueless that I wonder how you escaped a fatal accident during your conscripted time in the Wehrmacht.
November 1, 2007 - 10:00 AM on November 1st, 2007
13- where is the article for which you are referring…
November 1, 2007 - 10:35 AM on November 1st, 2007
15- http://www.americal.org/awards/ph.htm
November 1, 2007 - 11:08 AM on November 1st, 2007
12: Did you read this in the link you posted?
(4) Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:
(a) Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action.
(b) Injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap.
(c) Injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent.
(d) Injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire.
(e) Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.
(5) Examples of injuries or wounds which clearly do not qualify for award of the Purple Heart are as follows:
(a) Frostbite or trench foot injuries.
(b) Heat stroke.
(c) Food poisoning not caused by enemy agents.
(d) Chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy.
(e) Battle fatigue.
(f) Disease not directly caused by enemy agents.
(g) Accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action.
(h) Self-inflicted wounds, except when in the heat of battle, and not involving gross negligence.
(i) Post traumatic stressdisorders.
(j) Jump injuries not caused by enemy action.
When you stop using your emotions to establish or confirm what’s right, you will be able to embrace objective standards.
November 1, 2007 - 11:10 AM on November 1st, 2007
Regarding Phelps, he is as much a Christian as those in the Christian Identity movement.
November 1, 2007 - 11:18 AM on November 1st, 2007
#14
November 1, 2007 - 11:25 AM on November 1st, 2007
16- I was referring to the phantom soldier that was shit on by this country..pony up the details.
November 1, 2007 - 12:29 PM on November 1st, 2007
17,18, Hey Sasha, welcome back to the postings!
November 1, 2007 - 02:53 PM on November 1st, 2007
PCD! It’s getting to be about that time. I apologize for my absence. I’ve been so swamped with projects… but I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As long as it ain’t a train coming toward me…
I’ll have to tell you about it offblog.
November 2, 2007 - 05:53 AM on November 2nd, 2007
17- Sasha,
as I already mentioned in my own post #9 the procedure (to not give the PH to non-combat wounded soldiers) is correctly implemented following the regulations for the PH. Nevertheless my personal feeling of justice and respect towards soldiers (and especially to those who will have to struggle with the consequences of the duty for the rest of their lives) regards this regulation as unfair!
To your crippled limbs it does not matter what was the cause of the mutiliation- the pain and the lasting results are the same and to Uncle Sam it’s nothing but a piece of metal and a gesture! I mean for special “heroism” (combat related) there are special awards anyway…
November 2, 2007 - 05:58 AM on November 2nd, 2007
20- Sry…
As I mentioned it was an article in the (printed) Stern magazine which I read at the barber. It was about Iraq veterans.
November 2, 2007 - 02:31 PM on November 2nd, 2007
“I mean for special “heroism”(combat related) there are special awards anyway:”
Yes- and this primary level award is called The Purple Heart. This is awarded because the injury was in the line of combat. If someone falls off a wall on a Fort within the United Staes, it is not combat related. The may crush a limb, and that is unfortuante. That does not diminish their service, nor does it merit a combat related citation such as The Purple Heart.
There are citations for non-combat related injuries already, IIRC. If you award the Purple Heart for any injury, it diminishes the meaning and history of The Purple Heart and those receipiants who received it in combat situations.
November 2, 2007 - 11:20 PM on November 2nd, 2007
I had a Platoon Sergeant die in a hang gliding accident when I was on active duty. He got a military funeral, but didn’t get a medal.
November 4, 2007 - 05:32 PM on November 4th, 2007
This is somewhat out of character for me, but I sure wish Phelps would get lynched. His kind ain’t helpin’ anything, that boys’ an anchor, not a prop!