The Westboro Cult members must pay the father of the fallen Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder $2.9 million in damages for picketing at the Marine’s funeral.
Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder was killed in March 2006 in Iraq.
Westboro cult members protested at his funeral.
The father of the fallen Marine wept in court describing the pain the Kansas clan caused his family.
Now they will pay him.
49 ABC News reported:
Baltimore — The father of a fallen Marine has been awarded $2.9 million by a jury that found leaders of a fundamentalist church had invaded the family’s privacy when they picketed the Marine’s funeral.
The protesters from Topeka-based Westboro Baptist church at the funeral of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder carried signs with messages like “God hates fags” and “Thank God for dead soldiers.” They say the deaths are punishment for the country’s tolerance of homosexuality.
In an opening statement Tuesday, Shirley Phelps-Roper compared members church members to biblical prophets who sought to save doomed nations that had strayed from God.
Phelps-Rogers is a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, which was being sued by Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., over a protest at the funeral of his son in Maryland.
Snyder’s doctor says he has health problems and trouble sleeping.
His son, Matthew Snyder of Westminster, was killed fighting with the Marines in Iraq.
After the Westboro Baptist Church protested at his son’s funeral, Snyder filed an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against the church. He was also seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The church says it’s exercising its free speech rights.
STACLU is following the tragedy.
Michelle Malkin has a roundup on today’s decision.
Previously:
Family Sues Westboro Devils For Picketing Marine Son’s Funeral
Father of Slain Marine Weeps During Funeral Protest Trial
UPDATE: The AP reported:
The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned later in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress to the Marine’s father, Albert Snyder of York, Pa.
