The gay-bashing, fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church must pay $5 million to the father of a fallen Marine for picketing the soldier’s Westminster funeral, a federal judge ruled Monday.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett upheld a jury’s decision that the church violated Albert Snyder?s privacy and inflicted emotional distress when members protested at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder?s March 2006 funeral waving signs reading, “Thank God for dead soldiers” and “God hates you.”
But Bennett cut nearly in half the amount of damages the jury awarded to Snyder in October because the church members do not have enough money to pay nearly $11 million, according to Bennett?s 52-page ruling.
“It is quite clear that the punitive damages award in this case has no deterrent effect,” Bennett wrote. “The key factor to be addressed by this court is defendants’ ability to pay the punitive damages award.”
Westboro, its founder, Fred Phelps, and two of his daughters, Rebekah Phelps-Davis and Shirley Phelps-Roper, reported a combined net worth of less than $1 million, according to financial records submitted to the court.
Snyder remained optimistic the judgment will financially cripple the church in Topeka, Kan., so members cannot afford to travel the country to protest funerals.
“No one on this side of the equation is disappointed in the judge’s ruling,” said Craig Trebilcock, Snyder?s attorney. “On a certain scale, does it really matter if the ruling is $5 million or $10.9 million? I don’t think it really does. … It would deter [Westboro members] from what they’re doing.”
Snyder?s attorneys say they plan to investigate Westboro?s finances because they believe the defendants’ are worth more than what they reported.
But Jonathan Katz, Westboro?s attorney, said church members’ First Amendment rights were violated and he would file an appeal to the Fourth Circuit federal court.
“I’m not satisfied with anything short of reversing the entire judgment and verdict,” Katz said. “Every dollar and every cent that is returned is a little bit closer to justice.”
The church believes God kills American soldiers to punish the country for its tolerance of homosexuality.
Westboro relies on members’ donations for money, and about 50 of its 70 members are related.
“This isn’t a First Amendment right; this isn’t freedom of speech,” said Snyder, of York, Pa., the first person to win a lawsuit against the church. “What society will we be if we continue to let this happen?”
