Albert Snyder might have financially immobilized the Kansas church that picketed at his son?s military funeralto intentionally inflict emotional distress on him and his family.
The federal jury Wednesday awarded the York, Pa., resident $8 million in punitive damages on top of $2.9 million in compensatory damages.
“This is judgment day for the Westboro Baptist Church,” said Craig Trebilcock, Snyder?s attorney.
“They are always talking about other people?s judgment day, well this is theirs.”
The amount “far exceeds the net worth” of the militant, fire-and-brimstone Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, said U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett in Baltimore City.
Snyder, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, 20, who died serving in Iraq last year, sued the church, its founder Fred Phelps and two of Phelps? daughters Rebekah Phelps-Davis and Shirley Phelps-Roper, after they protested outside his son?s March 2006 funeral in Westminster.
“I?ve never been so glad something?s over in my life,” Snyder said.
The jury Wednesday found Westboro liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and civil conspiracy. Claims of defamation and publicity given to private information were previously dismissed.
Trebilcock has said Snyder wanted to cripple the church financially so it can?t continue torturing other grieving families.
The church travels throughout the country to picket with signs reading, “God hates fags” and “Don?t pray for the USA,” believing the country is doomed because of its prideful sins.
While about 40 states, including Maryland, have passed laws prohibiting the group from protesting too close to funerals, experts say if the case is not overturned in higher courts, it could be a significant blow to First Amendment rights.
Phelps said he would appeal.
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