Defamation Suit: Judge OKs Serve Request (Phelps-Westboro Baptist)

York Daily Record ^ | 8/4/2006 | York Daily Record/Sunday News

[Nextrush]

A federal judge granted a motion that allows attorneys for a Spring Garden Township man to post a civil complaint against Fred W. Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church at the church and to mail it.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett gave attorneys representing Albert Snyder permission to notify Phelps and his Kansas based church in an alternate way. The attorneys filed the motion after attempting to serve Phelps and his church with the civil suit more than 20 times.

The defamation suit against Phelps and the church was filed June 5 in U.S. District Court in Maryland on behalf of Snyder, whose son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, died March 3 in Iraq.

The lawsuit alleges church members violated the family's right to privacy by coming to Matthew Snyder's March 10 funderal, defamed the Marine and his family during the protest and on their Wed site, and conspired to protest at the funeral.

Phelps' family denies any wrongdoing and said they are simply trying to spread their message.

[Nextrush]

Local man is suing the Phelps gang. I thought some would appreciate an update on the suit.

[Huntress]

It's interesting that Phelps and his church were able to dodge service for so long, when they publicize themselves so much.

[GeronL]

good. BTW- Which is worse these guys are that idiot who had a church of child molesting?

[zot]

Thanks for the post. I would like to see a lot more lawsuits like this.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Good luck getting any money. Phelps himself, I read, has had outstanding judgements against him. He alledgedly used to force his kids to sell candy for him and he did not pay the candy company.

[MindBender26]

Probably have funds buried, but might get building, property.

[Louis Foxwell]

ACLU is defending him. Free speech does not include defamation and hate speech.

[punster]

The court could seize the property, where the WBC is located. It would be interesting to see the WBC and its members kicked out on the street, and rendered homeless. Maybe, they will have to sleep in some gutter, along with the rats and other vermin. (In that case, I would feel sorry for the rats and other vermin.)

[Huntress]

I just logged on to the Maryland District Court electronic filing system, and downloaded some of the key documents in this case. I don't know how to upload them to the net, but I would be happy to e-mail them to anyone who is interested. Just FReepmail me and let me know where you want me to send them.

[GodGunsGuts]

Let's hope they find a way to supena ALL of Phelps/Westboro finances. This should include all "tithing" and the $250,000 per year they spend on demonstrations (which they say does not come from tithing money!).

[Cheburashka]

The court could seize the property, where the WBC is located. It would be interesting to see the WBC and its members kicked out on the street, and rendered homeless. Maybe, they will have to sleep in some gutter, along with the rats and other vermin. (In that case, I would feel sorry for the rats and other vermin.)
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Interesting that everyone in your congregation sleeps in the church. In most church congregations the members have their own houses and apartments.

Yeah, I understood what you meant. Just kidding.

I hope these people have their seat belts buckled, their helmets on and their life insurance paid up. Litigation against the Phelps family is usually a wild and crazy ride.

[sig226]

It won't work - you can't libel the dead, and the Phelps clan is loaded with lawyers. I'm sure their words are couched carefully enough to weasel out of any legal consequences.

They know not to enter the cemetary, so they are acting in public, and in public, your expectation of privacy does not exist.