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Jury seated in lawsuit against Osteen's wife
AT&T ^ | August 6, 2008 | n/a

Posted on 08/06/2008 4:58:12 PM PDT by fkabuckeyesrule

HOUSTON (AP) - A jury was seated Wednesday in a lawsuit alleging the wife of nationally known pastor Joel Osteen assaulted a flight attendant.

Opening arguments were set for Thursday in a case Victoria Osteen's lawyer called "silly." But Reginald McKamie, attorney for Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown, said he hopes the trial will show "that celebrity status doesn't take precedence."

Brown accuses Victoria Osteen of assaulting her before the start of a 2005 flight from Houston to Vail, Colo. Brown alleges Victoria Osteen threw her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the left breast during an angry outburst over a stain on her first-class seat. The Federal Aviation Administration fined Victoria Osteen $3,000 for interfering with a crew member.

Joel Osteen was at his wife's side Wednesday in court. McKamie said he expected to call the couple as witnesses.

Joel Osteen preaches at Lakewood Church, a Houston megachurch where about 42,000 people flock each week and where Victoria Osteen is co-pastor. His weekly television address is broadcast nationally and internationally.

Some potential jurors during questioning admitted to being star-struck by the Osteens and that their respect for them might affect their judgment.

"He has gotten me through a lot of tough times. I would believe what he has to say. I have a lot of respect for him," one female in the jury pool said.

Other potential jurors said they didn't like preachers or televangelists and that ministers can lie.

Brown wants an apology and punitive damages amounting to 10 percent of Victoria Osteen's net worth as part of her suit.

Victoria Osteen's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said before jury selection began Wednesday that Brown's claims are false and that what happened was a "minor incident." Hardin also asked a judge to throw out an FAA report detailing the alleged incident, saying the agency's investigation was "incredibly incomplete."

"This is a very silly case," Hardin told reporters.

McKamie said the FAA did an appropriate investigation. State District Judge Patricia Hancock said she would make a decision later on whether the report would be allowed.

Brown's suit claims the flight attendants asked to have Victoria Osteen removed from the plane. Hardin says Victoria Osteen and her family left voluntarily. The incident delayed the flight about 2 1/2 hours.

According to court documents, Brown claims that she suffers from anxiety and hemorrhoids because of the incident and said her faith was affected. She is also suing Osteen for medical expenses for counseling.

Brown had previously claimed she was attacked in another incident by an airport employee, according to a deposition she gave in the case.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: crazywoman
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To: Almondjoy
Ok so what’s the problem with Osteen. I have found him to be nothing but uplifting.

His preaching is theologically very weak.

I have no animosity toward him and I think this lawsuit is mostly garbage, but I could be convinced that Victoria is a bit 'difficult'.

21 posted on 08/07/2008 7:30:00 AM PDT by SeaHawkFan
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To: SeaHawkFan

I have jury duty in a Houston court NEXT Monday. I am so thankful that I am not on this jury.


22 posted on 08/07/2008 7:32:34 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: Orange1998

I seem to remember that I read Osteen takes no salary from his curch. He lives on profits from his books. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, I have never been to his church and have no intentions of going.


23 posted on 08/07/2008 7:36:17 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: Ditter

My comments were not solely directed to him. More of a broad brush of TV preachers if you will.


24 posted on 08/07/2008 8:06:09 AM PDT by Orange1998
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To: deport

I grew up being told, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” However, my husband was a pilot with a company that hired “trolley dollies” in Atlanta. He said the majority worked just long enough to qualify for unemployment. They knew how to work the system and did. Sadly, in my years of nursing, I saw many women who had babies just so they could get more money from the government. Hopefully the jury will see this for what it is.


25 posted on 08/07/2008 8:07:17 AM PDT by pops88 (geek chick over 40)
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To: Ditter

I seem to remember that I read Osteen takes no salary from his curch. He lives on profits from his books...


He quit taking a $200,000 yr salary in 2005 when his book was published. The Olsteens have lived in the same house for 13+ yrs and until last year he drove a nine yr old car he inherited when his dad died. As co-pastor I don’t know the situation for his wife regarding a salary, etc.

The church takes in about a million dollars a week which pays the salary of some 300 staffers, debt on the 95 million funding to purchase/renovate the facility, church outreach activities, etc.


26 posted on 08/07/2008 8:29:42 AM PDT by deport ( ----Cue Spooky Music---)
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To: Orange1998; deport
I tend to agree with you on TV preacher and Osteens church is not mine. Some relatives came into town and planned on going to hear Osteen preach until they learned you had to BUY tickets. Maybe deport knows about this too.
27 posted on 08/07/2008 10:26:13 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: Ditter

You got to be kidding me. Buy tickets to pray? I wonder if it could be considered a business instead of non-profit.


28 posted on 08/07/2008 10:31:23 AM PDT by Orange1998
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To: Ditter

No, I don’t know what the policy is regarding attending services and fees.... I’ve been in the facility back when the Rockets played there but not since Lakewood has been the occupant. I’d think it would very strange to charge a fee for their normal services, special events I could understand.


29 posted on 08/07/2008 10:36:39 AM PDT by deport ( ----Cue Spooky Music---)
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To: Orange1998; deport

That is what my relatives from Ft. Worth said they were told when they called about times of the services. I don’t know if it was a special service.


30 posted on 08/07/2008 10:41:21 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: Orange1998; Cedar; ozzymandus
So how does 10% net worth of a preacher amount too. Can’t be much after all he is doing the lords work. sarc

Obviously one reason the plaintiff requested that amount was the hope that the Osteens would settle before they had to reveal their net worth. The settlement offer must have not met her expectations.

31 posted on 08/07/2008 11:12:03 AM PDT by wideminded
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To: wideminded
Wow. Sounds like gold diggers to me. I must admit it would be interesting to see how much he donates to the church. My guess he does his part since it was not disclosed by the litigator.
32 posted on 08/07/2008 11:49:01 AM PDT by Orange1998
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To: wideminded; Orange1998

Wide, your explanation is probably right about the 10 percent.

The Osteen’s preaching is a little too weak for me, but I do think this lawsuit is unnecessary and just an effort to “go for the gold.”


33 posted on 08/07/2008 12:14:31 PM PDT by Cedar
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To: Almondjoy
****Ok so what’s the problem with Osteen. I have found him to be nothing but uplifting.****

Two words: Theology matters

34 posted on 08/07/2008 4:23:21 PM PDT by fkabuckeyesrule (I knew there was a reason I supported Phil Gramm in 1996!!!!)
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To: fkabuckeyesrule

So in world full of information.. and the fact that it is our own responsiblity to read the word... you don’t think it’s ok for him to bring one message?


35 posted on 08/07/2008 7:09:23 PM PDT by Almondjoy
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To: SeaHawkFan

Well certainly the FAA fining her gives some crediblity to the other side.

But I was more concerned since people went off topic about Osteen as a preacher that I would inquire.

Explain “theologically very weak” if you wouldn’t mind.


36 posted on 08/07/2008 7:11:01 PM PDT by Almondjoy
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To: Almondjoy
****you don’t think it’s ok for him to bring one message?***

HUH? He is a motivational speaker. He's not a pastor. I geuss when I read a christian book or read the Bible or listen to a christian speaker I am just looking for something deeper. Solid food not milk.

37 posted on 08/07/2008 7:12:30 PM PDT by fkabuckeyesrule (I knew there was a reason I supported Phil Gramm in 1996!!!!)
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To: Orange1998

If people believe in his message then they want to make sure it gets out. Buying time on TV aint cheap.. nor is having your church in a stadium.

If people believe in his message and want to get it out around the world they want someone who can spread the message they like.

Why is it ok to make money off oil but not ok to make money in spreading the word?


38 posted on 08/07/2008 7:13:05 PM PDT by Almondjoy
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To: Almondjoy
Well certainly the FAA fining her gives some crediblity to the other side.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything in this case. If you are involved in a car accident and you are cited but don't show up to contest the ticket, the citation cannot be used by the other party in a civil action for damages; at least in the state of Washington. Most states have adopted the uniform motor vehicle code, so it is likely the same in most, if not all states. The same principle would apply here. Osteen's attorney could simply say it wasn't worth the time and money to contest a mere $3,000 FAA fine. As I said on another thread, it is possible this is the very reason Victoria did not contest the fine and is why the judge may keep the report out of this trial as he should.

39 posted on 08/07/2008 7:18:57 PM PDT by SeaHawkFan
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To: Almondjoy
Everyone knows you can make money from oil since "oil is evil" -sarc-

Get rich off prayer is the American Way. -sarc-

40 posted on 08/07/2008 7:24:05 PM PDT by Orange1998
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