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.
That is about the weekly budget for Second Baptist in Houston among the 4-5 campuses. Second Baptist is a very good church and have visited it a few times when in Houston over the weekend. Ed Young is an excellent speaker.
fkabuckeyesrule Step right up.... We have a winner!
Wow. And I thouht Rusty lost his touch after the Clemens fiasco.
Here is just one example:
Didn’t notice Rusty Hardin was representing the Osteens. Might as well get one of the best if you can afford him.
Clemens was just stupid. Probably testified at the Congressional hearings against Hardin’s advice.
Is this the inspiration for the 10% figure?
tithe (t)
n.
1.
a. A tenth part of one’s annual income contributed voluntarily or due as a tax, especially for the support of the clergy or church.
b. The institution or obligation of paying tithes.
2. A tax or assessment of one tenth.
3.
a. A tenth part.
b. A very small part.
v. tithed, tith·ing, tithes
v.tr.
1. To contribute or pay a tenth part of (one’s annual income).
2. To levy a tithe on.
v.intr.
To pay a tithe.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5931221.html
Clemens is not going to win this lawsuit. It is merely window dressing so he can claim he was defamed and the court might toss it out because he is a “public figure” and the standard is more than simple negligence in order to prevail.
He will then say he lost on a ‘technicality’.
I never thought about it that way but you make a very good point.
Sounds more judgemental than anything.
But that figures.. most people would rather say what’s wrong about people than what’s right.
Who cares if he says “little details”.
Frankly is sounds like stupid petty stuff as always.
If you think Mormons are wrong great.. by hanging “little details”.. it sounds rather pathetic honestly.
So he’s evil?
If you want to read some more about Osteen’s weak theology, google “Joel Osteen” “weak” “theology”
You will get lots of hits, and many of them are articles by respected Bible scholars.
That Osteen woman may or may not have invited trouble upon herself, but this Brown gold-digger has a point about the anxiety and hemorrhoids. Remember when the Philistines took the ark to Ashdod? 1 Samuel 5!
2914 techor {tekh-ore'} from an unused root meaning to burn; TWOT - 803a; n m pl AV - emerods 8; 8 1) tumours, haemorrhoids
Anxiety and hemorrhoids? Who knew? My grandmother always told me not to sit on cold cement! lol. I guess you learn something new (not necessarily useful) every day!
My mother also said not to read on the toilet.
More exercise and a high-fiber diet would help Ms. Brown with all her symptoms.
Hey, the preachers wife made her get “roids”.
Can't speak to Rick Warren but Joe Osteen sure makes up for not using Christ by using WEALTH instead, his main theme. And he seems to think certain sins are not his place to preach talk against because they are either too political or are even protected political speech. What little I know about Warren I'd say they are bot in for a hot time.
Well, dang. Victoria gave the poor woman titty hemmoroids. I bet them things hurt.
Ah, didn’t think about that! You might be right....what irony! She’s getting her tithes back — forget about the fact she didn’t pay tithes to the Osteens to begin with!
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