“God Hates Fags” Case Update

I earlier blogged on the “God Hates Fags” case here: Soldier Funeral Protests and Why I Reluctantly Side With Westboro Baptist Church.

The judge in that case reduced the award yesterday:

In a 52-page decision, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett affirmed the jury’s verdict in favor of the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder. Albert Snyder successfully sued the church for emotional distress and invasion of his family’s privacy after Westboro Baptist Church members waved signs decrying homosexuality at his son’s funeral in March 2006.

“There was more than sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict that [Westboro’s] conduct before, during and after the funeral of Matthew Snyder was outrageous … [and] highly offensive to a reasonable person,” Bennett wrote.

But the judge also more than halved the $10.9 million award announced in October to $5 million, noting constitutional concerns of appropriateness. He held up the jury’s compensatory damage award of $2.9 million but reduced the total punitive damages to $2.1 million. (source)

As far as this case goes, I said all I had to say at Soldier Funeral Protests and Why I Reluctantly Side With Westboro Baptist Church.

Given that the case is on appeal to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, you can rest assured that there will be more postings soon.