Judge to review Westboro’s assets in wake of $5M payment

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Westboro Baptist Church, seeking to delay payment of a $5 million judgment, must provide a judge detailed documents on the church’s finances.

U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett told the church he would review its financial state before deciding whether to grant the request.

On Monday, Bennett upheld a jury’s finding that church members invaded Albert Snyder’s privacy and intentionally inflicted emotional distress by protesting the Westminster funeral of his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, with signs reading, “Thank God for dead soldiers” and “You’re going to hell.”

But Bennett cut the $10.9 million in damages the jury awarded to Snyder in October because the church members do not have enough money, according to Bennett’s 52-page ruling.

Westboro had filed motions asking the judge to reduce the amount of the award and delay payments until appeals are exhausted.

If payments are delayed, a bond totaling 120 percent of the award may be required, but Westboro also wants to avoid paying that.

“The reality is that plaintiff [Snyder] will never be able to collect anything close to the $10.9 million verdict and judgment in this case because defendants simply do not have the assets,” Jonathan Katz, Westboro’s attorney, wrote to the judge.

Sean Summers, Snyder’s attorney, claimed that the church, its founder, Fred Phelps, and two of his daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis, under-reported their combined net worth at less than $1 million.

“I don’t believe they accurately disclosed their finances, but having said that, I don’t believe they have $6 million lying around,” Summers said.

Bennett wrote in his ruling that he is “not inclined” to delay payments without a bond because it leaves Snyder’s award unprotected.

The fundamentalist, gay-bashing Westboro believes God kills American soldiers to punish the country for its tolerance of homosexuality. Westboro relies on members’ donations for money, and about 50 of its 70 members are related.

A hearing is scheduled for March 6 in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Summers said.

msilvestri@baltimoreexaminer.com

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