A federal jury in Baltimore Wednesday awarded almost $11 million in damages to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq whose funeral drew anti-gay protesters.

In reaching its verdict against the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., the U.S. District Court jury awarded Albert Snyder of York, Pa., $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million for punitive damages, The Baltimore Sun reported.

In March 2006, members of the Kansas church waved placards that included "Thank God for IEDs" and "Fag Troops" 1,000 feet from the church where the funeral of Snyder's son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, was held.

Albert Snyder sued the church and three of its members for intentionally invading his privacy and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International




Publication date: 01 November 2007   

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