Judge tosses out parts of Jehovah's Witness case

by Elsewhere 4 Replies latest social current

• 

  Elsewhere

  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060228.NATS28-1/TPStory/National

  Judge tosses out parts of Jehovah's Witness case

  PATRICK BRETHOUR

  Calgary -- An Alberta court has dismissed large parts of a $975,000 lawsuit that accuses Jehovah's Witness members of contributing to the death of a Calgary teen who refused blood transfusions.

  Lawrence Hughes had sued several parties in the death of his 17-year-old daughter, Bethany, from leukemia in 2002, including his ex-wife, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada, its lawyers and its members. But a judge struck down most of the claims, except for those brought by Mr. Hughes, who is the administrator of his daughter's estate, on her behalf.

  A lawyer for Arliss Hughes, the girl's mother, said the claim against her was withdrawn before last week's hearing. Mr. Hughes said in a written statement that he plans to appeal the decision.
• 

  Dismembered

  That sucks!

  Dismembered
• 

  AuldSoul

  I believe what the judge tossed were the majority of claims against the parties, he didn't toss the big money claims though. The big money claims were the ones being sought on behalf of his daughter's estate. The majority of the money is still being pursued, but on fewer total claims.

  The way the article reads one could be misled into thinking that the dollar amount being sought is now insignificant. That is not the case. They initially filed claims for everything under the sun (to see what would stick?) and the judge threw out most of them.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  Super_Becka

  True, the judge has forced Mr. Hughes to curtail parts of his lawsuit, but the important thing here is, Mr. Hughes has been given the green light to proceed with his lawsuit against the WTS in Canada and several individuals involved with the WTS now that his lawsuit has been revised.

  And he's still suing for the wrongful death of his teenage daughter and claims that it happened because of WTS doctrines and the blood ban, so I think that's the most important part of this case. http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/03/01/jehovah.suit.ap/index.html -Becka :)
• 

  hawkaw

  I believe what the judge tossed were the majority of claims against the parties, he didn't toss the big money claims though. The big money claims were the ones being sought on behalf of his daughter's estate. The majority of the money is still being pursued, but on fewer total claims.

  The way the article reads one could be misled into thinking that the dollar amount being sought is now insignificant. That is not the case. They initially filed claims for everything under the sun (to see what would stick?) and the judge threw out most of them.

  I believe Lawrence's counsel will be appealing according to the Calgary paper. I also think in the same article that Lawrence's counsel has to first show the Lawyers acted wrongly and then they are entitled to go after the WTS.

  As I said in a previous thread, I still say there is an arguement to be made of the teaching of the belief. I truly think they are insincere about their belief since they are not abstaining from blood.

  The Court has not released the decision on the Internet yet. It should be along this week or next and we can all read what the Judge had to say.

  They are going to be appealing this one to the cows come home.

  hawk