Your Opinion: What Do You Think Of Legally Going After Individual Elders?

by minimus 41 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Dragonlady76

  On what grounds?

  The government keeps out of religious matters, when you take a dunk you have joined the club and accepted the terms and fine print that goes along with it.

  It sucks and it's not frair especially to those whose parents forced them to get dunked, but it's a free country and people can raise their kids as they see fit, perhaps the title of this thread should be "What do you think of going after your family leaglly."

  The only way I could see the courts getting involved is if you were a victim of molestation and the elders covered it up and you suffererd additional attacks due to the cover up.
• 

  Sarah Smiles

  I suppose new people who are getting dfd would need to document their meetings.

  As soon as one person walks in a room with three elders it is a contract of a verbal promise! When one breaks the contract, verbal agreement, and it it can be proven YOU can sue!

  What was the harm done? Need to prove illness. Emotional harm or what?

  I say to anyone out there who is going thru meetings to be prepared to sue them!

  It will take some time, but they will slip up! They will tell other elders and if you get a helpful elder he will express his tell all conduct to you! Keep in touch with the elders.

  Make them promise that the meetings are between the four people in the room! document their words! take it to an attorney!

  YES it can be done!
• 

  Mum

  Minimus, I think you're onto something here. If elders can be legally accountable for things such as not reporting child molestors to the police, advising people against higher education or other "strong admonition" that affects their ability to earn a living, being at the hospital to ensure that a JW doesn't get a blood transfusion when it's clearly a case of the patient's dying without it, and so on, then the publishers can take back some of the power. If a few elders get sued because they are following the orders of the Society, but the Society absolves itself from blame through their unethical legal team, then elders will be less heavy handed about "counseling" publishers.

  In the future, instructions from elders should be asked for in writing, folks. A written document holds up much better in a court of law.

  Personally, I would sue the WTBT$ and the BOE and any other WT entity possible to cover all of the basis. It is important to explain to attorneys how the borg operates so they know who might be liable for damages.

  Oh, publishers and other prisoners in the dark tower, it's time to take back your rightful power! (Look, ma, I made a rhyme)

  Regards,

  SandraC
• 

  Eliveleth

  It is a good idea, but because the courts are so afraid of getting involved in religious affairs, it probably won't do any good. In 1984 my husband and I sued the WT and the elders who disfellowshipped us. A brother, (an ex witness who had been a CO) contacted us. He was going to Law School and wanted to see if it was possible. We got as far as the first appeal and because we did not have the money to compete with the millions that the WT has for attorney and court fees, we just gave it up. If we had had money, perhaps we could have pursued it, but you have to have a lot. It is not easy to sue someone, no matter how wronged you might have been. This is our website: www.geocities.com/veliveleth The transcript of our disfellowshipping is at the bottom.
• 

  Eliveleth

  It is a good idea, but because the courts are so afraid of getting involved in religious affairs, it probably won't do any good. In 1984 my husband and I sued the WT and the elders who disfellowshipped us. A brother, (an ex witness who had been a CO) contacted us. He was going to Law School and wanted to see if it was possible. We got as far as the first appeal and because we did not have the money to compete with the millions that the WT has for attorney and court fees, we just gave it up. If we had had money, perhaps we could have pursued it, but you have to have a lot. It is not easy to sue someone, no matter how wronged you might have been. This is our website: www.geocities.com/veliveleth The transcript of our disfellowshipping is at the bottom.
• 

  Sunspot

  OH! This definetely crossed my mind on some harrassment that we endured by an elder that lived very close by.....but he died unexpectedly (at 53) a few years ago. I was always quiet and meek as a JW and it would have been a real surprise if I ever decided to file a lawsuit!

  But--- I figure he was surprised enough when he woke up and saw that there was no Paradise Earth and that he was in the company of the One he had taught others to deny.

  hugs,

  Annie
• 

  Mum

  I meant "bases" not "basis."
• 

  stillajwexelder

  It is a great idea but word would still have to get around. Suppose an elder were sued, It would have to make national news or something so other elders got to hear about it. Now when that happens thousands of other elders will get scared and step down for fear of getting sued.
• 

  stillajwexelder

  It also could work against you. The WTS could then say " We will support elders but they must do it strcitly by then book and do everything the Way the FDS/WTS/GB wants. If you dont do it exactly as the GB wants we wil lnot stand behind you in court. The net result will be even more control by the WTS
• 

  minimus

  If an elder was "harrassing" you and you filed an order for him to stay 100 feet from you, and he or the other elders violated the court order, I can a lot of elders totally backing off.