Need Info- Watchtower Lawsuit

by sammielee24 5 Replies latest jw friends

  • sammielee24
    sammielee24

    Does anyone have any idea on the outcome of the Upton case? In 2006 I had last heard that she won her lawsuit for compensation but I have no doubt the society appealed that outcome. Has anyone got any idea where it sits? I also thought there was another case up in NY involving a JW driver going to a meeting and an accident resulting in the society paying off the family. Does anyone recall that?

    ....can someone also explain in simplified terms, what the purpose of Bethel is? I don't need to know in terms of spiritual lingo but instead what is the reason that Bethel exists? Does it exist for the purpose of printing out publications including writing articles, researching etc? Or is it a religious seminary of sorts where devotion is to learning the bible and study for many hours of the day? sammieswife.

  • blondie
    blondie
  • Seeker4
    Seeker4

    Bethel exists essentially as a printing and shipping facility, with a handful of other departments that research and write the publications, decide on WTS policy, provide legal counsel for the WTS and oversee building projects.

    Intense Bible study is NOT the focus of Bethel life. I think Bethelites are supposed to read the entire Bible in their first year. There are library facitilites available as in a Kingdom Hall, but I don't think the level of study is necessarily any different than that of the average Witness.

    S4

  • besty
    besty

    Think Walmart HQ - the people working there aren't using the products :-) products are for customers....

    same thing

  • sammielee24
    sammielee24

    Thanks everyone.

    sammieswife.

  • sammielee24
    sammielee24
    But Workers' Compensation Law Judge Stephen Goldstein ruled Wednesday that Upton is entitled to $400 a week in workers' compensation payments. "I'm finding they were not religious volunteers," Goldstein said. "They were engaged, particularly Dr. Brenda Upton, in a number of work-like activities." The Witnesses vowed to appeal the ruling, saying Upton and the other 5,800 Witnesses who live and work in the church's New York operations are volunteers, not employees. [ edit from Danny Haszard-we need to keep up vigil ] But if the decision stands, the Witnesses - and other religious organizations - could potentially face millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and payments, said church lawyer John Miller. "It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York. The church owns about 40 properties in downtown Brooklyn and has plans to build a huge new structure on a vacant lot. Miller would not speculate how the workers' compensation case would affect those plans. "We don't have a spiritual conflict," said Upton, who has moved with her husband to Washington State. "Our problem all along has been medical-legal. We are still active Jehovah's Witnesses."

    In trying to find out the outcome of this, I think it is important as it could be applied to those living and working in Bethel. If the outcome was in favour of workers compensation, then the residents become employee's and this would have to extend to all workers. This would mean that all of those Bethelites who spent years working inside and are now being turfed, should be eligible for unemployment insurance and/or at least pensions that shoud have been paid into the government on their behalf. sammieswife.

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