@drewcoul: In the pedophile case here in SoCal, the elders tried to use the priest-pentinent privilege in the trial. The court denied it because the information in JC's is shared with anybody and everybody from other elders, congregations, DO's Co's and HQ.
I think the Society might drop its appeal over the Conti case
by cedars 97 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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sir82
I think they will settle for 10 or 12 million quickly.
They can't just unilaterally decide to settle. The plaintiff has to agree to it.
While her attorney may or may not recommend the settlement, I suspect she would not want to do so. Recall he original claim was for a mere $1440.00.
She's not doing it for the money.
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Giordano
"They can't just unilaterally decide to settle. The plaintiff has to agree to it."
That's understood Sir 82 but money changes everything....lol.
Seriously she's already succeeded....... this is the first time the society has had to depend it's policy in an open court. It's all on the record now....... appeal or no appeal it's out there.
When damages are that high the jury is sending a message, it's just about the only way you can get a large corporation and the public to pay attention.
She is now a public figure, with some serious money in her pocket, she's in a position to help a lot of really messed up people who were molested.
She's the first. I'll bet her attorney already has other cases lined up.
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ScenicViewer
I. Balaamsass said,
The Wtbts attorney has done such a great job.....Is he possibly a closet apostate ?
Well, attorney McCabe did use the term "rank and file" when describing Jonathan Kendrick's status in the congregation. (See Contra Costa Times article)
(I'm not actually saying that McCabe is working against Watchtower, that would be too much to hope for. It does seem odd that he would use such a term though. I have never heard one of Jehovah's Witnesses use language like that. Maybe he resorted to such language because it benefitted his case, which was to say Kendrick is really nobody of importance in the congregation. It wouldn't be odd to the jury to hear the 'rank and file' term.)
II. Not long ago Watchtower put up 60 Million Euros, held in escrow, while the France taxation case was being appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. If Watchtower can put up that kind of cash, it likely won't have any trouble scraping $24 Million together, to post in escrow, to free up it's billion dollars worth of real estate assets.
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AnnOMaly
While her attorney may or may not recommend the settlement, I suspect she would not want to do so. Recall he original claim was for a mere $1440.00.
No it wasn't! That was the sanction proposed if the defendants refused to answer the questions the court directed them to answer. There were more motions to compel the defendants to answer and the proposed fine each time for not answering was $1440. Nothing to do with the claim for compensatory or punitive damages.
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MidwichCuckoo
It's my understanding that the WT has issued an official statement saying it WILL appeal - so, with this in mind, what reason can it give for changing its mind..?
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cedars
Good point MidwichCuckoo, although in my experience, the Society seldom feels under pressure to offer reasons for anything. For example, the press release itself is evasive when it comes to the actual reasons why the jury ruled against them. They can spin any decision they make in whatever way they like. However, I've changed my mind on this one. I think if the option is there for them to buy a bond, continue their appeal, and retain full use of their assets, they will take it.
Cedars
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OUTLAW
Just read a post by skeeter1..
The WBT$ will have to come up with the judgement/Court costs..
Plus 50% to pay for the bond..
Thats over 40 Million Dollars..
The WBT$ is taking a Beating..
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diamondiiz
ScenicViewer: "rank and file...I have never heard one of Jehovah's Witnesses use language like that"
Actually wts did refer to jws as rank and file in the past, if you search for it on this site, you'll find quotes from wts publications.
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ScenicViewer
Diamondiiz,
Thanks for the input. I was not aware of that. I wonder if it was in Judge Rutherford's time. Sounds like something he might say.
Edit: Found one.
(W 9-1-1986, p28)
"A similar situation exists in the Christian congregation. Some individuals are used quite prominently, but others play rather inconspicuous roles as rank-and-file publishers of the Kingdom message."I used the Watchtower CD. Found it pretty quickly, so there may be lots of other similar references. I guess I didn't read my Watchtower very well.
...OUTLAW