Jehovah's Witnesses asking woman to pay legal costs in sexual abuse lawsuit

by Rado Vleugel 20 Replies latest jw friends

  • Rado Vleugel
    Rado Vleugel

    A judge awarded Vicki Boer $5,000 in June. She claimed in a civil suit that elders told her not to seek outside help or report the alleged abuse. No no criminal charges were laid in the assault allegations. Now she is being asked by the lawyer of the Watchtower Society to pay part of the religious group's $160,000 in legal costs in the case.

    Read the whole story and more stories on sexual abuse on http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org

    Rado Vleugel

  • dmouse
    dmouse

    Disgusting.

    They are trying to make an example of her, making claims financially impossible, so others don't try and follow her lead.

    They are a legal and finincial empire totally cold to human feeling.

  • AlanF
    AlanF

    This ain't over yet.

    AlanF

  • Amazing
    Amazing

    Maybe this is one of those cases that needs to reach the highest court Canada ... maybe some serious case law will help set a better standard. I am not convinced that this Judge in the case really understands the psychological coersion that permeates the Watchtower thought system. I have a terrible feeling about this situation that this is going to get worse. I hope I am wrong - Jim W.

  • hawkaw
    hawkaw

    Jim,

    The judge got it right. Her decision was bang on with the limited evidence present by Vicki's lawyer.

    Having said that I just want to say that this is an organization that is trying to tell the world how nice and compassionate they are to victims of abuse.

    Well it sure doesn't look like that to me!

    hawk

  • Amazing
    Amazing

    Hi Hawk: I am not saying the Judge made an incorrect ruling, or a ruling that is limited by the technicalities of certain Canadian law. Rather, I am saying that the Judge may not understand the psychology of the JWs. It may well be the fault of Vicki's lawyer in not presenting a better case.

    This demand by the losing party (Watchtower) for legal fees from the victim is different than how it is typically done in the US. Here, the prevailing party always includes legal fees as part of their claim against the loser. Were this a US case, the Watchtower could not ask for its legal fees, but rather would be paying ALL of Vicki's fees, court costs, etc.

    So, while I am not surprised at the continuing unmitigated heartless gall of the Watchtower Corporation, I am surprised that the Canadian legal system would even permit the Society as loser to even ask for legal fees from the victim. - Jim W.

  • hawkaw
    hawkaw

    Jim,

    I think she has a very good idea of the psychology of the JWs if you read from paragraphs 152 to about 170 in the decision. The problem she had was no one gave her the policy manual ... aka the Flock book.

    Yeah I am surprised about the issue of costs too. Usually she would have ruled in her final decsion much like in the USA. But decided to let the lawyers decide first and then if it didn't work out, then she would rule.

    I strongly suspect that she will not award costs to the WTS. If she did she would be in a lot of political hot water seeing the lamestream press is following the story. Can you imagine the headline.

    But I got to admit from an optics point of view this story should be a real horrior for the JWs

    hawk

  • Mary
    Mary

    Canada is not known for its rewarding large awards in court cases, like you might get in the States. However $5,000 is a slap in the face and that judge is a fool in my opinion. I hope it's appealed. As for the Borg asking this woman to pay for their legal costs...........well, apparently there's no level of scumminess that they can sink to. And why would they need the money anyway? Aren't their lawyers providing God's Borganization with all their work, free of charge?

    Assholes .

  • hawkaw
    hawkaw

    This story is in a lot of Canadian newspapers today and may run in more tomorrow seeing the story went out late.

    hawk

  • cat1759
    cat1759

    This is horrendous!

    This is outrageous!

    This is a group of loving brothers. Oh yeah!

    Women are the last on the totem pole again and again.

    Thank you for the link.

    Cathy

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