After I posted a news item on my website about charges in a lawsuit against Rick Ross being dropped in Federal Court, a couple who is still involved in the lawsuit contacted me. They are Jim Bergin and Judy Garvey. They are former members of the Gentle Wind Project (GWP) and the counts against them in the lawsuit are still being persued.
Check out Jim and Judy's website at Wind of Changes. As I read their site, especially Jim's article A Husband's Perspective , I could not help but be stuck by the similarities between many of their experiences and ours.
Obviously this is a very important case for Jim and Judy, but I think it also important for former Jehovah's Witnesses who run websites that are critical of the Watchtower as well as former members of all sorts of groups who speak out against the groups with which they were once a part. There are links to the legal documents involved in their case on their website. Take a look at the lawsuit itself. Count 1 of that suit still stands against Judy and Jim. As you read it, think about what would happen if the Watchtower Society filed a similar suit against all the former JWs who run websites.
If the Gentle Wind Project prevails in this case it will set a very dangerous precendent. This should be of particular concern given the Watchtower Society's recent activity aimed at limiting the expression of former Jehovah's Witnesses on their websites.
Jim and Judy also have a legal defense fund going. There are links with information about it on their website.