Corney

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Posts by Corney

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  9

  Federal court in Montana asked to impose sanctions on Watch Tower and its top lawyers Brumley and Taylor

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  in two child abuse cases litigated in a us district court in montana, plaintiffs recently filed identical motions for sanctions against watch tower pa, philip brumley (general counsel for whq/wt) and joel taylor (associate general counsel for wt), accusing them of lying to court and vexatiously delaying the case:.

  here, with the hope that the court would dismiss plaintiffs’ cases against wtpa, in-house counsel brumley signed affidavits that were materially false and intentionally misleading.

  doc.

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  Corney

  Watch Tower PA filed response; hearing scheduled for February 11.
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  25

  Annual service report - yet another analysis - big trouble for the WTS

  by FFGhost in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there's already been a couple of threads on the 2021 report with insightful comments, but i'm vain enough to want to start my own topic with some additional thoughts..... as others on the other thread noted, it's useful to compare the 2021 numbers not only to 2020 but also 2019 (the last non-pandemic report).. there are some really troubling (if you're a wt headquarters guy) news in the latest report.. 1) baptisms plummet.

  2021 - 171,393. baptisms dropped 20% in 2020, and 30% more in 2021. the total drop from 2019 to 2021 is an amazing 44%.. one could argue that without in-person assemblies and conventions you'd expect baptisms to drop.

  but....if someone really wants to get baptized, jws will find a way.

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  Corney

  There's already been a couple of threads on the 2021 report with insightful comments

  "a couple of insightful comments" would be more correct
  
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  2

  Suspected WA KH arsonist arrested

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as many probably remember, in 2018-2020, multiple kingdom and assembly halls were set on fire in the state of washington, so fbi, atf, local sheriff and arson alarm foundation offered $61,000 in rewards for information leading to arrest of the arsonist.

  the attacks (seven arsons and one shooting) included:.

  march 19, 2018: two arson attacks - one at a tumwater kingdom hall and the second at a kingdom hall on cain road in olympia.

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  Corney

  As many probably remember, in 2018-2020, multiple Kingdom and Assembly Halls were set on fire in the State of Washington, so FBI, ATF, local sheriff and Arson Alarm Foundation offered $61,000 in rewards for information leading to arrest of the arsonist. The attacks (seven arsons and one shooting) included:

  • March 19, 2018: Two arson attacks - one at a Tumwater Kingdom Hall and the second at a Kingdom Hall on Cain Road in Olympia. Damage to both was minor, limited to the exterior structures.

  • May 15, 2018: An unknown suspect or suspects shot and struck a Kingdom Hall in Yelm with about 35 .223 rifle rounds, causing more than $10,000 in damage to the structure.

  • July 3, 2018: An arson completely destroyed the Olympia Kingdom Hall on Cain Road. This was the same Kingdom Hall that was damaged in the March 19 attack.

  • Aug. 8, 2018. A fire was set against the back fence at the rear of the Kingdom Hall in Yelm, but members were able to put the fire out. This fire caused minimal damage to the fence and a back wall of the Kingdom Hall. This was the same location where someone fired rifle rounds at it on May 15.

  • Dec. 7, 2018: An arson completely destroyed the Lacey Kingdom Hall on 6th Ave SE.

  • Aug. 13, 2019: A fire was set at the Puyallup Assembly Hall on 62nd Ave E., causing relatively minor damage to an outside wall and overhang.

  • June 24, 2020: Arson-Shelton Kingdom Hall (11 W Sentry Ct, Shelton, WA).

  Subsequently, law enforcement identified the primary suspect, namely Michael Jason Layes a/k/a Mikey Diamond Starrett, a professional biologist who runs his own business. The relevant evidence were summarized by a US attorney as follows:

  Law enforcement has obtained electronic evidence that places devices owned and controlled by Layes at and near the scenes of some of the arsons during the relevant time periods.

  Electronic evidence also shows that accounts registered by Layes were used to conduct searches of the relevant locations and searches related to the Jehovah’s Witness religion.

  An individual matching the physical characteristics of Layes and a vehicle that matches the description of Layes’ car were captured on surveillance video at some of the scenes.

  Electronic evidence also shows that accounts registered by Layes were used to conduct searches of the relevant locations and searches related to the Jehovah’s Witness religion [sic].

  Numerous friends and family members have also reported to law enforcement that Layes told them he was haunted by spirits who told him to do bad things. They also explained that Layes believes these spirits are the dead Jehovah’s Witness relatives of an exgirlfriend, and that Layes hates the Jehovah’s Witness religion. These friends and family members also reported heavy drug and alcohol use by Layes, as well as serious mental health issues

  The suspect strongly denies these accusations and claims the United States misrepresented evidence. So far, he isn't charged over those attacks because certification from AG Garland is needed as they probably constitute hate crimes. The government detains and prosecutes him since September 8 for illegally possessing a firearm.
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  14

  Suspected Washington Kingdom Halls arsonist arrested

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as many probably remember, in 2018-2020, multiple kingdom and assembly halls were set on fire in the state of washington, so fbi, atf, local sheriff and arson alarm foundation offered $61,000 in rewards for information leading to arrest of the arsonist.

  the attacks (seven arsons and one shooting) included:.

  march 19, 2018: two arson attacks - one at a tumwater kingdom hall and the second at a kingdom hall on cain road in olympia.

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  Corney

  As many probably remember, in 2018-2020, multiple Kingdom and Assembly Halls were set on fire in the State of Washington, so FBI, ATF, local sheriff and Arson Alarm Foundation offered $61,000 in rewards for information leading to arrest of the arsonist. The attacks (seven arsons and one shooting) included:

  • March 19, 2018: Two arson attacks - one at a Tumwater Kingdom Hall and the second at a Kingdom Hall on Cain Road in Olympia. Damage to both was minor, limited to the exterior structures.

  • May 15, 2018: An unknown suspect or suspects shot and struck a Kingdom Hall in Yelm with about 35 .223 rifle rounds, causing more than $10,000 in damage to the structure.

  • July 3, 2018: An arson completely destroyed the Olympia Kingdom Hall on Cain Road. This was the same Kingdom Hall that was damaged in the March 19 attack.

  • Aug. 8, 2018. A fire was set against the back fence at the rear of the Kingdom Hall in Yelm, but members were able to put the fire out. This fire caused minimal damage to the fence and a back wall of the Kingdom Hall. This was the same location where someone fired rifle rounds at it on May 15.

  • Dec. 7, 2018: An arson completely destroyed the Lacey Kingdom Hall on 6th Ave SE.

  • Aug. 13, 2019: A fire was set at the Puyallup Assembly Hall on 62nd Ave E., causing relatively minor damage to an outside wall and overhang.

  • June 24, 2020: Arson-Shelton Kingdom Hall (11 W Sentry Ct, Shelton, WA).

  Subsequently, law enforcement identified the primary suspect, namely Michael Jason Layes a/k/a Mikey Diamond Starrett, a professional biologist who runs his own business. The relevant evidence were summarized by a US attorney as follows:

  Law enforcement has obtained electronic evidence that places devices owned and controlled by Layes at and near the scenes of some of the arsons during the relevant time periods.

  Electronic evidence also shows that accounts registered by Layes were used to conduct searches of the relevant locations and searches related to the Jehovah’s Witness religion.

  An individual matching the physical characteristics of Layes and a vehicle that matches the description of Layes’ car were captured on surveillance video at some of the scenes.

  Electronic evidence also shows that accounts registered by Layes were used to conduct searches of the relevant locations and searches related to the Jehovah’s Witness religion.

  Numerous friends and family members have also reported to law enforcement that Layes told them he was haunted by spirits who told him to do bad things. They also explained that Layes believes these spirits are the dead Jehovah’s Witness relatives of an exgirlfriend, and that Layes hates the Jehovah’s Witness religion. These friends and family members also reported heavy drug and alcohol use by Layes, as well as serious mental health issues

  The suspect strongly denies these accusations and claims the United States misrepresented evidence. So far, he isn't charged over those attacks because certification from AG Garland is needed as they probably constitute hate crimes. The government detains and prosecutes him since September 8 for illegally possessing a firearm.
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  10

  Leading First Amendment scholars intervene in CA loyalty oath case

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  brianna bolden-hardge, a mother of two, a devout jw and a career california civil servant, sues the office of the state controller which revoked a job offer after she objected to swearing a loyalty oath, even though three other state agencies she worked for "either did not insist on the oath or provided her a religious accommodation to it" (by allowing to submit a clarifying statement).

  she sued, and the case was dismissed by a district court.

  now it's heard by the ninth circuit.

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  Corney

  The oath:

  I, __________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic [and] that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California.

  The plaintiff "offered to sign the oath but on the condition that ... she be allowed to attach an addendum stating that she owes allegiance to God first and that she would not take up arms or engage in political affairs, as follows:
  

  I, Brianna Bolden-Hardge, vow to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of California while working in my role as an employee of the State Controller’s Office. I will be honest and fair in my dealings and neither dishonor the Office by word nor deed. By signing this oath, I understand that I shall not be required to bear arms, engage in violence, nor to participate in political or military affairs. Additionally, I understand that I am not giving up my right to freely exercise my religion, nor am I denouncing my religion by accepting this position."
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  10

  Leading First Amendment scholars intervene in CA loyalty oath case

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  brianna bolden-hardge, a mother of two, a devout jw and a career california civil servant, sues the office of the state controller which revoked a job offer after she objected to swearing a loyalty oath, even though three other state agencies she worked for "either did not insist on the oath or provided her a religious accommodation to it" (by allowing to submit a clarifying statement).

  she sued, and the case was dismissed by a district court.

  now it's heard by the ninth circuit.

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  Corney

  Brianna Bolden-Hardge, a mother of two, a devout JW and a career California civil servant, sues the Office of the State Controller which revoked a job offer after she objected to swearing a loyalty oath, even though three other state agencies she worked for "either did not insist on the oath or provided her a religious accommodation to it" (by allowing to submit a clarifying statement). She sued, and the case was dismissed by a district court. Now it's heard by the Ninth Circuit. The plaintiff is represented by Harvard and Stanford Religious Liberty Clinics. Also, six leading law&religion scholars like Michael W. McConnell and Douglas Laycock, represented by Eugene Volokh, another superstar jurist, filed an amicus brief, arguing the Office discriminated against her:

  Here, the Office of the California State Controller has failed to provide an accommodation that would let Brianna Bolden-Hardge remain, by her lights, honest in God’s eyes. Forbidding Bolden-Hardge from providing her chosen addendum clarifying what she was saying by signing the California oath or affirmation would conflict with her religious beliefs, as a Jehovah’s Witness, on the importance and implications of making a promise or taking an oath. Bolden-Hardge thus had to choose between violating the tenets of her religion by signing the oath without the addendum or forgoing an opportunity for employment at a higher-paying job, creating a substantial burden on her religious beliefs. See Thomas v. Rev. Bd., 450 U.S. 707, 717-18 (1981). This violates the Title VII duty of reasonable accommodation, because the Office cannot show that accommodating Bolden-Hardge would qualify as an undue hardship: Title VII preempts state law, so any conflict between Bolden-Hardge’s requested addendum and the California Constitution is irrelevant; moreover, letting an employee sign a modest addendum imposes, at most, a de minimis cost on the Office. See Ansonia Bd. of Educ. v. Philbrook, 479 U.S. 60, 67 (1986). Therefore, the Office was obligated to provide Bolden-Hardge with a religious accommodation, and the Office’s refusal to do so amounts to religious discrimination.
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  40

  Congregation in PA sues over mandatory reporting

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  ivy hill congregation of jehovah's witnesses is currently suing the pa department of human services.

  it requests "a declaration that its elders are entitled to" clergy privilege, or, in the alternative,.

  to the extent that the clergyman privilege is determined to exclude its elders on the basis that they are "members of [a] religious organization[] in which members other than the leader thereof are deemed clergymen or ministers," the court declare the statute to be unconstitutional.

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  Corney

  Ivy Hill congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses is currently suing the PA Department of Human Services. It requests "a declaration that its elders are entitled to" clergy privilege, or, in the alternative,

  to the extent that the clergyman privilege is determined to exclude its elders on the basis that they are "members of [a] religious organization[] in which members other than the leader thereof are deemed clergymen or ministers," the Court declare the statute to be unconstitutional

  While the congregation claims it needs clarity, especially in light of the recent prosecution of an Amish bishop, I'm wondering whether the case has something to do with the grand jury investigation.

  The congregation is represented by Kleinbard LLC, a top law firm involved in multiple high profile cases on behalf of, among others, the Commonwealth itself, its Senate majority, state congressmen, various state and municipal agencies, Catholic dioceses.
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  9

  Federal court in Montana asked to impose sanctions on Watch Tower and its top lawyers Brumley and Taylor

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  in two child abuse cases litigated in a us district court in montana, plaintiffs recently filed identical motions for sanctions against watch tower pa, philip brumley (general counsel for whq/wt) and joel taylor (associate general counsel for wt), accusing them of lying to court and vexatiously delaying the case:.

  here, with the hope that the court would dismiss plaintiffs’ cases against wtpa, in-house counsel brumley signed affidavits that were materially false and intentionally misleading.

  doc.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Corney

  In two child abuse cases litigated in a US district court in Montana, plaintiffs recently filed identical motions for sanctions against Watch Tower PA, Philip Brumley (General Counsel for WHQ/WT) and Joel Taylor (Associate General Counsel for WT), accusing them of lying to court and vexatiously delaying the case:

  Here, with the hope that the Court would dismiss Plaintiffs’ cases against WTPA, in-house counsel Brumley signed affidavits that were materially false and intentionally misleading. Doc. 86 at 2-17 (setting forth how WTPA’s own documents establish that Brumley’s sworn statements were obviously and materially false). Brumley’s affidavits formed the sole evidentiary basis of WTPA’s Motion. Both in-house counsel Brumley, as well as WTNY Associate General Counsel Taylor (who also represented WTPA in this case), were uniquely in possession of the documents and information establishing the falsity of Brumley’s representations to the Court. Brumley and Taylor knew that Brumley’s representations were false.

  The perpetuation of Brumley’s false and misleading statements wasted Plaintiffs’ and the Court’s time and energy litigating and resolving matters that were not legitimately in dispute. This included not only litigating WTPA’s Motion, but also litigating collateral discovery matters. All told, Brumley and Taylor’s conduct resulted in a 17-month delay of this case, unnecessarily forced Plaintiffs and the Court to waste significant time and resources, and was an intentional attempt to undermine the integrity of these proceedings with false statements and obstruction.

  <...>

  Brumley and Taylor knowingly made and perpetuated false statements and then attempted to cover those false statements up by refusing to produce discoverable and material evidence. The record in this case, as well as the record from other sexual abuse cases, establishes that Brumley’s and Taylor’s conduct is not an aberration; it was immediately obvious that Brumley’s sworn statements to this Court were false and their bad faith conduct here is consistent with how WTPA’s lawyers have conducted themselves in other cases. In short, this is what they do.

  Based on the foregoing, Plaintiffs believe that sanctions are appropriate, including:

  1. Awarding Plaintiffs’ attorneys' fees and costs for all of the time spent addressing WTPA’s Motion - including all the time spent on all of the jurisdictional discovery;

  2. Requiring attorneys Brumley and Taylor to self-report to all applicable licensing boards and courts for knowingly perpetuating false and misleading statements; and

  3. Daily sanctions of an amount determined appropriate by the Court for each day that WTPA, acting through Brumley and Taylor, improperly and vexatiously delayed this case.
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  23

  TRICKY WORDS and why not to use them

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  tricky words .

  perfectly good words go unused in writing and speaking.

  their meaning isn't clear and the eye is 'tricked' by similarity to other words or sounds.. .

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  Corney

  Well, at least "irregardless" is a legit word, ain't it?
  
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  18

  Child pornography should NOT be automatically handled by a judicial committee

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  new information added to the "shepherd the flock elder's book" .

  they have updated their policy on viewing child pornography.. from a congregation standpoint it is not viewed as child sex abuse and is something that should not be automatically handled by a judicial committee.

  it states that a person viewing child pornography should be strongly counseled.

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  Corney

  What change? The rule remains the same as it has been for years: "entrenched practice" of viewing - JC, occasional viewing - "strong counsel", call the Legal dept in both cases, report to the police when instructed by the Legal.