You've all heard about burglars suing and collecting damages from property owners for injuries suffered during the crimes.
Well now the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether a bunch of religious yahoos have the right to picket funerals with disruptive behaviors they define as "freedom of speech."
A lower court awarded $10 million in damages to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq after members of a Kansas Baptist church allegedly defamed, invaded privacy and intentionally inflicted emotional distress while picketing the funeral.
An appeals court not only nullified the decision, saying the actions and messages were constitutionally protected, but agreed that the father should pay the church's leader $16,000 in court costs.
Imagine having religious nut jobs carrying signs reading "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" and "God Hates Fags" while you're burying a son who gave his life for his country.
The church meanwhile insists its mission is devinely inspired because God is angry that America tolerates homosexuality. (11 April 2010)
