Jury Awards Damages To Congregant Injured During Prayer

According to the Lansing (MI) State Journal, on Thursday a jury rendered its verdict in the suit by a Lansing, Michigan woman against her church and its pastor for injuries she suffered when, answering a call to the altar, she was "slain in the spirit" and collapsed. No ushers were there to catch her. (See prior posting.) The jury awarded Judith Dadd $314,000. In addition to the injuries from the fall itself, the jury found that Mt. Hope Church pastor David Russell Williams had defamed Dadd by accusing her of possible insurance fraud and claiming that she had renounced her faith after she filed her lawsuit. Dadd had originally asked for damages of $1.65 million. Defendants, nevertheless, are considering filing an appeal. [Thanks to Brian D. Wassom for the lead.]