Monday, November 05, 2007

Blogger Questions Verdict Against Westboro Funeral Picketers

At PrawfsBlawg, Howard Wasserman has an interesting post on the recent $10.9 million verdict against the Westboro Baptist Church funeral picketers. Less sympathetic to the jury's determination than much of the commentary has been, Wasserman predicts that the damage award will be overturned by the 4th Circuit. He questions some of the judge's instructions to the jury as well as the extent of interference into the Snyder family's privacy that was really involved.

UPDATE: Another analysis of the legal issues in the case appears today in an article by Michael C. Dorf on Findlaw. [Thanks to How Appealing for the lead.]