State Appeals Court Affirms Attorney Sanctions In Jews For Jesus Case

According to a press release yesterday by Liberty Counsel, a Florida state appeals court has affirmed a trial court order requiring attorney Barry Silver to pay $56,000 in attorneys' fees incurred by Jews for Jesus in a long running case in the state courts of Florida. The case was filed by Silver on behalf of Edith Rapp who claimed that Jews for Jesus published a false report from her missionary stepson that she had joined the organization. The trial court found that the pleadings included redundant, immaterial and scandalous content that the court had previously ordered stricken, and that this involved bad faith litigation conduct on the part of attorney Silver. (See prior posting.) Liberty Counsel also said that the appeals court indicated that if Silver files more motions on appeal, their denial will lead to more sanctions.