"Upon the agreement of Plaintiff and Defendant, and it appearing to this court that all matters of controversy between these parties have been fully and completely resolved and compromised, it is hereby ADJUDGED, DECREED, and ORDERED that this action be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, ... .
******************
FLOYD RIVERS JR v. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE was a 1997-9 USPS employee EEOC decision which involved an African-American Jehovah's Witness named Floyd Rivers Jr. Rivers alleged that he was the subject of religious discrimination, racial discrimination, and age discrimination when he was denied overtime in one quarter of 1997. Rivers also alleged that he was singled out to perform rubber-banding duties -- something he apparently disliked doing. Rivers further alleged that he was subjected to a hostile work environment created by harassment concerning his work speed despite FMLA documentation of neck and shoulder pain. USPS decided to further investigate Rivers claim regarding denial of overtime, but dismissed the rest of his case. On appeal, EEOC affirmed.
FLOYD RIVERS JR v. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE was a 1998-9 USPS employee EEOC decision which involved an African-American Jehovah's Witness named Floyd Rivers Jr. No details are provided as to why this claim was dismissed by USPS for failure to state a claim. Affirmed by EEOC.
FLOYD RIVERS JR v. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE was a 1997-9 USPS employee EEOC decision which involved an African-American Jehovah's Witness named Floyd Rivers Jr. Rivers alleged that he was discriminated against when
his supervisor challenged the eight-hour work limitation stipulated by Rivers' neurologist by commenting to Rivers that there were no eight-hour day jobs; when Rivers' supervisor loudly embarrassed him in public when he requested auxiliary assistance; and when at a stand-up talk on target mail, Rivers' supervisor embarrassed him by asking him if he knew the latest information on target mail, when she knew there was no way he could answer correctly. Rivers claimed that the incidents at issue constituted harassment and a hostile work environment. Dismissed by USPS. Affirmed by EEOC.
FLOYD RIVERS JR v. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE was a 1997-9 USPS employee EEOC decision which involved an African-American Jehovah's Witness named Floyd Rivers Jr. Rivers alleged that he was the subject of religious discrimination, racial discrimination, disability discrimination, age discrimination, and in reprisal for prior EEO activity when on June 14, 1999, a scheduled leave for two days in July was canceled due to an emergency situation requiring additional help to
carry three city routes. The emergency was thereafter resolved, and Rivers was granted the leave time he had requested. However, Rivers obviously continued the claim -- alleging that the "emergency" was really a hoax his supervisor had concocted to try to deny Rivers his scheduled leave. Rivers further alleged that he suffered injury to his peace of mind, and his mental and emotional health. USPS dismissed Rivers' claim for failure to state a claim, and on Rivers' appeal, EEOC affirmed.
******************
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS v. GORTON was a 1969 New York state case involving a Jehovah's Witness named Hortensia Stoyan. Stoyan was a librarian employed by the Farmingdale Public Library. She filed a complaint with the New York Commission for Human Rights alleging racial (Puerto Rican) and religious discrimination against Gorton, who was an elected member of the Farmingdale Library Board of Trustees. Stoyan's initial complaint was filed on March 4, 1968. On March 12, Gorton filed written charges with the Board of Trustees against her, which stated: "Mrs. Stoyan falsely accused this Trustee of racial discrimination and lodged a complaint with the N.Y. State Human Rights Commission. ... Furthermore, although no fault of her own and certainly of no consequence when dealing with books, her language background hardly qualifies her to instruct children in a course of 'remedial reading' sponsored by the Farmingdale Library. In addition, and at the risk of being accused of religious prejudice, I must take exception, as I believe the majority of District 22 residents would also, to having a person who is a member of a religious sect that rejects loyalty to the United States, in a position to influence our children." On May 17, 1968, Stoyan amended her original complaint. She reiterated her initial charge that Gorton had attempted to incite, compel, etc., the Farmingdale Library Board of Trustees to discharge her because of her creed and national origin; and she added the charge of "retaliation" because she had filed the initial complaint.
After two hearings, on July 22, 1968, the Commission ruled in Stoyan's favor, and Gorton was ordered to cease and desist from (1) attempting to incite or compel the trustees to discharge Mrs. Stoyan because of her creed, her national origin and her filing of the complaint against him and (2) retaliating or discriminating against her because of her filing of the complaint. Gorton was also directed to withdraw the charges he had filed against her with the trustees of the library, pay her compensatory damages of $100 plus [$500] attorneys' fees, refrain from retaliating or discriminating against anyone who had testified or assisted in any proceeding under the Human Rights Law, etc.
On appeal, the New York appellate court blasted Gorton, but interestingly negated the order for Gorton to pay Stoyan $600. The decision was likely a compromise given the concurring opinion that made the point that Gorton was an elected public official who "had a legitimate interest, and even a duty, to report his feelings regarding Mrs. Stoyan's qualifications or what he considered (rightly or wrongly) her lack of qualifications as a librarian and teacher of remedial reading. Surely, as far as the latter is concerned, her 'language background' is not totally irrelevant. There is no claim that respondent acted in bad faith."
KINNIBURGH, KISER, WAGAR, ET AL v. BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY ET AL was a 1983 federal lawsuit filed in Montana which appears to have involved one or more plaintiffs who were Jehovah's Witnesses and/or one or more plaintiffs who employed a number of Jehovah's Witnesses. Robert J. Wagar was a Jehovah's Witness, and a cousin of Dale D. Kinniburgh. It is not known whether Keith W. Kiser was also a relative or a JW. The various plaintiffs were loggers who had previously done business with Burlington Northern Railroad via routine business contracts over the years. Around 1978-79, trouble developed between the various plaintiffs and defendants, and Burlington Northern Railroad either reduced or stopped doing business with the plaintiffs.
The court record seems to indicate that the plaintiffs were "reaching" to find any reason to sue Burlington Northern Railroad for exercising its right to contract with whomever it wished, since there evidently was no contractual basis for a lawsuit. Bobby Wager claimed "religious discrimination" in that Burlington Northern Railroad allegedly stopped doing business with him because he was a Jehovah's Witness. Dale Kinniburgh claimed that he had been discriminated against because he employed Jehovah's Witnesses. The USDC dismissed on the merits and with prejudice all of Robert Wagar's and Dale Kinniburgh's claims against Burlington Northern Railroad.
Thereafter, the plaintiffs filed a legal malpractice lawsuit in state court against their own attorney for their attorney's failure to file a timely appeal of their failed federal lawsuit against Burlington Northern Railroad. That Montana trial court also determined that the plaintiffs' federal lawsuit against Burlington Northern Railroad lacked merit, and therefore found that the plaintiffs' attorney's failure to file a timely appeal did not result in any damages to the plaintiffs. The Montana Supreme Court upheld that second trial court decision.
******************
ADAM W. BUNTING v. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE was a 2000-3 USPS employee EEOC decision which involved an African-American Jehovah's Witness named Adam W. Bunting. In November 2000, Adam Bunting filed a formal EEO complaint alleging religious discrimination, racial discrimination, and sex discrimination, when on July 26, 2000, he was denied a light duty assignment. USPS found no discrimination, and on appeal, EEOC refused to consider the appeal due to procedural matters.
ADAM W. BUNTING v. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE was a 2000-02 USPS employee EEOC decision which involved an African-American Jehovah's Witness named Adam W. Bunting. Adam Bunting filed a formal EEO complaint alleging religious discrimination, racial discrimination, and sex discrimination, when on August 18, 2000, he was denied a light duty assignment. Denied by USPS. Affirmed by EEOC.
******************
PEREZ v. PAPPAS was a 1983 Washington state court case involving the Jehovah's Witness family of Richard and Charlotte Perez and children. In this lawsuit, the Perez family sued their attorney for return of ALL or part of the contingency fee from a previous employment related lawsuit in which the attorney had negotiated a settlement for the family, which the attorney initially had "net present valued" at $1,000,000.00 (due to a settlement which was a combination of cash, life insurance, and annuities), but which he and the Perez family negotiated down to a NPV of $850,000.00. The Washington Supreme Court ruled that the attorney's repayment of $37,500 and the Perez family's acceptance of that amount before trial constituted an accord and satisfaction.
Interestingly, the court record revealed that this attorney was the third attorney who worked for the Perez family in their employment related lawsuit. The Perez family fired their first attorney after only a few weeks. After two years, the Perez family went looking for a third attorney. Apparently, there were problems between the Perez family and the second attorney over the fact that the attorney was seeking substantial damages for an alleged permanent disability, and Richard Perez in the meantime was performing activities as a full-time Jehovah's Witness "minister".
The Washington Supreme Court actually complimented the settlement which Pappas had negotiated, stating: "The success of the case was questionable as [Perez's] fellow employees had disposed of the Signode ratchet shortly after the accident, the manufacturer of the banding material was unknown, and [Perez] had been misusing the tool by employing a 'cheater' bar to gain extra leverage which may have contributed to or caused the accident. Additionally, Mr. Perez' decision not to seek paid employment posed problems in proving damages. In spite of these facts, and within a matter of months from the time Pappas took the case, Signode's insurers began making settlement offers, ... ."
******************
GARRICK v. WEAVER ET AL was a 1989 New Mexico federal appellate court decision which, like the case above, involved a contingency dispute between a family of Jehovah's Witnesses and the attorneys who were fired while representing the Jehovah's Witness Family in a civil lawsuit. Roberta Garrick, and her minor son and daughter were injured in an automobile accident in which a fourth passenger was killed. While represented by their third attorney, they settled their claims for $338,755.00.
During the settlement approval proceedings, the first attorney employed by the Garricks presented his claim for 25% per a valid contingency fee agreement. This first attorney had been fired after presenting to the Garricks a settlement offer which Roberta Garrick apparently thought was too little. The Garricks argued that this first attorney should not receive any compensation given that he had failed to adequately explain the "conflict of interest" of his representing both the Garricks and the fourth passenger. The court ruled that although no "actual or substantial prejudice" to Garrick's interests occurred, this first attorney should receive quantum merit rather than the contracted fee. Affirmed on appeal by Garrick.
A second attorney also presented his claim for 33.3% per a series of letters between Roberta Garrick and himself, which the attorney alleged combined to form a valid contingency fee agreement. However, the court ruled that the multiple letters did not constitute a "standardized, unambiguous contingency fee contract". Additionally, Roberta Garrick and this second attorney had also had problems, and he had notified Garrick that he was withdrawing from the case,& and indicated that he would "assert only the reasonable value of my services in generating an eventual recovery". However, before the court granted his motion for permission to withdraw, this second attorney signed a settlement offer on behalf of Garrick with her approval. Roberto Garrick thereafter retained a third attorney. The Garricks argued that this second attorney should not receive any compensation. The court ruled that this second attorney should receive quantum merit rather than the contracted fee. Affirmed on appeal by Garrick.
As an interesting sidebar to this summary, Roberta Garrick also challenged the court's decision to place the two children's portion of the settlement in a trust. Garrick claimed that such violated the family's "freedom of religion" on the ridiculous reasoning that the trustee might try to force the children to have a blood transfusion in some hypothetical future scenario.
******************
In August 2007, controversial professional baseball pitcher Salomon Torres reportedly drop the formal grievance he had filed with Major League Baseball against his employer, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Torres, who is a Jehovah's Witness, as well as a citizen of the Dominican Republic, had alleged that Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield had deceived him while negotiating a two-year, $6,500,000.00 contract extension, which Torres had signed in the spring of 2006. Torres accused Littlefield of leading him to believe the Pirates would rent one of his two baseball academies in the Dominican Republic so that he would take a discount on his contract. The team did not rent the facility and is reportedly considering building a new facility. Torres had asked the Pirates to pay him $1,500,000.00 to make up for such. When the Pirates refused,Torres filed his formal grievance with MLB, and spoke with two Pittsburgh law firms about suing the Pirates.
******************
MILLER v. IAN GRAHAM INSURANCE ET AL and BENARDELLO v. IAN GRAHAM INSURANCE ET AL initially were two separate lawsuits filed by two female Jehovah's Witness Employees against the same insurance agency employer, and its employees. Miller and Benardello each alleged sexual harassment and religious discrimination. After an abundance of pre-trial maneuvers, including the consolidation of the two cases, the case was settled on the eve of trial for a confidential amount.
******************
GIVENS ET AL v. GENENTECH was a 1997 California federal court case. In April 1997, two African-American Jehovah's Witnesses, named Ricardo Allen and Francisco Givens, filed a discrimination lawsuit against their longtime employer, Genentech Inc., and several individual supervisors. Ricardo Allen and Francisco Givens, who had been employed at Genentech since 1987, alleged that between 1991 and 1996 that they had both been discriminated against because of their race and religion, resulting in their being forced to take medical stress leaves during which they were only partially compensated. Apparently, Genentech had already remedied the alleged discriminatory conduct prior to the lawsuit given that the JW Duo had returned to work, but the lawsuit was apparently over $$$.
******************
KENNISON v. DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT was a 2007 Ohio federal USDC opinion which ruled only on the Defendant's motion for summary judgment, which was granted on only one of Plaintiff's claims -- sex discrimination. Outcome on balance of claims is unknown. Nicole Kennison was hired at Defendant's Burger King, in Mentor, Ohio, in 2001. Plaintiff testified that she loved the older male Assistant Manager who hired her "in a romantic way" from "the first day" she met him. And, she "never stopped" feeling that way. In 2004, Kennison became jealous of Manager's alleged sexual harassment of other employees, and eventually was both sometimes receptive and sometimes offended at the same conduct towards her. In March 2005, Kennison and the Manager had sex. There is conflicting evidence whether such was consensual. Kennison quit the following day. Kennison was also hospitalized not long thereafter, and there is conflicting evidence as to which hospital, and for what reason.
Later, in 2005, Kennison filed a charge of discrimination with the OCRC and EEOC alleging that she was sexually harassed during her employment. Later, Plaintiff filed this federal lawsuit setting forth eleven claims. Counts One through Three alleged sexual harassment and hostile work environment in violation of state and federal law. Count Four alleged constructive discharge on the basis of sex. Count Five alleged sex discrimination in violation of state law. Count Six alleged intentional infliction of emotional distress. Count Seven alleged negligent hiring and supervision of employees and supervisors. Count Eight alleged respondeat superior. Counts Nine and Ten sought punitive and other damages. Count Eleven was asserted on behalf of James Kennison, Nicole's father, for loss of consortium, but this count was eventually dismissed. The USDC stated, in part:
Construing the evidence in a light most favorable to plaintiff, the Court finds that plaintiff's testimony shows an abusive working environment perpetrated by her supervisor. Nevertheless, defendants point out that plaintiff admitted that she loved Dille, wanted a romantic connection with him and considered him her best friend. And, while plaintiff testified that when Dille inappropriately touched other female employees she found it offensive and made her feel unsafe, she also testified that she was sometimes jealous of his contact with other women. Plaintiff, however, additionally testified that while she did not always mind if Dille touched her and was not always made to feel uncomfortable when he touched her, at other times she was offended by his conduct and tried to get away from him. Finally, plaintiff testified that she did not want to have sex with Dille in his car, she told him "no" and tried to get him off of her.
******************
LARRY LYNN HEATER v. MONONGAHELA POWER was a 1998-9 West Virginia state court decision, which involved a Jehovah's Witness named Larry L. Heater. Larry Heater sued his employer alleging that he had been discriminated against due to his WatchTower religion. The trial court granted the employer a summary dismissal. The West Virginia Supreme Court declined to hear Heater's appeal.
******************
ISABEL LOPEZ v. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE was a 2004-2011 federal agency appellate decision which involved a Hispanic female Jehovah's Witness named Isabel Lopez, who worked as an Export Assistance Specialist at the DOC's U.S. Export Assistance Center in Houston, Texas. After years of not getting along with her co-workers and supervisors, Lopez filed an EEO complaint alleging that the agency subjected her to a hostile work environment on the bases of her Hispanic race, female sex, Jehovah's Witness religion, disability, age (59), and in reprisal for prior protected EEO activity.
Despite a plethora of claims ranging over many years, in May 2009, the EEOC Administrative Law Judge ruled against Lopez on all counts without even holding a hearing. That decision was upheld on appeal in 2011. Here are merely "some" of the incidents of which Isabel Lopez complained:
In April 2004, a male co-worker, with whom Lopez had had a series of work-related disputes, allegedly cursed Lopez, and then allegedly made a choking motion with his hands. Lopez told that co-worker that she was going to report his threatening behavior to the police. In December 2004, Lopez was placed on two and one half days of administrative leave after she informed a supervisor that her brother had made a complaint to the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the alleged actions of that co-worker.
In September 2004, Lopez's supervisor announced at the beginning of a staff meeting that it was going to be a "Come to Jesus meeting", but then apologized to Lopez. Lopez found both the statement and the "taunting" apology offensive. At a later staff meeting, Lopez's supervisor wrote the word "Californication" on the chalkboard in the meeting room, which Lopez also found offensive. In another meeting, Lopez was offended when her Supervisor stated that a co-worker would be his "Highlights Nazi", to which the co-worker jokingly replied with a "Nazi salute".
In December 2004, Lopez was issued a Letter of Reprimand for deleting certain data from certain files.
In May 2005, Supervisor posted an excerpt from a poem on his office door which Lopez found offensive.
Lopez alleged that Supervisor "yelled" at her in front of co-workers, while she sat at her desk, for expensing a 3-block taxi fare while she attended a conference in New Orleans. Supervisor alleged that it was Lopez who became agitated and abusive when questioned about the expense account item, and that he walked away from Lopez rather than allow the scene to escalate.
Lopez alleged that she was forced to retire by reason of disability in December 2005. The agency investigation revealed that Lopez never applied for retirement due to disability, but rather accepted a voluntary "buy-out".
******************
EARL T. THOMPSON v. BEST CHOICE SOLUTIONS ET AL was a 2007-08 British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal case. A Jehovah's Witness Employee named Earl Thompson filed a complaint alleging religious discrimination, race discrimination, and color discrimination against this Vancouver, B.C. construction company. Outcome unknown.
******************
In 1950, a Jehovah's Witness named John E. Turner was FIRED from his construction job with G.V. KITE while working at a Winston-Salem, North Carolina Baptist Church. John Turner told reporters that he was fired for disputing Baptist doctrines with Baptist co-workers. Kite related that Turner had been fired after it was learned that Turner had somehow gotten his hands on a list of the church's recent converts, and that Turner was calling at those persons' homes attempting to re-convert them to Turner's own WatchTower religion. (Interestingly, in 1950, it was against WatchTower Society dictates for a Jehovah's Witness to perform work on a "church" building -- which may explain why nothing further can be located about this case.)
MASON v. BIO-RAD LABORATORIES was a 2002 California state court lawsuit involving a African-American Jehovah's Witness named Cynthia Mason. Mason worked for Bio-Rad from 1984 to 1998. In April 1998, Mason contacted Bio-Rad's Human Resource Director and told him that she was upset because she was overworked and had problems with her supervisor. Mason was given three options: (1) work things out with her supervisor; (2) apply for a new job within Bio-Rad; or (3) look for work outside of Bio-Rad. Mason responded that she would resign. Bio-Rad allowed Mason continued to receive her full salary and benefits through August 3, 1998. In March 1999, Mason filed a charge of discrimination with California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing and with EEOC. In February 2000, Mason filed a lawsuit which included four causes of action alleging employment discrimination, plus defamation. The first cause of action asserted a claim for employment discrimination on the basis of religion. In this cause of action, Mason, a member of Jehovah's Witnesses, alleged that her supervisor discriminated against those who did not participate in "The Forum," an organization she characterized as a cult. In particular, Mason alleged that in January 1998, her supervisor replaced her as the leader of an administrative team, selecting as her replacement a 25-year old, white woman who was a member of "The Forum." Mason attended a single meeting of "The Forum" in March 1998, but refused to join. According to Mason, her supervisor thereafter increased her workload and harassed her. Mason explained that in April 1998, she complained and was given three options: work out her difficulties with Marshall, transfer to another position or resign. Mason alleged that the first option was unrealistic, the second option could not work because her supervisor had made negative comments about her in her performance appraisal and so she chose the third option. Mason's second and third causes of action asserted claims for discrimination on the basis of race and age. In these causes of action, Mason, who is Black and over 40 years old, relied principally on the fact that she was replaced as the administrative team leader by a white employee, in her mid-twenties, with far less experience. Mason's fourth cause of action alleged employment discrimination on the basis of sex. This claim was based on all of the prior allegations. A fifth cause of action alleged defamation. The trial court granted summary judgment for Bio-Rad. Mason then appealed on the employment discrimination claims. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal.
*****************
"... the court accepts as true defendants' assertion that Parmlee was fired and did not receive promotions from his clerk position because of his work history with DRS. Defendants provided evidence that this work history included a pattern of insubordination, abusive and offensive behavior, misuse of state equipment, tardiness, and an inability to complete work in a timely manner. ... DRS also submitted evidence that these problems were repeatedly brought to Parmlee's attention in memoranda, letters, and meetings between DRS managers and plaintiff. ... Parmlee does not appear to dispute that he received notice from DRS managers that there were problems with his work performance and does not provide any evidence that the claims made by DRS are inaccurate. ..."Parmlee also argues that DRS failed to promote him from the position of clerk, and that DRS discriminated against him by requiring Parmlee to pass an examination before the promotion. Defendants respond by arguing that the settlement agreement specifically stated that, if Parmlee passed the Assistant Accountant Exam, then he would be promoted regardless of his score on the exam. ... Because Parmlee failed to pass the exam, defendants argue that they could not promote him under the terms of the agreement. Parmlee does not dispute that he was given opportunities to take the exam and that he has not passed the exam. ... ... ..."The affidavits and exhibits attached to defendant's statement of facts detail Parmlee's employment history as one in which there were several conflicts between plaintiff and other employees, as well as extensive documentation by management of Parmlee's tardiness, refusal to follow agency rules, and insubordination. As with Parmlee's other discrimination claims, Parmlee has not provided any evidence to refute defendants' portrayal of his employment history with DRS. ... ."
******************
In 1997, a Toledo, Ohio, city government supervisor was terminated for insubordination, falsification of records, and other unspecified work performance issues. The employee, who was a Jehovah's Witness, filed a complaint with EEOC alleging "religious discrimination", in that his termination was allegedly motivated by issues relating to his beliefs and practices as a Jehovah's Witness. Outcome unknown.
******************
In 1990, the EEOC ruled that an African-American Jehovah's Witness female had been terminated in 1986 from her position as a legal secretary, with a New Haven, Connecticut law firm, due to racial discrimination. The sketchy details seem to indicate that religious discrimination had also been alleged, but was not proven.
******************
******************
In 1999, Mark Orrin Barton was a Jehovah's Witness who murdered his wife and two young children before going to two stock brokerage offices, Momentum Securities and All-Tech Investment Group, where he opened fire, killing 9 people and wounding 12. Mark O. Barton later shot himself to death after a five-hour manhunt when police stopped his van at a gas station. Mark Barton left a suicide note, which explained: " ... I have come to hate this life and this system of things. I have come to have no hope. ... I know that Jehovah will take care of all of them in the next life. ... Please know that I love Leigh Ann, Matthew and Mychelle with all of my heart. If Jehovah is willing, I would like to see all of them again in the resurrection, to have a second chance. ... ."
******************
CALIFORNIA v. SEAN VENYETTE VINES is a still ongoing 1994-2011 California DEATH PENALTY first degree MURDER case. In September 1994, an African-American male named Sean Vines, then age 20, who was employed at another nearby McDonalds restaurant which Sean had himself robbed only 11 days previous, this time along with an accomplice, held up another Sacramento area McDonalds restaurant where Sean Vines had been employed only a few months previous. When a Manager named Ronald Lee recognized Vines, Vines shot Lee in the back of the head execution-style.
Sean Vines was reared by poor African-American parents and great-grandparents who lived in poor inner-city neighborhoods within multiple different California cities. Conversion to the Jehovah's Witnesses turned around the life of Sean Vine's mother, Evette Pearson, after she was divorced from Sean's father. Sean Vine's mother thrived as a Jehovah's Witness. However, while her conversion to and "immersion" into the WatchTower Cult turned her own terrible life around, her conversion was the point at which Sean's life became even worse -- never to rebound. In spite of his poor home environment and the terrible neighborhoods and schools, Sean Vines appeared to be one of the few male students in Watts who would not only graduate from high school, but do so earning decent grades. Described as mild-mannered and studious, music was Sean Vine's passion. Sean Vines played trombone and marched in his high school's marching band. That was, until his Jehovah's Witness Mother, Evette Pearson, took away from Sean the one thing that kept him distracted from all the evil that surrounded him. Sean Vine's Jehovah's Witness Mother forced him to quit the band and all other school activities that were interfering with the family's studying for and attending the five weekly meetings at their local Kingdom Hall. Sean Vines moved out when he was 16 years-old. By age 20, this kid who once had a chance in life was capable of cold-bloodedly executing a person that he knew.
******************
ILLINOIS v. HALL was a 1983-2000 Illinois criminal court case. Anthony Hall was a convert to the Jehovah's Witnesses, although it is possible that the grandmother who reared Hall was a JW. Hall, who was an African-American in his early 20s, converted while serving prison time at Pontiac Correctional Center on multiple rape and armed robbery charges. Hall regularly attended WatchTower services at the prison, which were conducted by a JW Elder named Lloyd Shaddle. Hall also was married soon after becoming a JW, and given that JWs are strongly encouraged to marry only JWs, it probably can be assumed that he also married a JW. Hall also had multiple penpals with whom he discussed religion, including two from England, and these also probably were JWs. Anthony Hall was granted the privilege of working in the prison's kitchen. However, in February 1983, the dead body of the female civilian Kitchen Supervisor was found hidden in a storage room. The Supervisor, who most prisoners called "Mom", had been stabbed to death. Although it is not known if she was also raped, such was Hall's modus operandi. Hall was only charged, convicted, and sentenced to death for the murder of "Mom". JW Elder Lloyd Shaddle testified on Hall's behalf during the first of two sentencing hearings. Shaddle's testimony about how good a Jehovah's Witness was Hall actually was seen as a "negative" by the first judge given that Hall committed the murder after becoming a& exemplary Jehovah's Witness prisoner.
******************
STATE v. JEFFERY was a 1984 Florida murder trial in which a "devout" Jehovah's Witness named Larry Jeffery came to his estranged wife's place of employment and stabbed her 16 times. One or more of her co-workers were also stabbed as they attempted to intervene. Jeffery was supposedly a paranoid schizophrenic. His attorneys pled insanity, but the jury convicted him of first-degree murder.
******************
According to this 2006 New York Press article, an African-American Jehovah's Witness in Brooklyn, named MARY LEE WARD has filed in the past nine years at least 13 civil suits and 4 criminal complaints against contractors, trucking companies, and landowners, including five of her own lawyers.
******************
VIRGO v. RIVIERA BEACH ASSOCIATES was a 1987-94 Florida federal court case involving Amy Virgo, whose status as a Jehovah's Witness at that time is unclear (known that she was reared as a JW). In 1994, in one of Florida's biggest sexual harassment cases, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a USDC ruling that awarded $1,100,000.00 to Virgo, a former general manager of the Sheraton Ocean Inn in Riviera Beach.
******************
******************
EEOC v DODL DEVELOPMENT was an Illinois federal lawsuit filed by a Jehovah's Witness in 1992 claiming religious discrimination. Settled for $9500 in back pay.
WALLACE v. METRO was a 2001 Washington D.C. federal court case involving an African-American Jehovah's Witness named Betty J. Wallace. Wallace was an administrator with Washington D.C. METRO Transit. Wallace filed a racial and religious discrimination lawsuit alleging that her supervisor "passed her over for promotion and forced her out her job because he wanted to hire a 'blue-eyed blond.'" A USDC jury decided against Wallace.
******************
BOUSE v. CAPITAL CITIES ET AL. In 1993, a Jehovah's Witness named Clarence Bouse, of Harrisonville, Missouri, filed a federal lawsuit alleging religious discrimination against Capital Cities ABC Inc. and its' newspaper subsidiary, The Kansas City Star, which had fired Bouse in June 1992 from his job as a pressman. No further details. (Did Bouse receive his "pressman" training at the WatchTower Society's world headquarters, as have a multitude of former Bethelites who have gone to work for newspapers after leaving "Bethel"???)
Although it is not known whether the person is the same JW, or even a relative, in January 2002, "a" 38 year-old "Clarence K. Bouse", of nearby Sedalia, Missouri, was convicted on three counts of attempted sexual misconduct involving a child for emailing photos of his genitals to the Livingston County Sheriff, who was posing in an internet sting as a 13 year-old girl. Bouse was not convicted on several more serious charges that related to his having set two meetups for sex with the "teen", since he failed to show both times.
************************ ************************
RECOMMENDED READING:
Short BIBLE TOPIC Readings Selected For Those With Jehovah's Witnesses Backgrounds
Wifely Subjection: Mental Health Issues in Jehovah's Witness Women
Jehovah's Witnesses and the Problem of Mental Illness
The Theocratic War Doctrine: Why Jehovah's Witnesses Lie In Court
***************** *****************
<<<------PREVIOUS PAGE----------HOME PAGE----------NEXT PAGE ------>>>