Dad blames church for death of teen
Jehovah's Witneses try to have lawsuit thrown out
Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald
A half-dozen protesters picketed in front of Court of Queen's Bench on Tuesday to support a Calgary man who has sued the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada and others for being responsible for his daughter's death. Inside the court, a hearing by the society, Edmonton's Cross Cancer Institute, two doctors and several Jehovah's Witnesses to have Lawrence Hughes' $1-million statement of claim quashed was eventually adjourned.Lawyers will be back in court today to set a new date for the hearing.
"I believe the evidence I have will prove there was a conspiracy that brought about the death of my daughter," Hughes said outside court.
"Bethany was given medical treatment for a disease she did not have. I believe evidence will prove criminal negligence."
Bethany Hughes, 17, died Sept. 5, 2002, less than six months after she underwent a series of blood transfusions against her wishes after Alberta Children's Services took custody of her when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
Hughes also accused the Watch Tower Society of protecting pedophiles in its fellowship; forcing its members to work in "slavery," without being paid, then turned onto the streets when old; and giving out bad medical advice to its members. In particular, Hughes, once a Jehovah's Witness who split from the religion and his family over the medical beliefs, cited the group refusing vaccinations, organ transplants and blood transfusions for members, that has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of adults and children in the past 100 years.
Allan Ludkiewicz, the Winnipeg lawyer for the Watch Tower Society fighting Hughes' lawsuit, could not be reached Tuesday for comment. But after a similar protest last week at the society's Canadian headquarters for Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgetown, Ont., a spokesman denied Hughes' blanket claims.
Mark Ruge, director of public relations for the organization, said they had not yet been served with the lawsuit filed in August. He told reporters that Hughes "can say whatever he wants," but there was no truth to the claims. "We're not that kind of people," he added, calling the claims "outrageous." Hughes said he now has his daughter's medical records to prove his case. "I believe the Watch Tower Society was afraid because Bethany's health was improving and she may be forced to be given blood transfusions, so that's why they hid her away for the last two months," said the father. "It makes me sick to think Bethany could be alive today if they had given her proper medical treatment."
). Then after at the Law Society hearings she stabbed Glen How in the back by providing testimony against WT legal (and How). I just can't see how she would now turn against him and not let him see the grandchildren if even discretely. Frank claimed that he filed for bankruptcy (which is true since I read the announcement in the paper years ago) and his children are financially supporting him.The whole thing seems kind of fitting for me since the prick tried using estate funds willed to WT and also the WT legal department to bankrupt me and place my children with his client who went on to abuse them and then into the nuthouse for a spell. It only seems fair now that I have my kids and my livelyhood back and I haven't turned 40 yet and he must be around 70, broke, never allowed to practrice law again and allegedly can't see his kids. What a shame for a 40 year legal veteran and a Rhodes scholar. I found him actually to be quite personable but with a scary dark side to him.