Real 'BIG' news WTS sued biggie worker compensation

DannyHaszard

Jehovah's loses comp case

Church may be forced to pay millions

BY JESS WISLOSKI
and ADAM LISBERG
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

A 46-year-old woman who devoted her life to the Jehovah's Witnesses said she was forced to move from their Brooklyn compound after she was seriously injured while serving the church. But a judge's ruling this week that she is entitled to worker's compensation payments could end up costing the church millions of dollars. Brenda Upton and her husband, Michael, took a vow of poverty and moved to the Witnesses' Brooklyn headquarters in 1998 to work as chiropractors for other church members. She injured her spine while running to catch a bus at an upstate church compound later that year. "They take wonderful care of you up to a point, and then you're on your own," Upton said. "That's why we wound up going to court." She said she suffered debilitating nerve injuries that have left her barely able to carry a laundry basket. The church took care of her medical care until 2001, when she and her husband were asked to leave and were given a $79,000 stipend. But Workers' Compensation Law Judge Stephen Goldstein ruled Wednesday that Upton is entitled to $400 a week in workers' compensation payments. "I'm finding they were not religious volunteers," Goldstein said. "They were engaged, particularly Dr. Brenda Upton, in a number of work-like activities." The Witnesses vowed to appeal the ruling, saying Upton and the other 5,800 Witnesses who live and work in the church's New York operations are volunteers, not employees. [ edit from Danny Haszard-we need to keep up vigil ] But if the decision stands, the Witnesses - and other religious organizations - could potentially face millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and payments, said church lawyer John Miller. "It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York. The church owns about 40 properties in downtown Brooklyn and has plans to build a huge new structure on a vacant lot. Miller would not speculate how the workers' compensation case would affect those plans. "We don't have a spiritual conflict," said Upton, who has moved with her husband to Washington State. "Our problem all along has been medical-legal. We are still active Jehovah's Witnesses." ------------ [email protected]

[email protected] write the paper

DannyHaszard

Top ranked news worldwide and will hang biggie

Jehovah's loses comp case
New York Daily News, NY - 1 hour ago
A 46-year-old woman who devoted her life to the Jehovah's Witnesses said she was forced to move from their Brooklyn compound after she was seriously injured ..

[original news link]

DannyHaszard

Jehovah's loses comp case

Church may be forced to pay millions

BY JESS WISLOSKI
and ADAM LISBERG
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

A 46-year-old woman who devoted her life to the Jehovah's Witnesses said she was forced to move from their Brooklyn compound after she was seriously injured while serving the church.

But a judge's ruling this week that she is entitled to worker's compensation payments could end up costing the church millions of dollars.

Brenda Upton and her husband, Michael, took a vow of poverty and moved to the Witnesses' Brooklyn headquarters in 1998 to work as chiropractors for other church members.

She injured her spine while running to catch a bus at an upstate church compound later that year.

"They take wonderful care of you up to a point, and then you're on your own," Upton said. "That's why we wound up going to court."

She said she suffered debilitating nerve injuries that have left her barely able to carry a laundry basket. The church took care of her medical care until 2001, when she and her husband were asked to leave and were given a $79,000 stipend.

But Workers' Compensation Law Judge Stephen Goldstein ruled Wednesday that Upton is entitled to $400 a week in workers' compensation payments.

"I'm finding they were not religious volunteers," Goldstein said. "They were engaged, particularly Dr. Brenda Upton, in a number of work-like activities."

The Witnesses vowed to appeal the ruling, saying Upton and the other 5,800 Witnesses who live and work in the church's New York operations are volunteers, not employees.

But if the decision stands, the Witnesses - and other religious organizations - could potentially face millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and payments, said church lawyer John Miller.

"It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York.

The church owns about 40 properties in downtown Brooklyn and has plans to build a huge new structure on a vacant lot.

Miller would not speculate how the workers' compensation case would affect those plans.

"We don't have a spiritual conflict," said Upton, who has moved with her husband to Washington State.

"Our problem all along has been medical-legal. We are still active Jehovah's Witnesses."

Originally published on January 6, 2006

DannyHaszard

Jehovah's loses comp case

Church may be forced to pay millions

BY JESS WISLOSKI
and ADAM LISBERG
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

A 46-year-old woman who devoted her life to the Jehovah's Witnesses said she was forced to move from their Brooklyn compound after she was seriously injured while serving the church. But a judge's ruling this week that she is entitled to worker's compensation payments could end up costing the church millions of dollars. Brenda Upton and her husband, Michael, took a vow of poverty and moved to the Witnesses' Brooklyn headquarters in 1998 to work as chiropractors for other church members. She injured her spine while running to catch a bus at an upstate church compound later that year. "They take wonderful care of you up to a point, and then you're on your own," Upton said. "That's why we wound up going to court." She said she suffered debilitating nerve injuries that have left her barely able to carry a laundry basket. The church took care of her medical care until 2001, when she and her husband were asked to leave and were given a $79,000 stipend. But Workers' Compensation Law Judge Stephen Goldstein ruled Wednesday that Upton is entitled to $400 a week in workers' compensation payments. "I'm finding they were not religious volunteers," Goldstein said. "They were engaged, particularly Dr. Brenda Upton, in a number of work-like activities." The Witnesses vowed to appeal the ruling, saying Upton and the other 5,800 Witnesses who live and work in the church's New York operations are volunteers, not employees. But if the decision stands, the Witnesses - and other religious organizations - could potentially face millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and payments, said church lawyer John Miller. "It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York. The church owns about 40 properties in downtown Brooklyn and has plans to build a huge new structure on a vacant lot. Miller would not speculate how the workers' compensation case would affect those plans. "We don't have a spiritual conflict," said Upton, who has moved with her husband to Washington State. "Our problem all along has been medical-legal. We are still active Jehovah's Witnesses." ------------ [email protected]

[email protected] write the paper

Dansk

But if the decision stands, the Witnesses - and other religious organizations - could potentially face millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and payments, said church lawyer John Miller.
"It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York.

Whilst I'm not looking for religious organisations per se to be put out of business, I'd certainly rejoice at Crooklyn biting the dust!

Well done, Danny!

Ian

Gill

I should imagine, that people in New York would be only too glad if the WTBTS moved its operations out of the city. It looks as if they're in the process of doing that anyway, maybe they'll use this as an excuse for moving out and down sizing.

greendawn

Oh well for them $400 per week is peanuts given the fact that they are playing with billions, that will teach them something about not being so tight and uncharitable.

tijkmo

has plans to build a huge new structure on a vacant lot.

anybody know anything about this?

West70

You can bet your sweet ... that this lawsuit is the reason behind the recent Bethel "layoffs".

This is "Jimmy Swaggart" and the "Donation Arrangement" all over again.

Legal already knew they were going to lose this one at trial level, and the "layoffs" are either a result of Legal's anticipating losing the Appeal, OR, are done as a "protest" hoping to affect the Appeal.

Without more info, I'm not sure whether "advertising" the "layoffs" harm or help the WatchTower. Tread cautiously for a few days.

carla

They still consider themselves active jw's, what cong would accept them after suing their ~~god,~~ organization?

Real 'BIG' news WTS sued biggie worker compensation

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