by rip van winkle 35 Replies latest watchtower bible
Why did the WTS not try to settle this lawsuit before going to trial as they had so many times previously?
How do you know they did not try to settle?
My understanding is that they did want to settle, but Ms. Conti refused.
It's really quite a stretch to think that they would prefer to lose $28 million and then hope to win on appeal.
The money isn't the primary loss. They can easily afford 28 million toilet papers, since they swindle it from the masses.
However, they are sure to lose because of embarrassment. People in the territory will no longer invite the witlesses in, as if they did after the 2007 NBC embarrassment (the one the day before Thanksgiving). This time, it is in the newspapers, including the big ones. Anyone that depends on mainstream media (print or online) for their news will see it, and it should sit in the dentists or doctors waiting area. The NBC embarrassment was either you were there or you missed it.
The result should be a nice drop in return visits and placements, with a corresponding drop in donations. Witlesses will be hounded to make up the difference out of their own pockets, but they will be less able to get jobs if they have this on their records. Being associated with a criminal organization is not going to help with finding work. Many will get the cops called on them in the territory where before, it would simply be "Not interested". Unfortunately, there are always going to be a few that will be loyal to the bitter end and keep wasting their limited resources for this criminal organization. Hopefully, however, their donations will be down drastically. And that, along with the ability to keep a congregation obedient to something that blatantly doesn't work, will screw them up totally.
Nothing on this case is a win situation for the Watchtower organization.
WTWizard: but they will be less able to get jobs if they have this on their records. Being associated with a criminal organization is not going to help with finding work. Many will get the cops called on them in the territory where before, it would simply be "Not interested".
Eh... I can understand ex-JW's fantasizing like this. I don't see J. Q. Public thinking like this.
I think it is a lose-lose in the long run. But in the short-run.....they will try to spin it as a win win.
Win on appeal - See? Jehovah is directing!
Lose on appeal - See? Satan is attacking. The end is near!
Child abuse is disgusting. Jehovah's Witnesses feel Catholics who have been convicted of child abuse are disgusting. What's the difference in the Catholic child abuse than this child abuse?
The real issues as far as I can tell was did the WTS have a duty of care in the case, because it happened before manditory reporting was law. They also
have a clergy privlidge issue that I dont think is a winner, but could win.
The child molestation in many of the lawsuits won against the Catholic Church happened before the mandatory reporting law was enacted. And the clergy privilege issue was decided by a California case in the Gilbert Simental criminal trial. It was decided that there was no clergy privilege, because the molester's confession was related to the Watch Tower's service or legal department, (I can't remember which).
When the elders in the Simental case still refused to testify, the Murietta prosecuting attorney brought charges against them for failure to report child molestation accusations in a state where it is mandatory. The elders cut a deal and testified in exchange for the charges being dropped.
how can the society say with a straight face that their tribulation has come at the hands of the devil --> when they claim revelation prophecy says that babylon the great has this privilege first?
More importantly,,,,how can the witchytower say that they don't do anything that is in the likeness of babylon the great or all false christian churches,not even their music is the same,,,,but when it comes to clergy privilages,,,,,,they use the same rights?
The adverse publicity can never be remedied. In terms of legal and economic consequences, I have a strong hunch the verdict agains tthe WT will be sunstantially reduced or eliminated. This was a foray. I certainly hope it will not be reduced. If I removed my venomous attitude towards the WT and my gut feelings abou the ir pedophile policy, it seems unfair in a fundamental sense. From what I have read and I am no expert, the WT had no notice that this standard would be imposed. The WT will wage a strong fight. They do have tangible issues on appeal that have implications for all defendants.
My mind reels that CA is not a mandatory reporting state. Neither the legislature nor the courts gave potential defendants notice that they could be held liable or had any duty to act. The moral and Christian duty is so obvious. If the WT is held liable, any defendant could be held liable without knowing how to conform their conduct. It is a bitchy legal view that probably makes no sense to the public. Penn State will face similar issues (without First Amendment problems present). My response is that people should do what is right, regardless of the law. Jesus' commandments apply regardless of what a state law holds.
The Unthank case is similar, too. Some people are upset that the cases were dismissed. They were dismissed b/c Unthank achieved his goal of forcing the WT to change its policy. The WT, knowing it would lose, decided to conform to the law. Unthank won a massive victory. It may not be a technical legal victory but for all purposes, he was the winner and hero.
