Candace Conti Lawsuit -- Your opinion?

DesirousOfChange

The wheels of justice move slowly -- VERY SLOWLY.

I've read every document in the file, but I'm no legal expert.

I do know if I was on the jury, that I'd have come to the same conclusion, I think.

The only "loose end" is that the perp was not part of the JW hierarchy (Elder/MS) and I'm not sure that his actions incriminate the Cong/WTS.

Don't want to argue that point since the jury already said it did.

BUT IF YOU HAVE LEGAL EXPERIENCE -- WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE MERITS OF THIS APPEAL? WHAT ODDS DO YOU GIVE?

IF YOU'RE NOT A LEGAL-BEAGLE, go ahead and weigh in as if you were on the jury. (Try to be un-biased.)

Doc

My understanding of the case is that the overlords at Brooklyn (and by extension, the C.O.) dictate to the bodies of elders worldwide how to 'keep Jehovah's name from disrepute' - DON'T WASH YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY IN PUBLIC!! (or else they are opposing God's FDS and could be 'speaking injuriously of glorious ones')

Thus, the elders are 'only obeying orders', which makes those issuing the orders as guilty as sin!

All Brooklyn has to do to absolve themselves from future accusations (IMHO) is to issue a simple edict to every congregation on earth;

Obey the superior authorities and the Scriptures by immediately reporting to the local police any criminal act whatsoever, thereby not becoming party to covering up a crime! (Leviticus 5:1-5; 1st Timothy 5:22)

Any elder who goes along with the WTBTS directive to "contact the Branch for advice" (paraphrased) regarding criminal matters, should know that by doing so, they are obeying MAN as ruler rather than God!!

cofty

Elders are appointed by, and work under instructions of, the Watchtower.

The Watchtower instructed elders to keep the identity of child molesters secret.

1. The elders in North Fremont put Candace at risk by failing to inform her parents about the risk presented by Kendrick whom they knew to be a child molester.

2. On a number of occasions an elder assigned Kendrick to work with Candace on the FS. He took the opportunity to take her to his home and molest her.

They are therefore guilty of not only failing in their duty of care to Candace - nonfeasance - but also of knowingly putting her in harms way - misfeasance.

lost

Of course they are guilty.

They more than anyone should 'know' better, as they are supposed to be 'ministers of God' they know the Bible, they know the Truth,

they are supposed to be moral and without spot. it is the very core essence of what they preach, and how they make converts to their cult.

They are no different to the Catholic Church, only the church has done, much worse heinous things.

When I spoke about this case, when I first became 'aware' to Elderette, she came back to me and said ' I looked it up, and the man behind it (taking the case)

is an 'apostate'.

Like WTF ! does that make it ok then, never mind a child was abused.

I would state also this very same woman, her own child was abused, badly, when she was a child.

I would seriously go off the world chart if anyone touched my kids.

Refriedtruth

At a glance what is wrong about the Jehovah's Witnesses and their unique TWO WITNESSES take down.
As a regular practice or as a deliberate subterfuge to cover up wrong doing they require the testimony of two eyewitnesses to every act of,civil,criminal,scriptural wrongdoing.
The Watchtower Bible society leadership over extends the scripture at 2 Corinthians 13:1 (read it) and the two witness rule is selectively enforced with prejudice and favoritism.Example-If a favorite ministerial servant assaults me they will require that I present two witnesses to the act.If I do the same they won't require it from him.
This two witness protocol permeates everything at the kingdom from pedophile crimes to gossip backstabbing.
Moreover-The agonized victims are told to 'leave the matter in Jehovah's hands' 'wait on Jehovah' because 'any day we are going to be in the righteous new system'. So villain perpetrators continue to carry on in this festering enviroment.The victim is made to look like an unforgiving discontent.
This is another element that makes crimes unique in the Jehovah's Witnesses the issue of their apocalyptic dogma,any day it will all end and you will be in paradise.--

jgnat

They've already been found guilty. What we are seeing now is mop-up. I think the original judgement was fair and just.

LisaRose

THE SEARCHER: Thus, the elders are 'only obeying orders', which makes those issuing the orders as guilty as sin!

All Brooklyn has to do to absolve themselves from future accusations (IMHO) is to issue a simple edict to every congregation on earth;

Obey the superior authorities and the Scriptures by immediately reporting to the local policeany criminal act whatsoever, thereby not becoming party to covering up a crime! (Leviticus 5:1-5

LISA ROS E: In this case case I think that Kendricks wife did report him to the police, but they chose not to prosecute, which is the reality of many cases of suspected sex abuse. . So even if the elders had reported him, it might not have changed anything. Possibly they would would then have had to do a public reproof, which might have given the congregation some warning that there was something wrong with him. Also, one elder testified that he felt Kendrick was not telling the truth about the original incident, which by the Watchtower rules indicated he was not repentant and should have been disfellowshipped, not reproved. I do think think the very existence of this policy did give the jury the (true) impression that the organization is is much more interested in protecting themselves rather than children, which I am sure influenced them. I also think they were shocked that any one who had been on the JC would then have allowed Kindrick to take Candace out in service with him. They elders admited they felt they should keep an eye on him, so why didn't they? It would be like putting him in charge of a Sunday school class, no one who is even suspected of being a child molester should be allowed access to children like that. The Watchtower should have trained the elders to be aware of things like that, but they didn't.

I am not as familiar with the case as some here, but this is my understanding of it.

yourmomma

cofty put it perfectly and as simple as you can.

Giordano

The importance of this case is that it's a public verdict. Not a backroom deal with a cash payment to never speak about it again.

When everything is settled and the WT pays Candace her money........ JW's will have a hard time denying the situation. Some will not want to believe but other cases will start coming forward world wide.

Sammy Jenkis

Well I do not have any legal expertise but if I was a juror I would have to decide against the WT and this is why:

1. The Fremont Cong and WT had knowledge that this guy was into kids.

2. The Fremont Elders assigned Candace to work with the dude.

3. They tryed to cop out of their moral obligation to protect her by claiming that CA state law does not require clergy to contact the authorities.

Those reasons alone are incriminating enough for a juror to weigh in and decide that they did act in negligence of her well being.