I heard a rumour this evening (April 10/03) that a decision had been handed down in Vicki's case in favour of the WTS this week.
This rumour is absolutely false. I just got off the telephone with Charles Marks' office (April 11, 2003 9:30 am eastern daylight savings time). There has been NO decision handed down .
We are waiting patiently for a decision. Her Honour has until May 31, 2003 to render her decision. There are a number of people in the lamestream press waiting for the decision.
As I have said before I am NOT as confident as a lot of others when it comes to the question of "duty" in the Boer case. I always believed Vicki proved in court that the WTS did not meet its standard of care and her mental health expert showed that Vicki was harmed. The recent Berry summary motion decision I think helped Vicki's case to the question of "duty" but each case has its own facts. The main question to be settled in this case is did two Shelburne elders and Georgetown Bethel individuals, or agents of the WTS, have a "fiduciary relationship" with a 19 year old adult when it came to the "confrontations".
I must admit, I am still thoroughly disgusted that a bunch of adults would sit in a meeting and pray to a god that a woman who was raped by her father must lose her case and then label that woman as some sort of evil person or apostate. That, to me, is despicable and those people doing it should be really ashamed of themselves - especially seeing they are doing it in front of their own kids in some cases.
For your information, the court will contact the lawyers for both sides. The court will make a copy of the decision for both sides to pick up. Both counsel will pick up the decision at the court house and then they will send the decision to the important people (clients, press etc.). Obviously there will be people on this board including me who will post the decision as soon as I get it.
hawk