Snyder v. Phelps Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Snyder v. Phelps - Research Paper modeling__). The picketers also peacefully displayed the following signs for about 30 minutes before the funeral began Thank God for bloodless Soldiers, Fags Doom Nations, America is Doomed, Priests Rape Boys, and Youre Going to Hell (Snyder, 562 U.S. __). These signs were seen by Matthew Snyders father (Snyder), firearm driving to the funeral (Snyder, 562 U.S. __). However, he was only able to learn what was written on the signs when he watched the night tidings broadcast (Snyder, 562 U.S. __). For this reason, he filed a diversity action against Phelps, along with those who participated in the picketingand the church (collectively Westboro) alleging, as germane(predicate) here, state tort claims of intentional pain in the neck of emotional distress, intrusion upon seclusion, and civil conspiracy (Snyder, 562 U.S. __).The jury held Westboro apt(p) for millions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages, but the District Court reduced the punitive damages award, leaving the finding of fact intact (Snyder, 562 U.S. __). The Fourth Circuit however reversed such a ruling, stating that since statements were on matters of human race concern, were not provably false, and were expressed solely through hyperbolic rhetoric, Westboros statements were then saved by the introductory Amendment (Snyder, 562 U.S. __). Hence, this petition for Certiorari by Snyder.In its decision, the US Court of Appeals sided with the Fourth Circuit and held that Westboros statements were indeed protected by the archetypical Amendment, shielding it from tort liability. First it explained that the Free Speech Clause under the First Amendment can work as a defense in state tort suits, including suits for intentional infliction of emotional distress (Snyder, 562 U.S. __). The Court then went on to examine the content of Westboros signs, to determine whether it is of public or private