Woman Sues, Wins, Must Pay JW's Legal Costs

Vicki Boer, a Canadian woman, sued the Jehovah's Witnesses for negligence because of their poor handling of the sexual abuse she suffered between the ages 11 and 14 at the hands of her father. She won. Now she has to pay the Jehovah's Witness USD $142,000. What??

Apparently, she was offered a settlement that was greater than what she was finally awarded. That didn't bother her because she was more interested in the principle of holding the organization legally accountable - but it does mean that she has to pay all the legal costs incurred by both sides since the time she rejected the offer. The Brockville Recorder reports:

Boer's husband, Scott, said he didn't know if the family will appeal. "We've pretty much exhausted our finances pursuing the case this far, and now we're to the point where we simply couldn't afford an appeal," he said. "We going to simply have to accept the judgment and if we have to declare bankruptcy for a victory, then we have to declare bankruptcy."

In the civil suit, Boer claimed that rather than immediately notify the Children's Aid Society, elders told her not to seek outside help or report the alleged abuse. She also said they made her confront her father to allow him to repent his sins in accordance with biblical principles. Boer said the confrontation was traumatizing and led to a rocky path in her adult life, which included a nervous breakdown and being ostracized by family, friends and other people in her southern Ontario community of Shelburne, about 100 kilometres northwest of Toronto.

The advice she received was stupid and negligent - that sort of advice is designed to let abusers and criminals go free rather than face the consequences of their actions. Only a sick organization, however, would take the money the courts say Boer owes them after a court found that they were indeed negligent and owed her money. If they had any moral scruples whatsoever, they would apologize for the stupid advice they gave, pay her the money she was awarded, and give up any claim to what she owes them. That would show courage and maturity.

Somehow, though, I doubt they will do it - I suspect that they are more interested in protecting their own interests than in doing the morally right thing.

Read More:

• Jehovah's Witnesses (glossary entry)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (critiques)
• Book Review: Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness: Escape from the Watchtower Society, by Diane Wilson.