Westboro Baptist: where is the money trail?

[hedgehog]

My understanding is that Westboro Baptist is more or less Fred Phelps and his family. Are they supported by many small contributions, or is there a single large contributor keeping them afloat?

[sensate2000]

1. I've never heard of them getting contributions.

I have heard that some of them actually have jobs. One of his grandkids had a job in a nearby university and at least one of the daughters has a state job. They also have a law firm and I would be interested to know who uses their services.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Most of Fred's kids are lawyers

He was disbarred and at least one of his kids has also been disbarred. But there are still enough practicing attorneys in the family that they have virtually zero legal expenses.

[Sal Minella]

8. I heard one of the Phemale Phelpses on NPR -- foul-mouthed,

and a voice like breaking glass.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. They all look and sound like zombies

[TheWraith]

13. I would also doubt that they have many other expenses.

Travel is probably their biggest cost by an order of magnitude, and if you're talking about driving from place to place, it's not that expensive.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Yep

They run a pretty cheap operation.

[davidinalameda]

2. they make lots of money on these law suits

[Uta]

6. Thats right.

They're living off of settlements from the very people they victimize.

[customerserviceguy]

19. I've always wondered on what grounds they would prevail

Why would a bunch of people telling the Phelps clan to f-off be any more actionable than what they do?

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Lawsuits

They sue anyone who looks at them cross eyed. And they win a lot of the suits. They are probably going after this soldier's family for their expenses on the SC case.

[Uta]

10. No need

Fred Phelps court costs and lawyer fees were paid for by the losing plaintiff in this weeks SC case. That would be the harassed family of the soldier who's funeral was disturbed by Phelps's crew.
I believe Phelps is, himself a lawyer, and so does'nt have to share his largess with counsel.

Its quite a racket he has going. There money in it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Fred was disbarred

But most of his kids are attorneys.

[leftstreet]

4. They'll sue anybody. They'll probably sue me for posting on this thread

Total grifters

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. As others said - they make their money as lawyers (fees) and their own lawsuits.

They don't really accept donations, so far as I know. Pretty much self-financed.

Saw a news clip about them earlier this week. The news crew talked with some of the locals in the area, and they all pretty said "We don't like these people or what they do, but by God, if you want to win a case, you hire THEM as your lawyers."

[tanyev]

9. I've wondered that myself for quite a while.

I see all the responses about them being lawyers and winning lawsuits, but still. It takes a steady stream of money to do all the traveling they do. The people who do the protesting either don't have jobs, or have some sort of job where they can come and go as they please. And as someone upthread already wondered, at this point who the hell would hire any of them as a lawyer?

[Uta]

12. They have a steady stream of money

Litigation aint small potatoes.

[plumbob]

11. Their family are the only members, about 90 or so. They sue people

for money, many of the adults being attorneys. Some do work for the state of Kansas, apparently, as there must be no standards for state employees on ethics of any kind.

Here's a starter link:

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/westboro-baptist-church

[hedgehog]

14. Well, dang. Here I was hoping there was a chance to cut off their support

by shaming whoever was behind the curtain.

[RKP5637]

15. Our notion of freedom of speech in this country implies no responsibility. It is obsolete. n/t

[hedgehog]

16. Hmmm.... I wonder if someone could sue Westboro on the basis of

the emotional distress....

[RKP5637]

18. I would think so ... I don't see why that and harassment are not valid ... n/t

[Uta]

23. I believe that was the main argument in recent S.C. case

I think the family of the soldier who's funeral it was claimed damages due to purposeful infliction of emotional pain.

[justiceischeap]

17. If you want to know more & can stomach it, find "Fall from Grace"

It's a documentary about the Phelps' family and their church.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0977649/

[Trajan]

24. They are lawyers ...

They have won cases, and they have lived on the proceeds of their chosen profession ....

There are no nefarious collaborators to find here .... Even right wing christian zealots dislike the Phelps ....