Real 'BIG' news WTS sued biggie worker compensation

 

 

Jehovah's loses comp case Church may be forced to pay millions BY JESS WISLOSKI and ADAM LISBERG DAILY NEWS WRITERS A 46-year-old woman who devoted her life to the Jehovah's Witnesses said she was forced to move from their Brooklyn compound after she was seriously injured while serving the church.   But a judge's ruling this week that she is entitled to worker's compensation payments could end up costing the church millions of dollars.   Brenda Upton and her husband, Michael, took a vow of poverty and moved to the Witnesses' Brooklyn headquarters in 1998 to work as chiropractors for other church members. She injured her spine while running to catch a bus at an upstate church compound later that year.   "They take wonderful care of you up to a point, and then you're on your own," Upton said. "That's why we wound up going to court." She said she suffered debilitating nerve injuries that have left her barely able to carry a laundry basket. The church took care of her medical care until 2001, when she and her husband were asked to leave and were given a $79,000 stipend.   But Workers' Compensation Law Judge Stephen Goldstein ruled Wednesday that Upton is entitled to $400 a week in workers' compensation payments.   "I'm finding they were not religious volunteers," Goldstein said. "They were engaged, particularly Dr. Brenda Upton, in a number of work-like activities."   The Witnesses vowed to appeal the ruling, saying Upton and the other 5,800 Witnesses who live and work in the church's New York operations are volunteers, not employees.   [ edit from Danny Haszard-we need to keep up vigil ]   But if the decision stands, the Witnesses - and other religious organizations - could potentially face millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and payments, said church lawyer John Miller. "It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York.   The church owns about 40 properties in downtown Brooklyn and has plans to build a huge new structure on a vacant lot.   Miller would not speculate how the workers' compensation case would affect those plans. "We don't have a spiritual conflict," said Upton, who has moved with her husband to Washington State.   "Our problem all along has been medical-legal. We are still active Jehovah's Witnesses." ------------   voicers@edit.nydailynews.com

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Top ranked news worldwide and will hang biggie

Jehovah's loses comp case

New York Daily News, NY - 1 hour ago

A 46-year-old woman who devoted her life to the Jehovah's Witnesses said she was forced to move from their Brooklyn compound after she was seriously injured ..

[original news link] 

 

Jehovah's loses comp case

Jehovah's loses comp case Church may be forced to pay millions BY JESS WISLOSKI and ADAM LISBERG DAILY NEWS WRITERS A 46-year-old woman who devoted her life to the Jehovah's Witnesses said she was forced to move from their Brooklyn compound after she was seriously injured while serving the church.   But a judge's ruling this week that she is entitled to worker's compensation payments could end up costing the church millions of dollars.   Brenda Upton and her husband, Michael, took a vow of poverty and moved to the Witnesses' Brooklyn headquarters in 1998 to work as chiropractors for other church members. She injured her spine while running to catch a bus at an upstate church compound later that year.   "They take wonderful care of you up to a point, and then you're on your own," Upton said. "That's why we wound up going to court." She said she suffered debilitating nerve injuries that have left her barely able to carry a laundry basket. The church took care of her medical care until 2001, when she and her husband were asked to leave and were given a $79,000 stipend.   But Workers' Compensation Law Judge Stephen Goldstein ruled Wednesday that Upton is entitled to $400 a week in workers' compensation payments.   "I'm finding they were not religious volunteers," Goldstein said. "They were engaged, particularly Dr. Brenda Upton, in a number of work-like activities."   The Witnesses vowed to appeal the ruling, saying Upton and the other 5,800 Witnesses who live and work in the church's New York operations are volunteers, not employees.   But if the decision stands, the Witnesses - and other religious organizations - could potentially face millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and payments, said church lawyer John Miller. "It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York.   The church owns about 40 properties in downtown Brooklyn and has plans to build a huge new structure on a vacant lot.   Miller would not speculate how the workers' compensation case would affect those plans. "We don't have a spiritual conflict," said Upton, who has moved with her husband to Washington State.   "Our problem all along has been medical-legal. We are still active Jehovah's Witnesses." ------------   voicers@edit.nydailynews.com

news@edit.nydailynews.com  write the paper

Whilst I'm not looking for religious organisations per se to be put out of business, I'd certainly rejoice at Crooklyn biting the dust!

Well done, Danny!

Ian

I should imagine, that people in New York would be only too glad if the WTBTS moved its operations out of the city.  It looks as if they're in the process of doing that anyway, maybe they'll use this as an excuse for moving out and down sizing.

Oh well for them $400 per week is peanuts given the fact that they are playing with billions, that will teach them something about not being so tight and uncharitable.

anybody know anything about this?

You can bet your sweet ... that this lawsuit is the reason behind the recent Bethel "layoffs".



This is "Jimmy Swaggart" and the "Donation Arrangement" all over again.



Legal already knew they were going to lose this one at trial level, and the "layoffs" are either a result of Legal's anticipating losing the Appeal, OR, are done as a "protest" hoping to affect the Appeal.



Without more info, I'm not sure whether "advertising" the "layoffs" harm or help the WatchTower. Tread cautiously for a few days.

They still consider themselves active jw's, what cong would accept them after suing their god, organization?

But not for long when they experience the reaction of their peers.

Good JOB!!!

Frannie

I'm wondering that too, carla.  Given that JWs weren't encouraged to go to the police or the law even when their children were sexually abused, I'm a bit confused as to how any dub could sue the WTS and still beconsidered "in good standing"? 

Not that I'm not pleased the the WTS is going to have to fork out some money and perhaps reveiw their policy of drop kicking Bethelites out of New York when they have an illness or injury that doesn't allow them to slave for the org any more, but I am curious as to how these folks are really viewed by other dubs as well as the org itself.  I suppose it would look bad in court if they df'd them, huh?  LOL

Also, why a $79,000.00 stipend? Have they ever given any injured Bethel worker any such stipend? didn't a guy lose his hand long ago at Bethel and all he got was sent home?

"It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York.

So they're a "religious order", now?  How will they be discerned from Christendom, or even the wider "Babylon the Great", if they keep on assuming "worldly" titles?

Oh, that's right - they've been riding the back of the beast (United Nations) already, haven't they - they ARE part of BtG!

 

DannyH YOU DA MAN!!!!!!!!!   THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!!!!  This would seem to be the real reason they are laying off all those workers, they don't want to be sued by anyone slipping or hurting themselves on their premises.  It could also open a big can of worms, I personally know of quite a few bethelites back in the 80's that were exposed to asbestos and other chemicals while working in bethel that got seriously and sometimes fatally ill, they were just let go, but this could potentially be the straw that broke the camels WTS's back! 

If the Court's decision stands, they can be sued up the WAZOO, by all those poor brainwashed bethelites that gave years of their lives and health to the Borg!  YESSSSSSSSS, I can only hope!

IC (of the Sue the WTS till it's bankrupt class)

Hooray!!    That's great news, and the odds are good that this will hold up on appeal.   The odds are real good.   Maybe Eduardo could weigh in on this.    Where are you, Eduardo?

However, as to "millions" being paid out, I don't see that happening.  Not even close.   To collect even One million, the Uptons would have to get $400 a week for nearly 50 years.   It's very unlikely that either of them will live that long.   From the WTBS standpoint, it's really pretty paltry----------------------they should just go ahead and pay it and be done with it.   

David

I wonder if any of the dismissed bethelites will become disgruntled and try for severence, or breach of contract, or something along that line.

S

Is this for real??? 

Please tell me this isn't a gag post!

 

Danny:



You are correct. This news article is "genuine" BIG NEWS, and hopefully this thread may be accessed via Google for many months/years to come.



Therefore, while you have time, why not revise the name of this thread in accordance with its level of importance, such as:



"NYJudge Rules Some Bethelites Entitled To Workers Comp Coverage"



Another suggestion: Don't clutter your own threads; especially ones with genuine BIG NEWS.



Another suggestion: Don't HIJACK your own BIG NEWS threads with irrelevent, off-topic stuff that coud be posted elsewhere.



Thanks for your well meaning efforts.