What a BOGUS Bunch of BS. A two- bit Plaintiff's attorney is trying to sue Victoria Osteen for 10% of her net worth because of an altercation that the Plaintiff claims she suffers hemmroids from. This is why they have rules against groundless and frivolous lawsuits. You know the Plaintiff is fishing when she injects race on Day 1 of testimony.
Allegations of racism surfaced Thursday in the civil trial of Victoria Osteen, co-pastor of Lakewood Church, who is accused of assaulting a black Continental Airlines flight attendant in 2005.
The accusations came in the afternoon of the first day of testimony against Osteen, the wife of evangelist and author Joel Osteen. The attorney for flight attendant Sharon Brown said the allegations will be a continuing theme. Brown is expected to testify today.
In testimony Thursday, flight attendant Maria Johnson implied Victoria Osteen acted racist during an incident over a spill in the arm of a chair, when the co-pastor sought her out instead of two black attendants that day. One of the other attendants was Brown.
Reginald McKamie, the attorney who is representing Brown, elicited testimony from Johnson that she felt Victoria Osteen singled her out because she was "the only white girl."
When Victoria Osteen's attorney, Rusty Hardin, then questioned Johnson, he accused her of playing the "race card," prompting an audible gasp from the gallery.
McKamie then called psychiatrist Shayna Lee, who said black women interpret confrontation and others' actions differently than other races and genders.
Lee, who is black, said Brown was referred to her specifically because of the challenges facing black women.
Brown accuses Victoria Osteen of assaulting her, contending the co-pastor grabbed her by the shoulders, pushed her into a restroom door and elbowed her in the chest on Dec. 19, 2005. Brown is asking for 10 percent of Victoria Osteen's net worth.
Johnson's assertion came after an afternoon break and after hours of more business-like testimony where Hardin even got laughs from the witness.
Hardin accused Johnson and McKamie of discussing their testimony during the break.
"Did you speak to Mr. McKamie during the break?" Hardin asked.
"No."
"Then when did you decide to play the race card?"
In a raised voice, in rapid-fire succession, Hardin threw questions at Johnson about her assertions, including questions about Lakewood Church's racial makeup.
As McKamie stood to object, Hardin took him to task.
"Don't you call 'race' and get upset about me being loud," Hardin said.
Turning his attention to Johnson, he said, "Stop and think about it before you call someone a racist."
In her testimony earlier in the day, Johnson defended Brown's account of the incident.
She told jurors that Victoria Osteen grabbed her by the arm and led her to the spill, "like leading a naughty child." Johnson said she was shocked by her behavior.
But on cross-examination, Hardin got Johnson to say that Victoria Osteen was rational and patient, even while grabbing her and leading her.
Johnson also said Victoria Osteen grabbed Brown and pushed her as she tried to get to the cockpit.
"They were doing their job," McKamie said of the flight attendants. "They were protecting the passengers. They were protecting the crew. They were protecting the plane."
Give me a F..ing Break.. Victoria Osteen: The "new face" of Al Qaeda...
Johnson said she and Brown stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the cockpit door to block Victoria Osteen.
During the opening statements, Hardin said Victoria Osteen did not yell at Brown and never touched her.
"This is nothing more than attempted extortion dressed up in a lawsuit," Hardin said.
Both attorneys agreed that Victoria Osteen did confront Brown and the other flight attendants after she boarded the plane for a flight to Vail, Colo., and saw a liquid on the armrest of her first-class seat.
Hardin said Victoria Osteen, who was with her husband and their children, asked for napkins to clean up the mess, then had a brief verbal confrontation with Brown before returning to her seat.
Originally, McKamie said he planned to call the Osteens, but he now expects to rest as early as today after Brown testifies.
I bet this case doesn't get past Hardin's Motion for Directed Verdict.. Judge will stop it at close of Plaintiff's case
Hardin has said he plans to call the Osteens to defend themselves after the plaintiff's side rests.
Brown's lawsuit claims she lost her religious faith and suffers from hemorrhoids because of the anxiety and trauma from the incident.
No, she is suffering hemorrhoids because she is Full of S..h.. i
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5931506.html
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Victoria Osteen on Trial.. Rusty Hardin may win this one...
