Kentucky

The lawyers from the Southern Poverty Law Center presented a theory of liability against the Klan organization claiming it "recklessly bred an atmosphere of hate at the hands of the Klansmen, even though he didn't order it."   Here is the Courier Journal story.  Click on heading for entire post.

Klan ordered to pay $2.5 million in civil trial
Judgment in lawsuit aims to cripple group

By Chris Kenning ? ckenning@courier-journal.com ? November 15, 2008

BRANDENBURG, Ky. ? The leader of the Kentucky-based Imperial Klans of America and a former Klansman must pay $2.5million in damages for the beating of a minority teenager at a county fair that left him with permanent injuries, a Meade County jury ruled late last night.

Attorneys for the victim, Jordan Gruver, 19, argued that Ron Edwards, the Klan group's Imperial Wizard, recklessly bred an atmosphere of hate and violence and was liable for Gruver's July 2006 beating at the hands of his Klansmen, even though he didn't order it.

The large judgment, which must be shared by former Klansman Jarred Hensley, who participated in the attack, will cripple the nation's second-largest Klan group and help deter future violence, said Southern Poverty Law Center attorneys who are representing Gruver.

"In America, you have the right to hate, but you don't have the right to hurt," said law center attorney Morris Dees, who notched his latest legal win against hate groups.

As a result of the verdict, the IKA, which has 23 chapters in 17 states, may have to relinquish its 15-acre compound near Dawson Springs, Ky. Both defendants will likely have wages garnished for the next 15 years, Dees said, even though they claim to have no money.