Attorney Who Filed Baseless Suit Against Jews for Jesus is Sanctioned Again by Court

Faith Issues

An attorney’s polemic crusade against Jews for Jesus was harshly punished, again, in a Florida state court. Circuit Judge Lucy Brown sanctioned attorney Barry Silver with another attorney fee award, this time for over $41,000, which, when added to prior court sanctions, pushed the sanctions over $100,000!

Almost a decade ago, attorney Silver – who is also a rabbi – set out to persecute and bankrupt the Jews for Jesus ministry, because he disagreed with its theology. Mr. Silver claimed that Jews for Jesus defamed his client, Edith Rapp, because it published a praise report about her. He filed complaint after complaint, filled with hateful and vitriolic rants against the ministry. Mr. Silver was previously sanctioned for those rants, and he was ordered to pay over $50,000 in attorney’s fees and costs. He appealed those sanctions, but the court of appeals affirmed them and sanctioned Mr. Silver again for filing a frivolous appeal.

Mr. Silver set out to harm Jews for Jesus, but now he is facing over $100,000 in sanctions judgments for his frivolous and bad faith litigation conduct.

“Mr. Silver’s lawsuit was a theological attack wrapped in a legal pleading,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “Lawyers cannot use the courts to publicize philosophical vendettas against people of faith. Mr. Silver’s sad situation should send a significant signal that courts cannot be used as theological tribunals.”

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.

© 2012 Liberty Counsel