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Jury Reaches Verdict In Osteen Trial

Flight Attendant Sought At Least $405,000

POSTED: Thursday, August 14, 2008
UPDATED: 6:04 pm CDT August 14, 2008

Jurors ruled that the wife of megachurch pastor Joel Osteen did not assault a flight attendant who had claimed she was abused in an angry tirade, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown filed a civil lawsuit against Victoria Osteen, the co-pastor of Houston's popular Lakewood Church, claiming Osteen became verbally and physically abusive before the start of a Dec. 19, 2005, flight from Houston to Vail, Colo.


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    After two hours of deliberation, the jury panel of five men and seven women reached its verdict. The trial started one week ago.

    Victoria Osteen mouthed, "Thank you, Jesus" after the decision was announced. The Osteens then hugged numerous friends and parishioners who were in the courtroom.

    Sharon Brown smiled and did not appear to be upset at the verdict.

    "Sharon will go on and she will remain flying with Continental. She was glad she could get the case out. That's what we said for three years -- we wanted to be able to give it to a Harris County jury. They made a decision. We're thankful," Brown's attorney Reginald McKamie said. "It's too premature to decide on an appeal."

    Brown did not speak to reporters.

    "She cannot talk about an on-board incident and she doesn't want to jeopardize her job," McKamie said. "We're disappointed in the verdict, yes."

    "I'm just so grateful. All I can say is I'm grateful and I just thank everybody that supported me and I'm glad it's over," Victoria Osteen said. "Three years is a long time. But I know that truth always stands firm. I don't have any ill-feelings towards anyone."

    Victoria Osteen answered "absolutely" when she was asked if she would fly Continental Airlines again.

    "All three of us (Joel, Victoria and me) will continue to fly Continental. This was not about Continental," said Rusty Hardin, Victoria Osteen's attorney.

    "We have no ill-will toward (Brown), Continental or anybody. From the start, we tried to take the high road. It's unfortunate, but (Victoria) seemed guilty for three years," Joel Osteen said. "It's a great vindication and shows us the faithfulness of God. We're not the only ones having problems and difficulties -- people face them all the time. Even if it may take two to three years, stay true, do the right thing and believe that God will always see you through."

    Jurors said they decided an assault did not take place.

    "We considered that what took place there might reach the level of being a minor incident," jury foreman Gilles Labbe said. "The evidence toward an assault did not achieve anywhere near a preponderance of the evidence. We felt there was a minor dispute between a passenger and one or more of the flight attendants."

    Brown claimed that Victoria Osteen got so upset when a spill on the armrest of her first-class seat was not quickly cleaned up that she threw Brown against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the left breast while attempting to rush into the cockpit. She also claimed that she was so traumatized that she was unable to work for five days and her religious beliefs were damaged.

    Brown's attorney asked jurors to award his client at least $405,000 for physical and mental pain she suffered as a result of an alleged attack by Victoria Osteen.

    Another flight attendant, Maria Johnson, supported Brown's claims. Both flight attendants testified they had to block the cockpit door to prevent Victoria Osteen from getting inside.

    Brown wanted an apology and punitive damages amounting to 10 percent of Victoria Osteen's net worth as part of her lawsuit. Victoria Osteen's attorney, Rusty Hardin, has declined to discuss her finances. It was unclear what percentage of her net worth the $405,000 might be.

    Both Victoria Osteen and Joel Osteen, who was on the same flight, testified last week that no attack took place.

    Victoria Osteen told jurors she went up to Brown after no one helped her clean up the spill. She said it was Brown who became angry during their discussion. Victoria Osteen denied ever touching Brown or trying to get into the cockpit.

    Three passengers in first-class and a pilot aboard testified Wednesday they never saw or heard anything that indicated Victoria Osteen assaulted Brown.

    Hardin, during sometimes relentless and aggressive cross-examination of Brown, tried to cast doubt the flight attendant suffered any physical or mental injuries. Brown admitted that doctors found no physical injuries on her and she delayed getting psychiatric treatment.

    Claudia Hall, a former Continental flight attendant, testified by video deposition she was falsely accused by Brown of hitting and pushing her into the bathroom wall of a plane in November 1995.

    The Osteens are co-pastors of Houston's Lakewood Church, which draws about 42,000 people each week for services. Joel Osteen's weekly television address is broadcast in the U.S. and internationally and his books are sold around the globe.

    The Osteens paid a $3,000 fine the Federal Aviation Administration levied against Victoria Osteen for interfering with a crew member but testified they did that to put the incident behind them.

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