Jury Must Decide If Church Steeple Collapse Was An Act of God

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1143631337697

In an insurance dispute over coverage for the collapse of a West Philadelphia Episcopal church's 117-year-old steeple, a federal judge has ruled that neither side is entitled to summary judgment because a jury must decide whether the collapse was the result of decades of deterioration and neglect, or an act of God.

In his 18-page opinion in GuideOne Elite Insurance Co. v. Diocese of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic of the Reformed Episcopal Church, Senior U.S. District Judge Robert F. Kelly found that "the legal issue in this case comes down to one factual disagreement -- whether lightning caused the steeple to fall or whether the steeple collapsed on its own."

Both sides agreed that coverage would be triggered if a bolt of lightning on Aug. 3, 2004, was the cause of the steeple's collapse five hours later.

[DanCa]

1. And sometimes you have got to sit back and lol at lifes absurdies.

This country needs a national bong hit day.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. So, lightening or gravity.

Where is the God part in the steeple falling? Maybe it depends on who was inside the steeple when it fell? Perhaps of man of "god" like shrub or falwell or dobson... :rofl: I can't even get through that with a straight face. :rofl:

[DanCa]

3. Wouldn't god have tried to stop the steeple from falling?

I mean he was a carpenter wasn't he?

[MADem]

10. No, that was JEEESUS who worked in the trades

But he spent a lot of time standing around and talking...

[Benhurst]

4. Surely you know gravity is just a theory, like evolution.

:rofl:

[DanCa]

5. Hmm I was thinking about those Atlanta church fires awhile ago.

Could god be charged with vandalism?

[RebelOne]

16. The church fires were in Alabama. n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

6. That's what I forgot!

:banghead: Got it! Flog me if I forget again. Damn science, all my life it's confused me with facts! You don't need facts when you have a fundie faith. :crazy:

[MADem]

9. God was playing with his lightning shotgun, maybe?

And mistook the steeple for a covey of quail?

[TreasonousBastard]

7. OK,OK, you've all had your fun, but...

you all do realize that "act of God" is a common legal and insurance term for natural events that cause damage.

You do, don't you?

[DanCa]

8. I thought that was changed to act of nature .

Seriously that's what I thought it was changed to.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. It might have been in some places...

and probably should be changed everywhere, but the term "act of god" has been around for so long it's tough to get rid of completely.

[The Magistrate]

11. Still, Sir

The humor of applying the term to collapse of a church really cannot be denied; it is damned rich....

[TreasonousBastard]

13. Oh, it is hilarious, and...

insurance adjusters have been bemused by such claims for many years.

Just thought I'd mention that it's not a bit Fundie silliness.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

14. Can you claim "Act of God" if you're an atheist?

I asked my Torts professor in law school and he didn't have an answer.

[TreasonousBastard]

15. He just didn't feel like calling you a smartass that day. n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

18. Yes. I know that. Don't worry! (Now a freeper might not understand)

I was just poking fun at the stupider member of my religion who give God a bad name. :evilgrin:

[Fleshdancer]

17. so they ruled out gay marriage and feminism as the cause?

ok, just wanted to make sure. :rofl: