Bakers Who Refused Lesbian Couple A Wedding Cake WILL Have To Pay $135,000

[Skwim]

Court rules Oregon bakers who refused to make lesbian couple a wedding cake WILL have to pay them $135,000 in damages

Owners of the since-closed Gresham bakery Aaron and Melissa Klein had refused to make a wedding cake for Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer
An appellate court Thursday upheld a penalty against the bakery owners and they will now have to pay the lesbian couple $135,000
Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer praised the ruling saying: 'Oregon will not allow a 'Straight Couples Only' sign to be hung in bakeries or other stores'

An appellate court Thursday upheld a penalty against Oregon bakery owners who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding almost five years ago.

The owners of the since-closed Gresham bakery - Aaron and Melissa Klein - argued that state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian violated state and federal laws by forcing them to pay emotional-distress damages of $135,000 to the lesbian couple Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer.

Their lawyers said Avakian and the state Bureau of Labor and Industries violated the Kleins' rights as artists to free speech, their rights to religious freedom and their rights as defendants to a due process.

But the Oregon Court of Appeals sided with the state Thursday, saying the Kleins failed to show the state targeted them for their religious beliefs.

The judges also found public statements made by Avakian before deciding the case did not establish a lack of impartiality.

'Today's ruling sends a strong signal that Oregon remains open to all,' Avakian said after the 62-page opinion was released Thursday.

The decision comes weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the high-profile case of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
source​

I can only say, good enough for them!

 

[columbus]

I am unimpressed with this ruling for about the same reasons I am unimpressed by the proposed legislation that gives Colts ticket holders a refund over "taking a knee".
Tom

 

[Koldo]

Court rules Oregon bakers who refused to make lesbian couple a wedding cake WILL have to pay them $135,000 in damages

Owners of the since-closed Gresham bakery Aaron and Melissa Klein had refused to make a wedding cake for Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer
An appellate court Thursday upheld a penalty against the bakery owners and they will now have to pay the lesbian couple $135,000
Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer praised the ruling saying: 'Oregon will not allow a 'Straight Couples Only' sign to be hung in bakeries or other stores'

An appellate court Thursday upheld a penalty against Oregon bakery owners who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding almost five years ago.

The owners of the since-closed Gresham bakery - Aaron and Melissa Klein - argued that state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian violated state and federal laws by forcing them to pay emotional-distress damages of $135,000 to the lesbian couple Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer.

Their lawyers said Avakian and the state Bureau of Labor and Industries violated the Kleins' rights as artists to free speech, their rights to religious freedom and their rights as defendants to a due process.

But the Oregon Court of Appeals sided with the state Thursday, saying the Kleins failed to show the state targeted them for their religious beliefs.

The judges also found public statements made by Avakian before deciding the case did not establish a lack of impartiality.

'Today's ruling sends a strong signal that Oregon remains open to all,' Avakian said after the 62-page opinion was released Thursday.

The decision comes weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the high-profile case of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
source​

I can only say, good enough for them!

135,000 ???
Woah!

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I'd applaud this but really? 135 grand? That's not just a little overboard, that's a whole ocean off ship.

 

[leibowde84]

Court rules Oregon bakers who refused to make lesbian couple a wedding cake WILL have to pay them $135,000 in damages

Owners of the since-closed Gresham bakery Aaron and Melissa Klein had refused to make a wedding cake for Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer
An appellate court Thursday upheld a penalty against the bakery owners and they will now have to pay the lesbian couple $135,000
Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer praised the ruling saying: 'Oregon will not allow a 'Straight Couples Only' sign to be hung in bakeries or other stores'

An appellate court Thursday upheld a penalty against Oregon bakery owners who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding almost five years ago.

The owners of the since-closed Gresham bakery - Aaron and Melissa Klein - argued that state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian violated state and federal laws by forcing them to pay emotional-distress damages of $135,000 to the lesbian couple Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer.

Their lawyers said Avakian and the state Bureau of Labor and Industries violated the Kleins' rights as artists to free speech, their rights to religious freedom and their rights as defendants to a due process.

But the Oregon Court of Appeals sided with the state Thursday, saying the Kleins failed to show the state targeted them for their religious beliefs.

The judges also found public statements made by Avakian before deciding the case did not establish a lack of impartiality.

'Today's ruling sends a strong signal that Oregon remains open to all,' Avakian said after the 62-page opinion was released Thursday.

The decision comes weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the high-profile case of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
source​

I can only say, good enough for them!

Fantastic!! The baker was clearly violating the Civil Rights Act. If you are open for business selling goods, you cannot pick and choose who you sell to based on your own religious beliefs. It isn't 1966 anymore. You shouldn't be forced to put homosexual references on the cake, but you can't refuse to sell goods just because the goods will be used for a purpose you don't agree with. That would be absurd.

 

[leibowde84]

I am unimpressed with this ruling for about the same reasons I am unimpressed by the proposed legislation that gives Colts ticket holders a refund over "taking a knee".
Tom

Refusal to serve based on prejudice is not a form of expression, according to SCOTUS. Protesting police brutality and racial prejudice during the national anthem is protected speech. Nuff said.

 

[Subduction Zone]

135,000 ???
Woah!

I agree. The court was right in principle, but wrong in practice. The legal system does not work this way with common criminals, it should not work this way in dealing with bigots. To get serious jail time these days one must really work at it. This business made one poor decision and rather than giving them a fine that would make them realize the errors of their ways they put the hammer down.

But then one must blame the bakery a bit too for this decision. They should have agreed that what they did was wrong, but that the punishment was excessive. They screwed up by not doing that. If anything their actions of trying to escape justice somewhat justifies this rather outrageous fine.

One question, were they offered a lower fine along with an apology and admission of wrong doing? That would have been the wiser course of action.

 

[Augustus]

I love how damages in America have absolutely no sense of proportionality to the actual offence. Just pick a random stupidly large number and decide that is a reasonable amount.

 

[leibowde84]

I love how damages in America have absolutely no sense of proportionality to the actual offence. Just pick a random stupidly large number and decide that is a reasonable amount.

Seems a bit excessively punitive, but it will fulfill its purpose. Merchants won't feel like they are permitted to break the law just because their personal, subjective beliefs contradict it. We have an interest in trying to stop people from putting their personal beliefs above their duty to their fellow citizens.

 

[Skwim]

I love how damages in America have absolutely no sense of proportionality to the actual offence. Just pick a random stupidly large number and decide that is a reasonable amount.

Often penalties don't solely reflect actual suffering, but are set to send a message.

.

 

[columbus]

Refusal to serve based on prejudice is not a form of expression, according to SCOTUS. Protesting police brutality and racial prejudice during the national anthem is protected speech. Nuff said.

There are plenty of SCOTUS rulings I am unimpressed with.
And nobody was trying to stop anyone from taking a knee, just not whenever or wherever they please. Kaep was always free to do so on the courthouse steps if he wants to.
Tom

 

[Skwim]

There are plenty of SCOTUS rulings I am unimpressed with.
And nobody was trying to stop anyone from taking a knee, just not whenever or wherever they please. Kaep was always free to do so on the courthouse steps if he wants to.
Tom

I hope the irony of this doesn't escape you.

.

 

[leibowde84]

There are plenty of SCOTUS rulings I am unimpressed with.
And nobody was trying to stop anyone from taking a knee, just not whenever or wherever they please. Kaep was always free to do so on the courthouse steps if he wants to.
Tom

The constitution protects their right to protest police brutality and racial prejudice during the national anthem at NFL games. That is 100% certain. No one has any obligation whatsoever to stand or even respect the anthem or flag. To demand such things would go against everything our country stands for.

 

[BSM1]

Fantastic!! The baker was clearly violating the Civil Rights Act. If you are open for business selling goods, you cannot pick and choose who you sell to based on your own religious beliefs. It isn't 1966 anymore. You shouldn't be forced to put homosexual references on the cake, but you can't refuse to sell goods just because the goods will be used for a purpose you don't agree with. That would be absurd.

Sure you can. Unless it can be proven that your business falls under the "public convenience" clause you have the right to refuse to sell or serve to anyone for whatever reason.

 

[BSM1]

The constitution protects their right to protest police brutality and racial prejudice during the national anthem at NFL games. That is 100% certain. No one has any obligation whatsoever to stand or even respect the anthem or flag. To demand such things would go against everything our country stands for.

And the fans have a right to protest with their pocket books.

 

[leibowde84]

Sure you can. Unless it can be proven that your business falls under the "public convenience" clause you have the right to refuse to sell or serve to anyone for whatever reason.

Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it only has to be a public accomodation, which a bakery most certainly is.

 

[leibowde84]

And the fans have a right to protest with their pocket books.

They sure do. Did anyone claim otherwise?

 

[Augustus]

Seems a bit excessively punitive, but it will fulfill its purpose. Merchants won't feel like they are permitted to break the law just because their personal, subjective beliefs contradict it. We have an interest in trying to stop people from putting their personal beliefs above their duty to their fellow citizens.

Often penalties don't solely reflect actual suffering, but are set to send a message.

It's absolutely ludicrous whatever the 'logic' behind it. 10 grand would send a message as it should probably be 1 or 2 grand tops for a minor case of discrimination.

No wonder there is such an ambulance chasing culture in America, which ultimately costs you all (especially in things like healthcare).

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Seems a bit excessively punitive, but it will fulfill its purpose. Merchants won't feel like they are permitted to break the law just because their personal, subjective beliefs contradict it.

I'm not so sure; give it another week, maybe two.

 

[David1967]

Next up, Jewish and Muslim restaurants that refuse to serve pork, and Mosques and churches that refuse to do gay weddings. Or the Christian or Muslim convenience store that refuses to sell alcoholic beverages. How far are litigious people willing to push this type of thing. Just get the damn cake somewhere else.