By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON — A jury was seated (video: MyFoxHouston) Wednesday in a lawsuit alleging the wife of nationally known pastor Joel Osteen assaulted a flight attendant.
Opening arguments were set for Thursday in a case Victoria Osteen’s lawyer called “silly.” But Reginald McKamie, attorney for Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown, said he hopes the trial will show “that celebrity status doesn’t take precedence.”
Brown accuses Victoria Osteen of assaulting her before the start of a 2005 flight from Houston to Vail, Colo. Brown alleges Victoria Osteen threw her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the left breast during an angry outburst over a stain on her first-class seat. The Federal Aviation Administration fined Victoria Osteen $3,000 for interfering with a crew member.
Joel Osteen was at his wife’s side Wednesday in court. McKamie said he expected to call the couple as witnesses.
Joel Osteen preaches at Lakewood Church, a Houston megachurch where about 42,000 people flock each week and where Victoria Osteen is co-pastor. His weekly television address is broadcast nationally and internationally.
Some potential jurors during questioning admitted to being star-struck by the Osteens and that their respect for them might affect their judgment.
“He has gotten me through a lot of tough times. I would believe what he has to say. I have a lot of respect for him,” one female in the jury pool said.
Other potential jurors said they didn’t like preachers or televangelists and that ministers can lie.
Brown wants an apology and punitive damages amounting to 10 percent of Victoria Osteen’s net worth as part of her suit.
Victoria Osteen’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said before jury selection began Wednesday that Brown’s claims are false and that what happened was a “minor incident.” Hardin also asked a judge to throw out an FAA report detailing the alleged incident, saying the agency’s investigation was “incredibly incomplete.”
“This is a very silly case,” Hardin told reporters.
McKamie said the FAA did an appropriate investigation. State District Judge Patricia Hancock said she would make a decision later on whether the report would be allowed.
Brown’s suit claims the flight attendants asked to have Victoria Osteen removed from the plane. Hardin says Victoria Osteen and her family left voluntarily. The incident delayed the flight about 2 1/2 hours.
According to court documents, Brown claims that she suffers from anxiety and hemorrhoids because of the incident and said her faith was affected. She is also suing Osteen for medical expenses for counseling.
Brown had previously claimed she was attacked in another incident by an airport employee, according to a deposition she gave in the case.
20 responses so far ↓
1 valerie austin // Aug 7, 2008 at 10:21 pm
would she really do this,knowing her husband is Joel Olsteen. I think this lady saw an opportunity t blow a thing way out of proportion. Read it well is she crediable. I hope I’m right.
2 V.Coleman // Aug 12, 2008 at 1:13 pm
My thoughts are people as a whole forget that tele-evangelists are human too. They are not some super beings who are exempts from all human frailties, such as frustrations, poor judgement, short tempered, etc…I believe people (church followers) put these preachers/pastors/tele-evangelists on pedestals as though they are invincible. They are not. They are in a natural body being perfected til Jesus comes and subject to fail some times. Jesus was always the bigger person. Who’s the bigger person in this instance?
3 Gina // Aug 14, 2008 at 3:39 pm
August 14, 2008
The flight attendant, Sharon Brown, who launched the false law suit against Mrs. Osteen to get money she doesn’t deserve, says the incident ruined her life. However, now that she has been exposed as a fraud, it would be poetic justice if as a result of her greed and dishonesty, she gets her life ruined now. She should be prosecuted, and sent to jail for making this false claim.
4 Crystal // Sep 28, 2008 at 7:51 am
I have seen rude flight attendants but never in first class. I read an account re flight attendants refused to clear liquid from Victoria’s seat which was inappropriate. It sounds like she was deliberately set up and provoked for the purpoose of this lawsuit. The flight attendant should be evaluated psychiatrically. This incident gave her hemmoroids and she wants 10% of Victoria’s annual salary? Give me a break! It sounds like she does need counseling but not because of this incident which she may well have provoked even unconsciously. This is not so much a silly lawsuit but an exploitive, opportunistic and malevolent attempt to extort money from the Osteens and their attorneys should approach it that way.
5 B. Jones // Oct 4, 2008 at 9:18 am
I beleive that this is just another incident that proves greed and dishonesty is what people today live by. Our economy is now suffering from that now. Victoria and the church need to understand these are the times Jesus told us would come and don’t be moved by sight but by faith. Our prays are with the Osteems and Sharon Brown family.
6 lisa // Oct 16, 2008 at 5:49 pm
It is wonderful that GOD forgives all no matter what …All we need to do is ask….No matter WHAT…
I HAVE GOTTEN SUCH A BLESSING MYSELF FROM JOEL AND VICTORIA CONCERTS..
love everyone , treat everyone the way you want to be treated..
I love you Joel and Victoria…
7 Anonymous // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:49 am
Sharon Brown being in a service oriented business may have felt Victoria was asking too much to remove the liquid off her chair knowing who she was (with an attitude of who does she think she is) so therefore provoked Victoria. I can’t believe the audacity of Brown suing Osteen to begin with and then blaming her for the hemmorhoid? Is she serious? Come on. Osteen’s lawyer should do a background check on this woman and with her co-workers and key witnesses. This is ridiculous! Will be praying for the Osteens as well as Brown’s character to be made known to the jurors.
8 This guy.... // Oct 29, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Her and her husband are both charlatans.
9 Emmanuel Udoette // Nov 21, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Nobody can batttle with GOD,the Altimate judge.Joel should know that these are signs of end time.A just cause can only be fought with prayer.The church should PRAY,please.
10 cremsoncream // Nov 29, 2008 at 12:30 pm
i can’t believe our judicial system allows such stupid cases to take place. lawsuits such as this reveal how stupid our judicial system, and humans can be. sorry for using the word stupid but to me that’s what it is………it’s just completely stupid.
11 raymond mcclaskey // Dec 24, 2008 at 1:32 am
i think the osteens are great pastors and the flight attendent is wrong
12 Francine // Dec 25, 2008 at 3:13 pm
This minor incident should never have been exposed to the media…….
13 FRAN // Dec 31, 2008 at 4:29 pm
AS A PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS BEEN VERBALLY ABUSED MULTIPLE TIMES AND NEVER PHYSICALLY RETALIATED, BUT DON’T THINK THE TEMPTATION WASN’T THERE. BUT THEN MY NURSING LICENSE WOULD HAVE BEEN REVOKED. TWO YEARS AGO ON A FLIGHT TO MIAMI I DID MEET A VERY RUDE 1ST CLASS FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IF I WAS TO ACT THAT WAY, I WOULDN’T HAVE A JOB. I AGREE THIS IS JUST A BOGUS LAWSUIT.
14 jim // Jan 5, 2009 at 5:42 pm
The flight attendant has Hemorrhoids? Could the liquid on the seat have been Preparation H?
15 digusted // Feb 7, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Has it all come down to this!!! Sharon Brown do you think so little of yourself that you would sue someone for millions of dollars because you have hemorrhoids. I would not embarrass myself this way. You are picking on the wrong people. The Olsteens have God on their side. it seems to me you are being lead by the devil himself. If I were you i would quit now before you and your hemorrhoids burn in hell!!!!
16 marc // Feb 13, 2009 at 8:13 am
as christians we ought not to behave in such manner,as a minister wife most of all,Ipersonally know pastors wife tend to get a little bit uptight an feal that there are mr”s obama.For christ sake people be real …………..
17 siobhan embry // Feb 17, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I know this is the devil’s way of saying u powerful man and woman of god keep your head up and know that GOD IS ABLE to solve this problem!LOVE UGUYS!
18 siobhan embry // Feb 17, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I know this GOD’S way of saying u powerful man and woman of GOD keep your head up and know that GOD IS ABLE to solve this problem!LOVE U GUYS!
19 Brenda // Feb 22, 2009 at 12:08 pm
This law suit is more than absurd! I think both of them were wrong. Victoria was probably precieved as ‘intimidating’ and the flight attendant felt embarassed by the request. But don’t forget, it’s your job!! Victoria, you over reacted too. Both should apoligize, and the airlines should keep more upholstery cleaner handy for such requests. Keep praying for both of them.
20 Jen W. // Mar 8, 2009 at 11:47 am
I clicked on the link just to see what all this was about. Based on character, I would tend to believe Victoria is being falsely accused.
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