Quentin LedfordIt is important to note that Phillip Brumley was the Society's attorney in this instance, and it is RARE here in the United States that a court EVER attacks the attorneys.
This is extremely disheartening. What is most upsetting is that the Society appears to be seeking its own preservation at any cost without one iota of empathy or mercy for the victims of these crimes, even willing to abandon every vestige of truth for this purpose.
Here is the information that is out there... https://cas... moreIt is important to note that Phillip Brumley was the Society's attorney in this instance, and it is RARE here in the United States that a court EVER attacks the attorneys.
This is extremely disheartening. What is most upsetting is that the Society appears to be seeking its own preservation at any cost without one iota of empathy or mercy for the victims of these crimes, even willing to abandon every vestige of truth for this purpose.
Philip Brumley, the longtime General Counsel for the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (WTPA), was sanctioned by a federal court for submitting misleading affidavits in two child sexual abuse lawsuits involving Jehovah’s Witnesses. The court found that Brumley's actions demonstrated a reckless disregard for the truth, leading to unnecessary delays in the legal proceedings.
CBS News
In April 2023, Judge Susan P. Watters of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana imposed sanctions totaling $154,448.11 against Brumley under 28 U.S.C. § 1927, which allows courts to penalize attorneys who unreasonably and vexatiously multiply legal proceedings. The court determined that Brumley’s affidavits, which denied WTPA's involvement with Montana congregations during the 1970s and 1980s, were contradicted by evidence showing significant involvement during that period. This misrepresentation caused a 17-month delay in the litigation process .
Brumley appealed the sanctions, arguing that he was acting solely as a fact witness and not as an attorney of record in the cases. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected this argument, stating that Brumley was acting in his capacity as General Counsel when he submitted the affidavits and thus was subject to sanctions under § 1927. The appellate court affirmed the lower court's decision, emphasizing that attorneys are held to standards of candor and truthfulness, regardless of their formal role in a case .
This case underscores the importance of honesty and transparency by legal professionals, particularly in sensitive matters such as child sexual abuse litigation.
