April 22, 2002
Alabama church assessed nearly
$1 million for teen's drowning
___COLUMBIANA, Ala. (ABP) --A Baptist church in Alabama has been ordered to pay $950,000 to the family of a 16-year-old boy who drowned while on a mission trip in 2000.
___A jury in Baldwin County awarded punitive damages April 3 in a wrongful-death suit against First Baptist Church of Columbiana, Ala.
___Terry White drowned May 31, 2000, while on a mission trip with other youth to three migrant camps. The group, from a number of Shelby County churches, stayed at the Lutheran-owned Camp Dixie in Baldwin County.
___White's family claimed the accident could have been avoided if the church had a lifeguard on duty. The jury agreed, awarding them just under half the amount they sought in their $2 million lawsuit.
___Mike Miller, pastor of the church, said the jury "basically said the church deserved to be punished for a tragic accident."
___White was a member of Providence Baptist Church in Shelby County but had been involved with the youth group at First Baptist in Columbiana.
___"Some of the boys were walking in knee-deep water at the camp about 100 yards from the shore," Miller said. "There's only one small area in the bay that's deeper than that where they dredged the place for sand. There was no cry for help, no struggle and no splashing. We think he just slipped into that hole. I don't think even a lifeguard would have noticed it or helped. The boys just thought he had gone inside or to play."
___"It was a tragic, unforeseen, unexplainable accident. No one was at fault," he said. "You can't control every circumstance that may occur--with children or adults."
___Miller said Alabama law is based on what a reasonable church would do in the same circumstances. He said he fears the jury's decision could set a dangerous precedent for churches in Alabama and feels blessed because his congregation has insurance that will cover the amount.
___Miller said the church has no bitterness toward White's family. "I'm sure they'd rather have their son back than have $950,000," he said. "This is a tragic time for them, and I don't blame them. If I were going through the same situation, I'd be searching for answers too. I know they're hurting."
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
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