Victoria Osteen, Joel Osteen's Wife, Accused Of Assaulting A Flight Attendant

HOUSTON — A jury was seated 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.

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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.

Comments

[SteveNearDC]

There's 42,000 idiots in Texas.
Anyone who attends these mega-churces is a complete tool.

[Soothsayer08]

She probably has a lot of pent up hostility. All of those platitudes and holiness is all a guise to what's really seething underneath. Hope she doesn't become the next Tammy Faye

[StrayTalk]

Exactly what i was thinking. Holding it all in and then taking it out on the flight attendant. Watch out for the"religiously devout" when they explode! I've seen it myself before.

[OnTheCusp]

Precisely why I was always afraid of Mike Huckaby's WIFE! That chick is SCARY!!!
Just like McCain.....

[rocketJsquirrel]

FAA found enough evidence to fine her. Must be something to it. I guess God doesn't entitle you as much as you'd think while you're on an airplane.

[GayGrandpa]

This is like the Rob Lowe case it all he said she said...we all know money talks and money walks.

[knowhelpnow]

No there was quite a few witness. You can not assault anyone but in today's world you better not assault someone who is in charge on an airplane. I hope flight attendant wins myself, but doubt it this she wolf has to much money to not get away with it.
I hate these televagelist that beg for money and live a life of luxury off usually the poor who get them the few extra bucks they have. I wish they weren't so gullible.

[lewes17266]

I do not like that showtime style of worship either but this sounds like a money-grab to me. I doubt Brown has a case.

[cjohnathan]

Word.

[euthman]

You've obviously never had a painful hemorrhoid. Count your blessings. ;)

[KYJurisDoctor]

I attended the mega church two weeks ago and it was ALL about MONEY, as in how much can you give the Osteen's and you MUST tithe regardless of your economic circumstance.

(I am still barfing from that INCESSANT message from the Osteens.)

[rocketJsquirrel]

You're part of the problem. If they raise enough money they can purchase their own plane and not have to deal with rif-raf they can't control on public planes. If all decent christian followers get a second job and tithe 10-15% from both jobs, then they'll have this problem solved in no time.

[mccabe49]

what rif raf on the plane? did you not read the article it seems this Victoria Olsen was causing the uproar ober a stain on her deat infirst class no less what a little diva. Sounds like a spoiled brat to me. Now who is the rif raf that delayed the flight 2 hours and caused a whole plane load of people to wait?

[lewes17266]

poor things have to fly commercial

[DrJimmy]

She should pose in Playboy and donate the money! There ya go!

[JScott]

You mean they don't fly on private jets, oh yeah maybe they do now because this was 3 years ago.

[mingusman]

Just more proof that precious few Christians act at all Christ-like.

[larryburns94]

"That's correct your honor, I ws elbowed in the boob and now her hemrroids are acting up. Please give me millions of dollars."

[Max01]

Larry Burns has boobs? Ok, Larretta.

[JDHART]

It's sad that people send their hard-earned money to the Osteen's so the bimbo wife (yeah, I said it) can buy first-class plane tickets to Vail. There's too much of this thing. I've found that the ones who shout the loudest about being 'Christian' and the same ones who are keep asking for YOUR money. Don't be gullible. Stop giving tele-preachers money.

[feo]

Vail. That's where Jeebus gave his famous Sermon on the Slopes, saying "Suffer the skiers unto me, for I am the Lift and the Towline."

[lewes17266]

not Jeebus, JEEEEEEZussssah

praise God and halleluia

Victoria and Joel love us
They smile at us

[larryburns94]

She's white and blond so you assume she's a bimbo- how is that not sexism? Can I assume the plaintiff is lazy because she's black and looking for what looks like an easy pay day? Of course not, that would rightly be called racist.

I love the selective use of stereotypes by so many liberals. When it fits your argument its perfectly okay.

[Max01]

Larry Burns, you seem upset by "the selective use of stereotypes by so many liberals". Run along now and play on one of your many nutwing websites where other low informational dingbats reside.

[paulfromportland]

larry, having a problem seeing the extreme lack of peroxide, eh? Blond, you say - Better have Hawkeye set up a shower scene.

[TXfemmom]

The Church, and the Osteen's, had CANCELLED CHURCH SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS, that year, if you can believe it. It conflicted with their ski holiday, apparently.

All these right wingnuts scream about how Christ is being taken out of Christmas, and then a Megachurch cancels services on Christmas. Tells one everything one needs to know about their brand of Christianity.

[MadamRoma]

The "OH" Steens are two of the biggest con artist on the planet, they are living the high life on the backs of the low life.

[Bramptonian]

Why is it that everyone is so quick to believe negative things about Christians? The facts will be revealed in time! Give the Osteens a break! It seems some people are just smacking their lips and rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of bringing down this couple. The flight attendant could be lying; as a matter of fact it seems like she accuses people on a regular basis as it's proven she accused someone else before. But maybe that person has no money so it was not worth the while to pursue that legally. Trust me, Joel and Victoria serve the Judge of all Judges and He will help them thru this.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Sorry - I'm not feeling your logic: "The flight attendant could be lying; as a matter of fact it seems like she accuses people on a regular basis as it's proven she accused someone else before." Does that mean if somebody accuses one person (for whatever reason - did that accusation also result in a fine from the FAA?) they are prohibited from accusing another unless they want to be accused of with "accusing people on a regular basis?"

Being a Christian doesn't make her guilty, nor does it make her innocent. The FAA has already found her guilty, apparently. Since the FAA is part of the Bush Administration, doesn't that make them infallible? I'm just asking.

[paulfromportland]

Did not know they served Judge Judy.

[CarlyShitson]

Evangelicals are aholes! They are religious supremacists. They have no respect for other faiths. They are vile people for the most part.

[borderorder]

The Judge of All Judges? J.Roberts.Jr. is handling her case?

[naturallight]

Yeah i think the real issue is her philandering in FIRST CLASS on a jaunt to VAIL. If you want to worship your God on Earth just like the Egyptians and their pharohs go right ahead if it makes you FEEL better.

down with the diva,
btw her lawyer is tha same on who represented the LIAR roger clemens .
btw her lawyer money could of been alms for the poor.

[jaycasey]

I don't know what happened in the incident and neither does any of the other commentators that weren't present on the plane. But I do think the flight attendant's claims seem inflated - hemmoroids caused by an alledged altercation? Psych damage? Seems absurd.

I'm curious what Mrs Osteen was doing on a first class flight to Vail?

[CharlottesvilleVA]

She was on a first class flight to Vail, and she and her charlatan preacher husband are extremely wealthy because they are quite selective in their interpretations of The Bible.

Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
- Matthew 19:24

So they might as well enjoy their earthly wealth and possessions for they will be called to account for their greed on Judgement Day, right?

[Schallvain]

I didn't realize this was a religious discussion. This is a simple assault case, which as far as I understand the law, does not involve religion. Why does it matter that this is the wife of a Renowned Pastor or a Scam Artist (or a mob wife, first lady, or You for that matter). If anything, you are showing your religious bias. Whether true or not, the claim does seem to be inflated.

Also, if you want to bring up religion, how does envy impact your chances on getting into heaven. Personally, if I could afford to fly first class, I'd be sitting there too.

[paulfromportland]

First Class to Vail? Must not fly with the hoi polloi, must one?

Reminds me of a complaint Kathryn Kuhlman, the faith healer and mentor to Benny Hinn, once made to my ex-wife - Her complaint was that so many of "those people" wanted to touch her. Yuk.

[Theda]

Mrs. Olsteen was going to first class to Vail to go skiing!
The pathetic thing is......her hissy fit was so huge that the plane stayed on the ground for two or three hours. She wouldn't leave the plane until they literally kicked her off. Not very considerate of the other passengers, was she?

[robbep]

How you handle yourself in situations like this says how connected you are to god. This was a perfect opportunity for Ms Olsteen to represent christ and she did the opposite. It is easy to get on stage and talk to talk, how you treat people in your daily life lets you know if you walk the walk. To get angry and attack someone over a stain on your seat says a lot about who you really are. I guess we wont see her doing any missionary work will we? The more you see these tv preachers the more you know they are blowing smoke.