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

[RedWhiteandBlueState]

There will be blood.

[circusfifthfloor]

Dear Training Wheels,
Perhaps you are not familiar with the word, idolatry. Sure, he is gracious and kind. I don't know his heart, but I do not hear what we are charged to do in our lives, and that is not asking God to heap "things" upon us. I repeat...."US". A great deal of The Old Testament does go to asking God to fill our baskets and smite our foes. BUT....Christ offered a New Covenant. Try investigating that and let me know how much "self" is covered here....Peace and Grace, CFF

[Bobzmcishl]

Somehow I can't see Jesus flying first class and assaulting a flight attendant, but evidently some of his followers can talk the talk but not walk the walk. I guess the ministry must pay well for the Osteen's to have moved up to elitist class.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

Yep. Who would Jes us b itch s lap?

[Theda]

Would Jesus go skiing in Vail (hee, hee!)

[vat6948]

Vicky, is that what Jesus would do??????

[111]

Why couldn't/wouldn't Jesus fly first class?

[dawp]

because he didn't have money. he lived a paupers live.

[PanFx]

Congratulation for making the most idiotic comment of the year. It really is quite a remarkable achievement. Pat yourself on the back.

[Topfeeder]

I got hemorrhoids just reading this story.

[helonias]

Why couldn't Joel use his holey power to cure them and set things rights

[gifu]

Hemmerhoids? Should have turned the other cheek.

[hydrocap]

Referring to Joel Osteen as a pastor, televangelist, minister or preacher is comedy!

[mollysgran]

It is ALL about getting rich. The Osteens, that is.

[TXfemmom]

Joel Osteen doesn't preach, and at least isn't one of those you CAN'T AND THEY ARE SINNERS, ETC.

He does, however, preach that God and Jesus want you to be RICH, when Jesus made it pretty clear that he dind't think people who were rich were going to live and think in such a manner as to make it easy to attain heaven. That should tell you that he hasn't really absorbed Jesus and his meaning.

[tgstk2]

I like Joel Osteen and his ministry a great deal. His church in Houston has grown leaps and bounds over the last several years which indicates his natural charisma and likeability, but it also indicates the need for his positive and hopeful message in our world. I've attended several of his sermons in person and find him to be extremely gracious, loving and sincere. I find his ministry to be a great force in the world, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

I have no idea what the merits of this particular lawsuit are, but frankly I don't see that it impacts the good that Osteen's ministry is accomplishing.

[DocJerome]

You are blinded by the light.

[Paul]

Joel is sincere and likable, but his theology is flawed.

It's not about God helping you to get rich, its about helping others.

Maybe he will read the New Testament and understand it someday.

[OnTheOtherBeach]

The richer you are, the more you can help others. What's so hard to understand about that?

[BDW]

He has an associates degree in marketing and is not ordained by any church. I don't think he's selling the word of God from that pulpit.

[SlithyTove]

"Sincerity" is the first thing a faker fakes. I've had it up to here with this megachurch nonsense...what next, one world religion?

Let's follow the money trail instead...how much do these jokers actually make, tax free, subsidized by the rest of us -- as opposed to the poverty that teachers from Zoroaster through Jesus and the Buddha held vital for the development of true spirituality?

Just look at these Hollywood holy rollers -- have they undergone one iota of the rigor of spiritual discovery and penance that Meister Eckhart or Ramakrishna Paramahamsa or Rumi or Mother Teresa did, or a endured a soupcon of privation in coming to spiritual maturity?

Utter BS...like Pat Robertson and the rest of his ilk, it is all about putting on a show, making sure the fool and his money are parted, striving for temporal power a la Hagee/Dobson/Parsley or getting off like Ted Haggard/Jim Bakker/Jimmy Swaggart, and in either case living the high life OFF camera.

[HeevenSteven]

One more Elmer Gantry Schlock getting rich selling snake oil --Jebus the cure-all. What did P.T. Barnum say about suckers?

[lauram]

10% huh? I guess the attendant wants her tithes.

[paixa3]

I hope she gets the tithes.......................ah, so call neocon christian values...the tithe that binds.

[111]

and then let Ms Brown sit in the wet stuff they needed to call a cleaning crew to clean up but wanted their customer to sit in.

interesting how getting pushed caused Ms. Brown to get hemorrhoids, maybe hers are in her head

[circusfifthfloor]

This cabin waitress sounds as though she's a little unstable. Never heard of trauma causing such diverse maladies as hemmies and loss of one's faith. Brother Joel is probably opening the door to some who are still on their Christian training wheels, because he resembles a weekend self help motivator at the downtown Holiday Inn. Yes, he does utter the Lord's name, but his teaching is aimed at the most basic of human needs. Material wealth, power, self esteem, or whatever the television says we need to be whole. His message is for those who long for everything Christ asked us to give up. Heck, I have a sister-in-law who prays for parking spaces when she heads for the market, while she could pray for a handicapped person's good luck, first. This is pure Idolatry cloaked in an Amway theater, without the circles on blackboard. Nothing to do with the Love of Christ and The Grace of God. ME ME ME. Bono said it best about the TV preachers. "My God is not short on cash" Great line.....CFF

[Falafel]

I don't know who these people are so the whole "celebrity" tag seems like a gross exaggeration.

WWJA-Who Would Jesus Assault?

[helonias]

IF she was innocent why hire a lawyer.

She should put her fate in gods hands

[MrsBettyBowers]

I assume her lawyers will use the "It isn't easy being married to a gay man who smiles too much" defense.

It also isn't easy being Christians who strenuously avoid absolutely everything that Jesus said, all the while using His name to make money.

Trust me on this.

[mollysgran]

I absolutely trust you on this Mrs. Betty Bowers, having been married to one, a long time ago.

It is gut wrenching to know that there are 42,000 peeps "flocking" to hear these creeps every Sunday. How blind can one be??

[jashu51]

We need all the facts, people! Maybe it was a big ole spooge stain left by somebody in the Mile-High Club. Ewwww! I'd be slamming somebody against the wall too, baby.

[adzeman]

I must live in a vacuum. I've never heard of this jerk.

[smilodon1]

I haven't either. We must be in the same vacuum. And, jerk? You're too kind.

[AERO]

I've heard of him, but can I join the vacuum, so I won't ever have to hear of him again?

[lainey]

Since you don't know of him and are only reading a vague article, do you think that jerk is appropriate? Furthermore, they do not solicit money; one can give if their soul is fed and one is so inclined. Joel Osteen is a positive influence on our world--I know people of all faiths who find his sermons compelling as he does not seek to pass judgment, but rather lift people up. Try and listen to one of his sermons or read one of his books, you may be pleasantly surprised.