Testimony begins in case against protesting church


Associated Press - October 23, 2007 1:34 PM ET

BALTIMORE (AP) - The doctor of a man suing a Topeka church that protested at his son's military funeral says Albert Snyder has health problems and trouble sleeping.

Doctor Scott Mann tells a Baltimore jury that Snyder also missed time at work because of problems focusing. His son, Matthew Snyder of Westminster, was killed fighting with the Marines in Iraq.

After the Westboro Baptist Church protested at his son's funeral, Snyder filed an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against the church. He's also seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Church members claim the war deaths are God's retribution for America's tolerance of homosexuality. The church says it's exercising its free speech rights.

Ellie