Michigan Court Reinstates Award for Woman Hurt in Spiritual Fall

The Michigan Supreme Court has reinstated a $317,000 award to a woman who says she was hurt when no one caught her fall after she was “overcome by the spirit of the Lord” in church.

The Lansing woman says she sustained head injuries in 2002 when an usher failed to stop her backward fall at the altar of Mount Hope Church on Lansing’s east side.

The 5-2 court decision reverses a state Appeals Court ruling throwing out most of the jury award to Judith Dadd.

That part of the 2007 award was based on Dadd’s claim the Rev. David R. Williams libeled her by accusing her of fraud.

The appeals court upheld $40,000 for injuries but said Williams’ comments were privileged. The high court’s majority disagreed.