Title: Anti-Government Activist Ammon Bundy Ordered to Pay $52.5 Million in Damages to Idaho Hospital System
Subtitle: Lawsuit concludes over harassment and defamation by Bundy and associates
Date: [Current Date]
In a landmark ruling, a jury ordered anti-government activist Ammon Bundy, his associate Diego Rodriguez, and their network of organizations to pay $52.5 million in damages to Idaho’s largest hospital system, St. Luke’s Health System, and the medical professionals they harassed. The lawsuit, which has lasted more than a year, accused Bundy and Rodriguez of defamation and harassment against the hospital and its employees.
St. Luke’s Health System’s attorneys had initially requested $16 million in damages for immediate costs. However, they argued that the defendants’ online messages of harassment continue to circulate, causing ongoing harm to the hospital. Therefore, they requested an additional $37 million to account for future damages, such as security costs. The jury, however, awarded $26.5 million in damages to the plaintiffs, which included the hospital system and three employees, and added $26 million in “punitive” costs.
In response to the jury’s decision, Chris Roth, president and CEO of St. Luke’s Health System, stated, “Taking legal action is not something we take lightly. But standing up to the threats, bullying, intimidation, disruption, and self-serving actions of the defendants was necessary. Inaction would have signaled that their menacing behavior was acceptable. Clearly, it is not, and the jury’s decision validates that fact.”
The court proceedings have been marked by Bundy and Rodriguez’s attempts to evade legal notices and arrest warrants, leading to their absence from the two-week-long jury trial. The hospital system’s attorneys have also accused them of hiding their financial assets to avoid paying the lawsuit.
The incident that sparked the lawsuit occurred when doctors ordered Rodriguez’s infant grandchild, who they believed was malnourished, into temporary protective care. Bundy and Rodriguez claimed that the child was healthy and alleged discrimination because he was unvaccinated. In March 2022, Bundy and his supporters verbally confronted security personnel at St. Luke’s hospital and later forced the hospital into lockdown, disrupting medical services.
During the trial, doctors testified that the infant was severely malnourished and under the risk of death. Due to health privacy laws, they were unable to publicly dispute Bundy and Rodriguez’s false claims. The doctors’ testimony, along with evidence of the child’s declining health, played a crucial role in the jury’s decision.
Ammon Bundy, known for his involvement in the armed standoff at an Oregon wildlife refuge in 2016, responded to the ruling by criticizing the court system. He stated, “The Ada county courts are embarrassing,” and referred to the verdict as a “mockery of justice.”
With this ruling, St. Luke’s Health System hopes to send a clear message that harassment and intimidation will not be tolerated. The significant damages imposed on Bundy and his associates aim to provide justice for the hospital system and its employees who have endured the consequences of their actions.