Texas Pastor Ordered to Pay $2.45 Million to Woman After Giving Her Herpes
October 13, 2023
In a recent court ruling, Ralph Douglas West II, an assistant pastor at Houston’s The Church Without Walls, has been ordered to pay a woman $2.45 million after transmitting herpes to her. The jury found West guilty of battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and fraudulent concealment after a three-day trial.
The victim, who met West on Facebook five years ago, contracted genital herpes shortly after their encounter. Her attorney, Shaun Murphy, stated that West admitted to having herpes, claiming it came from his son’s mother. The victim, realizing that she had not been sexually involved with anyone else and had previously tested negative for herpes, knew that West was the source of the infection.
During the trial, Murphy presented evidence that West knew he had the sexually transmitted disease but lied about when he had unprotected sex with the woman in March 2018. As a result of the ruling, West is required to pay $1.45 million in compensatory damages and an additional $1 million in exemplary/punitive damages.
Ralph Douglas West II is the son of Pastor Ralph Douglas West, the founder of The Church Without Walls, which boasts over 24,000 members across three locations. The church’s website identifies West II as a minister at the Eldridge campus.
The ruling has sparked controversy both within and outside of the church community. While a church member took to Facebook to express support for the West family, others on social media have called for West’s dismissal from the church.
The Church Without Walls has yet to release an official statement regarding the court ruling. DailyMail.com reached out to the church for comment but has yet to receive a response.
This case has drawn attention to the issue of accountability within religious institutions and highlights the importance of transparency and responsibility in sexual relationships. The victim, who will have to live with herpes for the rest of her life, has been awarded a significant sum in damages, believed to be the largest payment ordered in such a case.