Aryan Nations hit with $6.3M judgment

SEPTEMBER 8, 2000

The Aryan Nations lost its civil lawsuit in an Idaho court yesterday, after jurors awarded $6.3 million to a Native woman and her son.

The jury on Thursday said the group, its founder Richard Butler, and its corporate entity were negligent in an attack in which security guards shot at Victoria Keenan and her son, Jason, in 1998.

The family had stopped near an Aryan Nations compound, looking for a lost wallet. Their car backfired, leading to the attack.

Two Aryan Nation guards, Jesse Warfield and John Yeager, had asked the Keenans if they were Native American. Victoria said they were Caucasian and guards were apparently instructed to let them go accordingly.

Warfield testified that he didn't recall the attack because he was intoxicated. He also testified that he wrote Victoria a letter, threatening recrimination if the family sued.

The family's lawyer, Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center, had asked for more than $11 million in damages. On Good Morning America this morning, Dees said his clients will seize the property of the Aryan Nations and of Butler. These include the sprawling compound.

Dees also said he has asked Butler to hand over the deed to the compound and move out of Idaho.

Prior to the judgment, Butler said a ruling wouldn't put him out of business. He continued his stance yesterday.

Related Stories:
Native family seeks $11.26M (The Talking Circle 9/7)
Aryan Nations lose round in suit (The Talking Circle 9/5)
Aryan Nations trial continues (The Talking Circle 9/1)
'Racists' on trial (The Talking Circle 08/29)
Native family challenging Aryan Nation (Tribal Law 08/25)