Yesterday, a federal district judge awarded a complete and total victory for Liberty Counsel and exonerated it in a nine-year civil lawsuit that falsely alleged Liberty Counsel advised a former client to flee the country with her then-two-year-old daughter to avoid a court-ordered custody transfer to a former spouse. The custody battle emerged when Lisa Miller dissolved her Vermont civil union to Janet Jenkins, but in a “first of its kind” case, the court recognized Jenkins as a legal parent awarding her parent-child contact. Jenkins filed a civil lawsuit in 2012 against Miller and others and then amended the lawsuit in 2016 to add Liberty Counsel and attorney Rena Lindevaldsen. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) then began representing Jenkins seeking an astronomical $200 billion in damages.

In Jenkins v. Miller, the judge granted summary judgment in favor of Liberty Counsel finding it did not “engage in, aid, or abet any conspiracy” for the international kidnapping of a child. Judge William K. Sessions III ruled Jenkins’ case against Liberty Counsel had no merit based on more than 186,000 documents, 25 depositions, and 6,800 pages of transcripts showing Liberty Counsel had no involvement in the kidnapping nor violated Jenkins constitutional rights. Judge Sessions also exonerated Lindevaldsen ruling she had no part in advising or helping Miller flee the country. On a third aspect, Judge Sessions ruled the lawsuit was also barred by the statute of limitations.

Judge Sessions ruled that “Liberty Counsel is entitled to summary judgment.”

In 2004, Liberty Counsel began representing Miller to dissolve her civil union to Jenkins. When Miller moved to Virginia with her 2-year-old daughter, Isabella, the litigation to dissolve the civil union pitted the laws of Vermont against Virginia, which did not yet recognize civil unions or “same-sex marriage.”  The Vermont court eventually ordered visitation rights to Jenkins. Miller complied until Isabella complained of abuse. While the cases were ongoing in both states, Miller suddenly fled with Isabella to Nicaragua. When Liberty Counsel became aware, it informed the court and sought to withdraw from the case.  

After indicting several people from Nicaragua and Virginia who, it was later learned, helped Miller flee, Jenkins filed a civil lawsuit in 2012 against many people. In 2016, Janet amended her suit to include Liberty Counsel, falsely alleging that Liberty Counsel was part of a conspiracy to help Miller flee.  

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “Liberty Counsel never did anything wrong and this ruling is a complete and total exoneration. To engage in conduct that advises anyone to defy court orders and kidnap their child would be contrary to our biblical, Christian, and professional ethics. This frivolous lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center was pure lawfare designed to destroy Liberty Counsel. The truth has prevailed.”