Evangelical pastor Joel Osteen defended his wife and
co-pastor of the renowned Lakewood Church
in a Houston court room Friday,
testifying that she did not assault a flight attendant in 2005.
Victoria Osteen has been sued by Continental Airlines flight
attendant Sharon Brown, who claims the pastor assaulted her shortly before the
start of a 2005 flight to Vail, Colorado, over discontent with her seat.
Victoria Osteen, 47, claims she did not assault Brown.
Her husband Joel Osteen was called as a witness Friday and
he testified before the jury that Victoria
did not assault Sharon Brown because there was a small spill on her seat.
Osteen also said his wife never raised her voice nor did she
touch the flight attendants.
The previous day, Maria Johnson, a flight attendant who had
been on the plane at the time of the alleged incident, testified that Victoria
Osteen demanded that the small spill be cleaned up and then became verbally and
physically abusive when that did not happen as rapidly as she wished it to.
Johnson said Victoria Osteen grabbed Brown by the shoulders,
elbowed her in the chest and pushed her away as she tried to reach the cockpit.
Joel Osteen denied Johnson’s accusations but later admitted
he could not hear his wife’s voice from where he was seated nor could he see.
He also denied Brown’s assertion that Victoria Osteen was
asked to leave the plane by the flight crew and that instead he and his family left
voluntarily.
The Federal Aviation Administration fined Victoria Osteen
$3,000 for interfering with a crew member. The flight was also delayed because
of the incident.
Sharon Brown is asking for an apology and punitive damages
amounting to 10 percent of Victoria Osteen’s net worth. She is also seeking counseling
expenses.
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