Fred Phelps

The father of a U.S. Marine killed in Iraq has been ordered to pay $16,510 to a family that protested his son’s funeral in Maryland.

Albert Snyder sued members of the Westboro Baptist Church because they waved signs saying “God hates the USA,” “Matt is in Hell” and others bearing anti-gay slurs at the 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

A federal jury in Baltimore awarded Snyder $11 million in damages in 2007, saying the group from Topeka, Kan., intentionally inflicted emotional distress on the family. The award was reduced to $5 million and was eventually overturned after an appeal by church group leader Fred Phelps.

Now, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered Snyder to pay $16,510.80 to Phelps to cover the cost of their appeals.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on the case.

Snyder told the Baltimore Sun he’s received about 3,000 e-mails from people who planned to contribute to the payment. The American Legion is also asking people to donate, and has collected over $5,000 in under 18 hours.

Phelps and his children have been called the “most hated family in America” because they picket funerals with signs reading “God Hates Fags” and “Thank God for dead soldiers,” among others.

Jason Mattison Jr., a 15-year old openly gay sophomore at the Vivian T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy in Baltimore, was found dead last week at his aunt’s house. He had been raped, gagged with a pillowcase and stabbed repeatedly in the head and throat. Then his body was shoved into an upstairs closet at the house.

Police have arrested 35-year-old Dante Parrish and charged him with first degree murder.

Police say Parrish, a family friend who had previously spent 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in 1999, admitted to killing Jason. Parrish is being held without bail.

An overflow crowd spilled out of the sanctuary and into the vestibule of a West Baltimore church Wednesday morning for Jason’s funeral.

Full story at the Baltimore Sun.