(Ken Silva, Headline USA) “I owe them nothing,” anti-government activist Ammon Bundy told Headline USA after an Idaho jury ruled Monday that he and his fellow defendants must pay the state’s largest hospital more than $50 million in a defamation lawsuit.
Monday’s jury decision stems from a protest Bundy organized at St. Luke’s Health System in March 2022, after a baby at the hospital was allegedly taken into custody by child protective services for health problems. Bundy, who did not attend the St. Luke’s trial, is known for his family’s years-long battle with the federal government over the use of land that the Obama administration illegally sought to commandeer from them.
The hospital protest led to St. Luke’s to go into lockdown, forcing the hospital to close to visitors and reroute their emergency services.
St. Luke’s sued Bundy and his associate, Diego Rodriguez, in May 2022, alleging defamation, invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress and trespassing.
After the defendants declined to appear in court, a judge issued a default judgment against them in April.
On Monday, a jury ruled that Bundy and the others must pay $26.5 million in compensatory damages and $26 million in punitive damages. According to the Idaho Statesman, Bundy must pay more than $12 million, several organizations affiliated with him must pay a combined $28 million. Rodriguez was ordered to pay $13.5 million.
However, Bundy indicated that he won’t pay.
“I plan on continuing to provide for my family and live life as normal as possible,” he said in a message, responding to inquiries from Headline USA. “I owe St. Lukes nothing. I have never used their services or even gone into one of their facilities. I owe them nothing.”
Bundy also posted a message, reiterating some of the claims of malfeasance against St. Luke’s.
“They may have the means to use the courts to cover for their actions, but taking a baby from loving parents no matter how they abuse the courts is wrong and should never happen!” he said on Twitter.
“People in a jury deciding how much St. Luke’s is going to take from those who exposed the truth about them is a mockery to justice.”
Massive institutions combined with the state, financially benefitting when they take a child is one of the worst combinations a parent can imagine. Therefore, to counter, the cost of stealing a baby must be extremely high and good people must assure strong consequences when it…
— Ammon Bundy (@RealABundy) July 25, 2023
Earlier this month, Bundy posted an open letter to presiding Judge Nancy Baskin that explained his reasoning for not attending court, and warning that he “will not allow” any of his property to be seized over this lawsuit.
“This is not justice in any way and I will not allow my property to be taken by force as long as I am alive and free. God our Father will protect,” he said.
“I have offered many times to give St. Luke’s Executives everything I own for peace, they have rejected these offers of peace and therefore I will not permit them to take all that I have earned in my life by force, nor will I consent while this matter sets the example of what will happen to others if they speak against the government or a powerful institution.”
A lawyer familiar with criminal law told Headline USA that the plaintiffs in this case can now obtain a writ of execution, in which case the U.S. Marshalls or County sheriff will seize Bundy’s property and auction it at a public sale. Given Bundy’s anti-government disposition, the lawyer said he expects another armed standoff to ensue.
According to KTVB, Gem County Sheriff Donnie Wunder initially declined to serve Bundy with legal papers at his home because “Bundy was too dangerous to do so.” But the sheriff has reportedly backtracked on that statement, saying that he’ll perform his statutory duties.
