This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
'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'

A legal fight has involved nine years in the courts. And 25 depositions. And 186,000 documents. And 6,800 pages of transcripts.

And the conclusion from a federal judge is that Liberty Counsel, a prominent legal team that routinely works on a multitude of civil and religious rights issues, had no involvement in a lesbian's fight over custody of a child.

Judge William K. Sessions III ruled that Liberty Counsel did not "engage in, aid, or abet any conspiracy" over a situation that developed when one woman, Lisa Miller, left the lesbian lifestyle choice, and took with her her child.

The other half of the duo, Janet Jenkins, sued over custody of the child and Miller was represented for a time by Liberty Counsel.

Then, however, things took a strange turn, resulting in Jenkins' lawsuit, to which she, years later, added Liberty Counsel, demanding the stunning sum of $200 billion in damages.

Liberty Counsel chairman Mat Staver explained, "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."

The unusual circumstances developed during a time when leftists still were assembling their program for same-sex marriage, a status later granted in a questionable ruling, by the U.S. Supreme Court.

At the time, before the Supreme Court ruled, Miller and Jenkins entered into a "civil union" in Vermont. Then Miller dissolved that civil union, but the courts awarded Jenkins rights to a then 2-year-old girl as a "legal parent" and gave her visitation.

Miller complied for a time, but then the child reported abuse.

The Liberty Counsel involvement happened when Miller dissolved her union to Jenkins and moved to Virginia, where the fight put the laws of Virginia, which did not recognize civil unions, against the laws of Vermont, which did.

"The Vermont court eventually ordered visitation rights to Jenkins. Miller complied until Isabella complained of abuse," Liberty Counsel explained.

However, while legal cases were under way in two states, Miller "suddenly fled with Isabella to Nicaragua. When Liberty Counsel became aware, it informed the court and sought to withdraw from the case," the report said.

The legal team explained it was a "complete and total victory" in the civil case that "falsely alleged Liberty Counsel advised a former client to flee … ."

Lawyer Rena Lindevaldsen had been added to the lawsuit by Jenkins at the same time Liberty Counsel was added, and the ruling from the judge exonerated her, too.

Further, Sessions noted the lawsuit also was barred by the statute of limitations.
Other people eventually were identified as having helped Miller flee with her daughter, and they were indicted.