After deliberating for only about 90 minutes, a Baton Rouge jury handed a resounding victory to Health Science Park LLC, the investor group that for 10 years has been battling the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart and his Family Worship Center Church over the right to buy a parcel of undeveloped land on the ministry’s property.
The 19th Judicial District Court jury unanimously decided the investors have the right to buy the 60-acre parcel for $6.7 million, which is the pre-Katrina price FWCC had agreed to. The jury also awarded HSP $2.8 million in damages—about 25% less than the $3.4 million the group had been seeking.
HSP attorney Claude Reynaud says his clients are thrilled and hope to move forward with plans to develop the property. It is unclear at this point, however, whether the property will be tied up during an expected appeal by FWCC.
—Stephanie Riegel
