Jury clears Victoria Osteen in assault case

Nation & World News

Photos from the trial of Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown, who has sued TV pastor Victoria Osteen. Osteen is the wife of Joel Osteen.

Rusty Hardin (right), attorney for Lakewood Church co-pastor Victoria Osteen and her husband, Joel Osteen , share their reactions after the jury found Thursday that Victoria Osteen had not committed an assault against Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown.

Victoria Osteen (center) began to cry after the jury's verdict was read. She hugged her attorneys and several supporters in the courtroom as she said "thank you God" and "praise God."

Brown (left, leaving court Thursday) was suing for at least $405,000 for physical and mental pain suffered as a result of the attack she alleged had occurred before takeoff aboard a December 2005 flight from Houston to Vail, Colo.

Lakewood Church co-pastor Victoria Osteen and her husband, Joel Osteen, listen as jury foreman Gilles E. Labbe' speaks on behalf of the jury Thursday.

Victoria Osteen and Joel Osteen, who were both aboard the flight from Houston to Vail, Colo., testified last week that no attack took place.

During the trial Tuesday in Houston, Joel Osteen was asked if his family received special treatment during airport check-in and at security from a church volunteer who works for Continental Airlines. He said that his family stood in line like everyone else.

Joel and Victoria Osteen are co-pastors of Houston's Lakewood Church, a converted basketball arena that draws about 42,000 people each week for services.

Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown has sued Victoria Osteen, wife of TV evangelist and author Joel Osteen, accusing her of verbal and physical abuse during a 2005 flight. On Tuesday, Brown testified in court that Victoria Osteen threw her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the left breast.

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Rusty Hardin (right), attorney for Lakewood Church co-pastor Victoria Osteen and her husband, Joel Osteen , share their reactions after the jury found Thursday that Victoria Osteen had not committed an assault against Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown.

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