Appeals Court Slashes Award in Krishna Brainwashing Suit

In a long-awaited ruling on religious liberty, a state appeals court in San Diego on Wednesday drastically cut a $9.7-million award against the Hare Krishna movement, dismissing a claim that the sect brainwashed a 15-year-old Orange County girl into joining.

In addition to the brainwashing claim, the 4th District Court of Appeal also dismissed claims that the Krishnas intentionally caused Robin George emotional distress and libeled her. It left her only a $75,000 award tied to the wrongful death of her father.

However, the court left intact a $2.9-million judgment against the sect for Robin’s mother, Marcia George, for emotional distress and libel.

Basis of Lawsuit

The celebrated case began in 1977 when the George family sued the Krishnas, contending that they brainwashed Robin into joining the movement, then hid her from her parents. The lawsuit included claims of libel and wrongful death because stress allegedly brought on the heart attack that killed Robin’s father in 1976.

In 1983, an Orange County jury returned a $32.5-million verdict against the sect, a judgment reduced to $9.7 million by the trial judge.

The Krishnas contended that the verdict interfered with their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

Attorneys on both sides said appeals of Wednesday’s 105-page decision were almost certain because neither side was a complete winner.

“(Robin) got clobbered,” said Lynde Selden, a San Diego attorney representing the Georges. “And if anybody was wronged by this Krishna behavior, it was Robin. I think her mother agrees. Robin was injured the worst.”

Robin George, now 29 and known by her married name, Robin George Westerkamp, is an interior designer living in Orange County. She said the verdict was “sad.”

The court apparently did not understand the “element of mind control and how that interferes with your thinking,” she said. “The court is looking at this case and saying, ‘This girl did these things and had a choice--there must be something wrong with her .’

Marcia George was out of the state Wednesday, her daughter said. She could not be reached.