Torrance, USA - The former pastor of a Torrance church has been awarded $4.6 million in a slander lawsuit in which she claimed the current pastor said she was “of the devil.”
The Daily Breeze of Torrance reported Friday that jurors this week awarded $2 million to Nancy Johnson and another $2.6 million in punitive damages.
Johnson became head pastor of Prairie Avenue Foursquare Church in 1999 and retired in 2007. She claimed she was allowed to stay on as principal of the church day school.
In the lawsuit, Johnson said the current pastor defamed her by telling congregation members she mishandled church money and called her “of the devil.” The church is considering an appeal.
Besides the award, jurors determined that Johnson owed the church $4,685 in misappropriated funds.