JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – First Baptist Church of Jacksonville has settled a lawsuit with a blogger, and the church's pastor has issued an apology to the man, his family and the church.
Thomas Rich filed the lawsuit against the church, and it was settled on confidential terms, an attorney said.
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Rich posted an apology letter from Pastor Mac Brunson on his website, FBCJaxWatchdog.blogspot.com, which reads:
"The case has been settled under confidential terms. Here is Reverend Mac Brunson's statement:
'In April of 2009, I was quoted in a Times Union article regarding an Internet blog which concerned this Church.
The article stated that I had labeled the author of the blog "obsessive compulsive" and a "sociopath". I did use those words and those conditions to describe Mr. Tom Rich, the author of the blog. These are serious and debilitating conditions.
These statements have resulted in protracted litigation for myself and this Church.
Mr. Rich and his family were longtime members of this Church. Mr. Rich is not obsessive compulsive and is not a sociopath. I regret making those statements. I want to apologize to Mr. Rich and his family. I also want to apologize to you and the Church.' Mac Brunson."
In a previous lawsuit settlement, the city of Jacksonville agreed to pay Rich $50,000 and other concessions because of what Rich claimed happened between the church and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Rich runs a blog that has been critical of the church for years. He sued the city when he contended the church asked a JSO detective, who is a member at First Baptist, to obtain a subpoena in order to discover Rich's anonymous Internet identity, which became public as a result.