Southern Poverty Law Center founder Morris Dees and the SPLC legal team recently last month won a $2.5 million verdict against Ron Edwards, leader of the Imperial Klans of America, and one of Edwards' chief lieutenants for the brutal beating of a Kentucky teenager.

In a live audio webcast Friday, Morris and SPLC President Richard Cohen will discuss the challenges of suing hate groups and their leaders and the effect their trial strategy has had on the hate movement. They'll also discuss how the election of Barack Obama and the current economy are creating "a perfect storm" for white supremacist groups to increase membership.

The jury deliberated about five hours Nov. 15 before delivering the $2.5 million verdict against IKA Imperial Wizard Ron Edwards and two former IKA members, Jarred Hensley and Andrew Watkins.

The verdict included $1.5 million in compensatory damages -- apportioned among Edwards, Hensley and Watkins -- and $1 million in punitive damages against Edwards. Hensley and Watkins both served two years in state prison for assaulting the teen. The SPLC earlier reached settlements with Watkins and one other Klansman.

According to a summary of the case, several Klansmen were at the fair on a recruiting mission in July 2006 when they spotted Gruver, who is a U.S. citizen of Panamanian descent. They threw whiskey in his face and called him a "spic," Dees said. Gruver, who stood 5-foot-3 and weighed just 150 pounds at the time, was surrounded, beaten to the ground and kicked by the Klansmen, one of whom was 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds.

"He never had a chance. They cracked his ribs, broke his arm and busted his jaw," Dees said. "He now suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome and has permanent arm and jaw injuries."

The SPLC argued in court that the Edwards and the IKA incited the racial hatred that led to the attack at the fair. Dees said the jury delivered a loud and clear message that "ethnic violence has no place in our society, that those who promote hate and violence will be held accountable and made to pay a steep price."

Dees, who tried the case, said: "We look forward to collecting every dime that we can for our client and to putting the Imperial Klans of America out of business."

The Imperial Klans of America has 16 chapters in eight states.

Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions for Morris and Richard before and during the webcast.

To register for the live webcast, go to: http://register.webcastgroup.com/event/?wid=0731205084419

Southern Poverty Law Center is an American non-profit legal organization, internationally known for its tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of organizations it calls hate groups.

The SPLC is based in Montgomery, Ala. It was founded in 1971 by Dees, Joseph J. Levin Jr., and civil rights leader Julian Bond as a civil rights law firm. In addition to free legal service to victims of discrimination and hate crime, the center publishes a quarterly Intelligence Report which investigates extremism and hate crimes in the U.S.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com