Man Falls During Religious Experience, Sues Church

When worshippers are asked to “fall to their knees,” they usually do it in a controlled way that doesn’t cause injury. But one man claims his spiritual awakening was unsafe, as he fell and aggrevated a recurring injury. Now he wants $2.5 million from the nondenominational Lakewind Church in Knoxville, Tenn.

Matt Lincoln, 58, reportedly fell during worship in June 2007 while having a very physical reaction to the Word of God, according to the Associated Press. Lincoln was unsuccessful in trying to get the church’s insurance company to cover his medical bills, which prompted the lawsuit.

The Smoking Gun, which also posts a scanned copy of the civil complaint, gives even more details. Their report says that at the time of the incident, a visiting minister was on-hand offering prayers for individuals who came forward. “Catchers” were manning the altar to guard against the possibility that someone could fall during the revival. The minister, Robert Lavala, reportedly touched Lincoln’s forehead and he fell backwards, though no one was ready to catch him.

Lincoln claims he suffers from a “degenerative disc disease of his neck and back.” The AP reports that he has undergone two surgeries since the fall, and Lincoln also attests that he had fallen while worshipping before but someone had always been there to catch him.

The Smoking Gun reported that Lincoln was a former member of the church board and the AP story attests that other congregants saw Lincoln laughing at the time he fell.

When denying the claim, the church’s insurance company, Zurich of North America, told Lincoln that he should have noticed that no one was behind him to catch him.