Victoria osteen lawsuit verdict

HOUSTON, Aug. 15, 2008— -- Victoria Osteen, wife of TV preacher Joel Osteen, says she never lost her faith while a civil lawsuit filed against her by a flight attendant played out in court.

"I stood strong because I believe in the truth," she told reporters after a jury ruled she did not assault Sharon Brown of Continental Airlines during a December 2005 flight.

The jury took less then three hours to reach a verdict.

"If we could have figured out a way to return court costs to the Osteens we would have done it," said jury foreman Gilles Labbe shortly after the jury announced its verdict.

The jury verdict was short and to the point.

They answered "no" to the first question in the jury charge. Did Victoria Osteen commit an assault against Sharon Brown?

Osteen cried after the verdict was announced and told reporters that she was grateful for the decision, and now hoped to put the incident behind her.