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| | Page 1, 2 | THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions"
| NY Times
User ID: 380168
8/20/2008 12:30 AM
Report abusive post | THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions"
| Quote |
By JIM DWYER
Published: August 19, 2008
The city has agreed to pay $2,007,000 to end a lawsuit brought by 52 people who were swept up in a mass arrest along a Midtown sidewalk during a protest against the invasion of Iraq.
They were charged with blocking pedestrians, but videotapes show that at their most annoying, they might have slowed a few people carrying coffee into work. Public order did not seem to be in unusual danger that morning — certainly nothing that called for rounding up 52 people, or spending millions of dollars.
Only two people were tried; they were acquitted, and charges against the other 50 were dismissed.
The arrests were made on April 7, 2003, during the opening days of the invasion of Iraq and right after the city persuaded the Republican Party to hold its 2004 convention in New York. The people arrested said their rights to free speech had been abused, and sued the city and the police.
Now, five years later, the $2 million settlement is only part of the bonfire of legal expenses. And only some of the costs from this episode involve money.
Of the $2 million paid to the people who were arrested, $1,057,000 is for legal fees and expenses owed to their lawyers. The Law Department could not provide an estimate on Tuesday of how much it spent on the defense, said Laura Postiglione, a spokesman for Michael A. Cardozo, the city’s chief lawyer.
Just about every Tuesday and Thursday for over a year, witnesses were deposed under oath, part of the pretrial process in civil cases, according to Sarah Netburn, a lawyer with the firm Emery Celli Brinkerhoff Abady, which, along with the Center for Constitutional Rights, represented many of the people arrested that morning. The deposition transcripts cost over $100,000, said Matthew Brinkerhoff, another lawyer for the plaintiffs.
Among those deposed were 55 police officers and their supervisors. Between preparation and testimony, many would have lost two days of regular police work.
The city had five lawyers handling the case over the last four years, along with a special appellate team. A conservative estimate is that the city spent $1 million on the defense, including the salaries and benefits of police officers and lawyers, before running up the white flag.
“Although defendants believe that they would ultimately have prevailed at a trial, the costs of going forward weighed in favor of a settlement at this time,” said Susan Halatyn, a city lawyer.
But why were the arrests made in the first place?
That morning, two groups gathered on West 56th Street, outside the offices of an affiliate of the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that has holdings in defense industries and employs many world figures, including the first President Bush.
One group of about 10 people planned to commit civil disobedience by sitting in front of the building, on the south side of 56th Street. The other group, of about 100 people, stood on the north side of the street, chanting.
Sarah Kunstler, 31, a lawyer and a filmmaker, said she had gone to see if there were possibilities of making a film about war protests. “I found out I could get arrested for absolutely no reason,” Ms. Kunstler said.
A film editor, Ahmad Shirazi, 70, said he was in the group on the north side of the street and had just finished speaking with reporters for the BBC when he saw officers beginning to mass.
“All of a sudden, from the Fifth Avenue side, a huge number of police officers entered 56th Street,” Mr. Shirazi said. “The protest was on the south side of the street. We were standing on the north side of the street. They came directly to us, they were in riot gear, and they surrounded us. They made a semicircle around us, shoulder to shoulder, with their batons.”
“Then they started arresting us, one by one. At that point, I got emotional — I could not believe in my country, in my city, I could get arrested for doing absolutely nothing and standing on the sidewalk,” Mr. Shirazi added. “My wife basically had to console me, say, ‘It’s O.K.’ ”
ARE there any lessons from the day? The Law Department said the $2 million payout did not mean the police had done anything wrong. “This settlement was reached without any admission of liability on behalf of the city and the individual defendants,” said Ms. Halatyn, the city lawyer.
The Police Department did not respond to a request for comment on the settlement.
Mr. Shirazi said that as he was being handcuffed for the first time in his life, he told the officer that the plastic cuffs were squeezing him. “He said, ‘You should have thought about that before you came out this morning.’ It was like a dagger in my heart, that a police officer of my city would come up with anything like that.”
E-mail: dwyer@nytimes.com
[link to www.nytimes.com] |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 487895
8/20/2008 12:42 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
I agree, and $100 million wouldn't have been enough. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 460460
8/20/2008 12:48 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
if you demonstrate...
...do it peacefully |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 485277
8/20/2008 12:59 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
I agree, and $100 million wouldn't have been enough. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 487895
they would have won it to! |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 480545
8/20/2008 1:01 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
 |
| Readytoride
User ID: 487937
8/20/2008 1:12 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
I would just stay calm,you won't win and pepole showing off with crushed in a minute with either tazers,rubber bullets,or batton hits.They arn't playing no more!I hate Martial Law but it's in Gods will.Just DON'T give them any reason to screw with yout don't bow to them either.I believe this is the seto-up the Anti-Christ will use because if the rapture isn't till the middle or end well we might have to live to this.Imagine these pepole though!Just back and think about it,these big sterioded police dressed in formal blue riot gear with friggn nightvison built in the masks!Picture 100 to 200 of these guys coming at you full force LIKE A WALL.This shit is coming!! |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 209619
8/20/2008 1:36 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
I agree, and $100 million wouldn't have been enough. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 487895
So why isn't there a class action suit against the NY fire department for the "pulling" of WTC7 (not to mention the murders of 3000 people)? |
| TX PATRIOT
User ID: 440969
8/20/2008 1:41 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
Just DON'T give them any reason to screw with you Quoting: Readytoride
You don't have to give them a reason. Read this guy's account of being arrested in NYC during 2004 RNC peaceful protests:
[link to www.godlikeproductions.com]
Know your rights.
. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 480895
8/20/2008 1:43 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
I don't know why people continue coming to that city. |
| Readytoride
User ID: 487937
8/20/2008 2:16 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
Just DON'T give them any reason to screw with you
You don't have to give them a reason. Read this guy's account of being arrested in NYC during 2004 RNC peaceful protests:
[ link to www.godlikeproductions.com]
Know your rights.
.
Damn I hope Martial Law is never enforced(even though we know it will).I figured if you just chilled and walked away from them they wouldn't mess with you.
Martial Law is:
 |
| Wake up tards
User ID: 485499
8/20/2008 4:53 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
I would just stay calm,you won't win and pepole showing off with crushed in a minute with either tazers,rubber bullets,or batton hits.They arn't playing no more!I hate Martial Law but it's in Gods will.Just DON'T give them any reason to screw with yout don't bow to them either.I believe this is the seto-up the Anti-Christ will use because if the rapture isn't till the middle or end well we might have to live to this.Imagine these pepole though!Just back and think about it,these big sterioded police dressed in formal blue riot gear with friggn nightvison built in the masks!Picture 100 to 200 of these guys coming at you full force LIKE A WALL.This shit is coming!! Quoting: Readytoride
WTF does god have to do with corrupt, unconstitutional pigs?
There is no god radioing orders for the pig brigade to arrest people or beat them down for exercising their 1st amendment rights, dumbass.
If there weren't so many goddamn religious fruitcakes in the USA sitting around PRAYING instead of DOING, we'd have probably stormed the castle long ago. But no, you religious nutjobs gotta put all of your energy into worrying about gay rights instead of MASS MURDERERS who have enslaved the populus.
Brainwashed morons. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 426811
8/20/2008 5:25 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
WTF does god have to do with corrupt, unconstitutional pigs?
There is no god radioing orders for the pig brigade to arrest people or beat them down for exercising their 1st amendment rights, dumbass.
If there weren't so many goddamn religious fruitcakes in the USA sitting around PRAYING instead of DOING, we'd have probably stormed the castle long ago. But no, you religious nutjobs gotta put all of your energy into worrying about gay rights instead of MASS MURDERERS who have enslaved the populus.
Brainwashed morons. Quoting: Wake up tards
you have serious issues. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 479972
8/20/2008 5:26 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
By JIM DWYER
Published: August 19, 2008
Of the $2 million paid to the people who were arrested, $1,057,000 is for legal fees and expenses owed to their lawyers. The Law Department could not provide an estimate on Tuesday of how much it spent on the defense, said Laura Postiglione, a spokesman for Michael A. Cardozo, the city’s chief lawyer. Quoting: NY Times 380168
We need to garnishee the arresting officers wages to pay for this stupidity.
These low life pigs need to learn to take on a little responsibility, just like the rest of the grown-ups do. I'm tired of these traitorous parasites passing the buck on to honest law abiding patriots. |
| zazzman
User ID: 388752
8/20/2008 5:30 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
The 52 people need to pay NYC 2 million dollars for making the police/fire Dept respond for their silliness. Another reason the ACLU needs to be banned and their leaders put in jail for terrorism. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 479972
8/20/2008 5:39 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
The 52 people need to pay NYC 2 million dollars for making the police/fire Dept respond for their silliness. Another reason the ACLU needs to be banned and their leaders put in jail for terrorism. Quoting: zazzman 388752
Or the 52 people might want to consider the merits of shooting police/fire department on sight....and burning down their houses on the weekends. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 380168 (OP)
8/20/2008 7:06 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
I agree, and $100 million wouldn't have been enough.
So why isn't there a class action suit against the NY fire department for the "pulling" of WTC7 (not to mention the murders of 3000 people)? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 209619
Look up the Stanley Hilton case. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 380168 (OP)
8/20/2008 7:08 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
Just DON'T give them any reason to screw with you
You don't have to give them a reason. Read this guy's account of being arrested in NYC during 2004 RNC peaceful protests:
[ link to www.godlikeproductions.com]
Know your rights.
.
Exactly. That's why I said it should be $100 million.
What's with all the 2 star ratings of the pinned posts? Is there a star abuser on the loose, or is everyone just really pissy on GLP today? |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 380168 (OP)
8/20/2008 7:09 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
The 52 people need to pay NYC 2 million dollars for making the police/fire Dept respond for their silliness. Another reason the ACLU needs to be banned and their leaders put in jail for terrorism.
Or the 52 people might want to consider the merits of shooting police/fire department on sight....and burning down their houses on the weekends. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 479972
That might be a tad extreme.
All is given according to karma, so just be sure to do GOOD unto others so that when it comes back around, you're on a POSITIVE receiving end of things. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 380168 (OP)
8/20/2008 7:19 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
By JIM DWYER
Published: August 19, 2008
Of the $2 million paid to the people who were arrested, $1,057,000 is for legal fees and expenses owed to their lawyers. The Law Department could not provide an estimate on Tuesday of how much it spent on the defense, said Laura Postiglione, a spokesman for Michael A. Cardozo, the city’s chief lawyer.
We need to garnishee the arresting officers wages to pay for this stupidity.
These low life pigs need to learn to take on a little responsibility, just like the rest of the grown-ups do. I'm tired of these traitorous parasites passing the buck on to honest law abiding patriots. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 479972
I believe the average IQ of law enforcement personnel is extremely low -- around 90. The words, "Forgive them for they know not what they do" comes to mind.
It's their superiors who are giving the orders who have the higher IQs and wicked minds that need to be held accountable. But karma will ensure this.
The police did not think this up on their own. They were given orders, and at 90 IQ, you don't tend to have much wherewithal when it comes to thinking and discriminating right/wrong for yourself. You're basically an automaton/slave to others with higher IQ, ambition and will. People are so easy to control via emotions, especially when the discriminative facilities aren't developed or active.
This was an event designed to have a psychological impact -- and it achieved its aim. The impact was mostly fear and anger, yet also some apathy as you realize, more and more, that the game is TOTALLY RIGGED against individual freedom and the right to live as one desires.
Then again, the individual "I"... the ego-mind... is synonymous with limitation anyway so most people would be slaves even if there was no government. They'd be slaves to their own minds and emotions. We don't need government to bind us. |
| Mr.Caine..
User ID: 411658
8/20/2008 7:40 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
By JIM DWYER
Published: August 19, 2008
Of the $2 million paid to the people who were arrested, $1,057,000 is for legal fees and expenses owed to their lawyers. The Law Department could not provide an estimate on Tuesday of how much it spent on the defense, said Laura Postiglione, a spokesman for Michael A. Cardozo, the city’s chief lawyer.
We need to garnishee the arresting officers wages to pay for this stupidity.
These low life pigs need to learn to take on a little responsibility, just like the rest of the grown-ups do. I'm tired of these traitorous parasites passing the buck on to honest law abiding patriots. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 479972
The "pigs" are nothing more than hired GOONS,
they are the "mob enforcers" . Too do any good
ya need to go after the Law Makers and those that
order the GOONS to do the dirty work..
.. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 380168 (OP)
8/20/2008 7:41 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
By JIM DWYER
Published: August 19, 2008
Of the $2 million paid to the people who were arrested, $1,057,000 is for legal fees and expenses owed to their lawyers. The Law Department could not provide an estimate on Tuesday of how much it spent on the defense, said Laura Postiglione, a spokesman for Michael A. Cardozo, the city’s chief lawyer.
We need to garnishee the arresting officers wages to pay for this stupidity.
These low life pigs need to learn to take on a little responsibility, just like the rest of the grown-ups do. I'm tired of these traitorous parasites passing the buck on to honest law abiding patriots.
The "pigs" are nothing more than hired GOONS,
they are the "mob enforcers" . Too do any good
ya need to go after the Law Makers and those that
order the GOONS to do the dirty work..
.. Quoting: Mr.Caine.. 411658
Yes. Thank you. |
| What's itAllAboutAlfie
User ID: 245993
8/20/2008 8:25 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
Good if the police in Denver pull this police state marshall law BS then let them pay.
Glad to see some parts of the Bill of Rights are still functioning.
My only concern is that new laws have been written to let them treat citizens as cattle. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 380168 (OP)
8/20/2008 8:30 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
Good if the police in Denver pull this police state marshall law BS then let them pay.
Glad to see some parts of the Bill of Rights are still functioning.
My only concern is that new laws have been written to let them treat citizens as cattle. Quoting: What's itAllAboutAlfie 245993
Yup. Pretty bad.
Still, many citizens do behave like animals. Just look at some of the attitudes here at GLP. Some are just downright NASTY. But, I'll defend their right to be assholes, so long as they don't infringe on anyone's rights to speak their own minds. |
| Mr.Caine..
User ID: 411658
8/20/2008 8:32 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
Good if the police in Denver pull this police state marshall law BS then let them pay.
The Goons never pay, the Tax payers do (that is YOU)..
My only concern is that new laws have been written to let them treat citizens as cattle.
This ia why ya HAVE to go after the Law Makers..
.. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 400833
8/20/2008 8:42 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
If you have ever met or talked with NYPD offices in their private life - as clients, patrons of a store, or maybe as patients of a medical practice - you quickly become appalled at how truly stupid they are. To say the AVERAGE IQ is 90 is an EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC number. 70 or 80 is more likely. The men who have IQ's higher than that are the captains and Lieutenants and up. The "rank and file" are lucky if their IQ's even approach the low end of the statistical middle.
In NYC it's not that they are underpaid. They're not. But I think the city has intentionally hired those who are not capable of either thinking or reasoning for themselves, and therefore they will be dependent on their commanders for their every move.
To my way of thinking putting lethal and non lethal weapons in the hands of those who are by most definitions somewhat mentally retarded is a criminal act in and of itself! The city goes out and hires these pathetic types so they will be totally obedient to their officers and NEVER question or think for themselves.
Pity really. If you ask the cop on the corner for directions these days, chances are he's too dumb to know where he is or where you want to go.. Yes, THAT DUMB!
By JIM DWYER
Published: August 19, 2008
Of the $2 million paid to the people who were arrested, $1,057,000 is for legal fees and expenses owed to their lawyers. The Law Department could not provide an estimate on Tuesday of how much it spent on the defense, said Laura Postiglione, a spokesman for Michael A. Cardozo, the city’s chief lawyer.
We need to garnishee the arresting officers wages to pay for this stupidity.
These low life pigs need to learn to take on a little responsibility, just like the rest of the grown-ups do. I'm tired of these traitorous parasites passing the buck on to honest law abiding patriots.
I believe the average IQ of law enforcement personnel is extremely low -- around 90. The words, "Forgive them for they know not what they do" comes to mind.
It's their superiors who are giving the orders who have the higher IQs and wicked minds that need to be held accountable. But karma will ensure this.
The police did not think this up on their own. They were given orders, and at 90 IQ, you don't tend to have much wherewithal when it comes to thinking and discriminating right/wrong for yourself. You're basically an automaton/slave to others with higher IQ, ambition and will. People are so easy to control via emotions, especially when the discriminative facilities aren't developed or active.
This was an event designed to have a psychological impact -- and it achieved its aim. The impact was mostly fear and anger, yet also some apathy as you realize, more and more, that the game is TOTALLY RIGGED against individual freedom and the right to live as one desires.
Then again, the individual "I"... the ego-mind... is synonymous with limitation anyway so most people would be slaves even if there was no government. They'd be slaves to their own minds and emotions. We don't need government to bind us. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 380168 |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 380168 (OP)
8/20/2008 8:51 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
If you have ever met or talked with NYPD offices in their private life - as clients, patrons of a store, or maybe as patients of a medical practice - you quickly become appalled at how truly stupid they are. To say the AVERAGE IQ is 90 is an EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC number. 70 or 80 is more likely. The men who have IQ's higher than that are the captains and Lieutenants and up. The "rank and file" are lucky if their IQ's even approach the low end of the statistical middle.
In NYC it's not that they are underpaid. They're not. But I think the city has intentionally hired those who are not capable of either thinking or reasoning for themselves, and therefore they will be dependent on their commanders for their every move.
To my way of thinking putting lethal and non lethal weapons in the hands of those who are by most definitions somewhat mentally retarded is a criminal act in and of itself! The city goes out and hires these pathetic types so they will be totally obedient to their officers and NEVER question or think for themselves.
Pity really. If you ask the cop on the corner for directions these days, chances are he's too dumb to know where he is or where you want to go.. Yes, THAT DUMB! Quoting: Anonymous Coward 400833
You've totally nailed it. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 482675
8/20/2008 9:10 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
what crap, that's less that $20k per person after expenses |
| OrangeRay3
User ID: 488072
8/20/2008 9:15 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
if you demonstrate...
...do it peacefully Quoting: Anonymous Coward 460460
Yhea...those 70 year old thugs outta really stay off the sidewalk they're so threatening at that age...really aggressive they r! |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 53618
8/20/2008 9:27 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
So why isn't there a class action suit against the NY fire department for the "pulling" of WTC7 (not to mention the murders of 3000 people)? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 209619
Because it would be laughed out of court? Get a grip. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 488066
8/20/2008 9:40 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
Why aren't the unpinned threads moving..."boob scotch" has been there since yesterday with still only 6 replies |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 488066
8/20/2008 9:44 AM | | Re: THIS SUCKS! NYC should have been sued for $100 Million+... "52 Arrests, a $2 Million Payout, and Many Questions" | Quote |
Why aren't the unpinned threads moving..."boob scotch" has been there since yesterday with still only 6 replies Quoting: Anonymous Coward 488066
I changed out of firefox and it's ok now... |
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