Fane Lozman, winner in Supreme Court case against Riviera Beach, calls it 'an amazing day'

.palmbeachpost. ^ | Jan. 15, 2013 | By Jane Musgrave

[dennisw]

Fane Lozman, a Marine turned multi-millionaire inventor turned thorn in the side of Riviera Beach officials, has won his long-running legal battle against the city over his floating home.

In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declared that Lozman’s 60-foot, two-story home that was once anchored at the Riviera Beach Marina was not a vessel. As Lozman has argued for years, the court ruled that the city shouldn’t have been able to seize it using centuries-old maritime law.

The decision sets the stage for Lozman to return to court to seek damages against Riviera Beach for destroying his home, which he valued at more than $50,000. He said he will also ask the city to reimburse him for more than $300,000 in legal fees he spent since the fight began nearly seven years ago.

“It’s an amazing day in my life,” said Lozman, who represented himself in the early stages of the legal battle. “Today is a day to celebrate that the legal process works. It shows if you’re a stubborn enough son of a b—— you can win. You have no idea what’s going through my mind. Just to actually get a reversal — it kind of blows your mind.”

City officials were understandably less effusive about the decision. “We are disappointed with the Supreme Court’s ruling,” City Attorney Pamala Ryan said in a statement. “However, we respect and accept the decision, and we will abide by legal implications that flow from it.”

Maritime lawyers, who have been watching the case closely, said the ramifications are potentially far-reaching. In deciding the case, the high court struck down lower court rulings that turned on a simple concept that if it floats, it’s a boat.

[dennisw]

Riviera Beach hacks had a long running grudge with this guy, tried to screw him because they despised him. Too bad these lo-IQ hacks will not have their assets taken to pay this upcoming judgement. Taxpayers will have to pick up the tab for their evil actions

[BilLies]

“Taxpayers will have to pick up the tab for their evil actions.”

It OK they have Obama money.

[freedomfiter2]

In deciding the case, the high court struck down lower court rulings that turned on a simple concept that if it floats, it’s a boat.

I thought the saying is something to the effect of “IF it floats it’s a witch”.

[bert]

Is Revera Beach still an Amish ruled city?

[dennisw]

I have known about this case for years and I never thought about that. But Riviera Beach is indeed a black run town and there is probably a racial angle to this mess. A get whitey angle

[Hot Tabasco]

I hope he gets reimbursed for those legal fees. If not, I don’t consider it a win for him........

[Mister Da]

Lozman said on FOX that he paid property taxes on the house, something not charged to a vessel, so, in levying property taxes on the house the city tacitly agreed it was not a vessel but rather real estate.

[BykrBayb]

I seem to have missed an important detail. Why did the city seize his home? I don’t suppose it really matters as far as the outcome, and yet somehow it seems like there is a gaping hole where that detail belongs.

[GladesGuru]

Your “gaping hole” may be completely filled with a legal term “malignant animosity”.

The appellate level decision in the case of Olech v. Willowbrook, IL (Judge Richard Posner) turned on that issue.

[BykrBayb]

Very nice, but I doubt they listed “malignant animosity” as the basis of their action.

I satisfied my curiosity by reading another article about it.

There were a lot of issues at play, but the simple answer is that they claimed he hadn’t paid the rent on his dock space (which he denied) so they utilized a law that allows the confiscation of boats as compensation for debts.

[dennisw]

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2007-12-13/news/targeting-citizen-lozmanriviera-beach-officials-plot-a-strategy-of-intimidation-mdash-and-leave-a-paper-trail/

An Obama style town council was after this white guy. Lots of bribes and kickbacks from developers were on the line (in my opinion) and Mr Houseboat guy got in the way. So the desperate morons on the town council trashed his boat and evicted him the only way their lo-IQ minds knew how

[BykrBayb]

Thanks. I got all that. I wasn’t passing judgment. I was asking for a detail that I could not find here. I asked specifically for that detail, to get a more complete picture of the legal proceedings. Without knowing what the case was about, it’s kind of difficult to put any of the rest of it in context.