Posted on 07/25/2010 9:40:04 AM PDT by BenLurkin
The Mongols Nation motorcycle club is seeking more than $11 million from the city for alleged defamation of character and violation of its members' civil rights. In a lawsuit filed June 25, Mongols Nation attorney Albert Perez Jr. accused Lancaster's City Council and city manager of libeling and slandering members of the club, depriving them of their civil rights under color of state law, interfering with a contractual relationship for lodging and food, and inflicting emotional distress.
Because of the alleged wrongs, the motorcycle club is asking the Los Angeles Superior Court to order the city to pay $5 million in general damages as well as unspecified special and punitive damages, plus a penalty of $25,000 for each of about 250 plaintiffs whose civil rights allegedly were violated, as well as reimbursement of fees for attorneys and experts.
Attorney William Litvak said the Mongols' lawsuit was still being reviewed.
However, the club's contention that the city closed the Desert Inn as a pretext to prevent the organization from having an event in Lancaster was inaccurate, he said.
"There were significant code violations that were more than tax issues," Litvak said.
In the documents filed in court, the Mongols' attorney described the club as a "social and fraternal organization designed to foster and promote political, social, economic, educational, religious or cultural viewpoints with an emphasis on riding, operating and maintaining motorcycles
The federal Department of Justice on its web sites and criminal filings has assessed the Mongols organization as one of the nation's most violent motorcycle gangs whose membership has been implicated or found guilty in drug dealing, conspiracy to murder, and murder itself. Earlier this year, 20 members of the gang, including its former president, Ruben "Doc" Cavazos, pleaded guilty to racketeering in federal court
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
Hubby and I used to LOAO when we’d pull up to a car and all of the doors would lock. You’d look over and realize that the value of the car they were riding in wouldn’t even cover the cost of the leathers you were wearing. The silly ASSumptions people can make!
BTW I'm wearing a Red and White event shirt as I type this
I ride with two doctors and one active judge a couple of lawyers (they ride in back :<)) and several other professional people amounst others. We host events to raise money for charity and help out with the Patriot Riders
So far around here they like the bikers.It seems that if there are Harley’s parked out front it draws in all of the hangers arounds and they do more buisness. We’ve even had a city cop once escort us home when our headlight went out on us. He rode ahead of us and made sure we made it into the drive way before he left us.
Cops around here don't like club members 1% or not
I didn’t assume that.
Before you get too deep into the flame war, let me elaborate.
I’m speaking of those people who choose to associate with clubs that are known for criminal activity, such as the Banditos or Hells Angels to name a couple.
Such people may not be criminals themselves, but they have chosen to identify with an organization that is criminal. Lay down with dogs, wake up with fleas.
FWIW, I ride a Harley. I wish I was on it right now.
Honestly, how many judges and doctors or other professionals are 1%ers and many of us know there is a difference between being a patched MC member and being a 1%er.
Not all 1%ers are bad either ... take a close look at my patches
That is your perrogative.
Do you know the 'outlaw' clubs from the other 99% of motorcycle clubs, or do you lump everyone in with the one-percenters?
Just curious, and not attacking your desire to invoke your First Amendment Rights of free association.
See my post 27 for a clearer explanation of what I meant.
I’m in SE Ohio.
I would think if you ride a Harley that you would know better than to think that anyone who wore a patch was criminal. So does that mean if you go somewhere and one of the fore mentioned clubs show up you leave? Just wondered wouldn’t want you at a rally like Sturgis where nearly everyone is wearing a patch I mean with your take on associating and all?
You are just not listening.
Please reread what I posted. If you insist on putting words in my mouth, then we’re done here.
Exactly! Our club always called ourselves 2% er just as a joke but I’ve been around a lot of different clubs and most of us got along. There is always a few clubs that you really don’t want to be caught between but other than that.We never wore a rocker though so was no threat to anyone’s territory.
I did read it perhaps you should read everything that you posted.Pretty narrow minded for someone who claims to ride a Harley.
Depends on what you consider a 1%? I consider a 1% someone who does not work and has nothing to do with their patch.
How about we stop playing silly games, I think we all know what we’re saying but I’ll concede that not all are....whatever the generality is...not all are.
However we all know that a 1%er’s real allegiance is with the MC. FW1-FWA. No matter what, right?
And the question that I posed earlier stands unanswered: how many judges and doctors are 1%ers?
Enough to say it is common or likely? Or so uncommon as to be extremely uncommon and exceptional?
We’re done.
Bottom rocker for starters
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.