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Posted on 06/09/2006 7:38:19 AM PDT by VRing
A Stockbridge couple whose home was mistakenly raided by Henry County Police last year as they sought a drug suspect is seeking $8 million in damages from the incident.
In a lawsuit filed last month in Superior Court against county officials and police, Roy and Belinda Baker say they were roused out of bed by police who used a battering ram to knock down their door and threw concussive grenades into their home around 1 a.m. Sept. 30.
“The Law Enforcement Defendants accosted the Bakers in the hallway to their bedroom, where they had been sleeping, and yelled at the Bakers, threatened, assaulted and unlawfully touched the Bakers, and placed the Bakers face down, at gunpoint ...” the suit says.
(Excerpt) Read more at henryherald.com ...
No, the award should be high enough to cause all parties involved to not even think about planning, authorizing, or executing anything like that ever again.
Yes, they can. They have multiple options, some easier than others.
First option is to simply pick up and move out of that district.
Second option is to fight to get the district lines changed to something more equtable.
Third option is to fight fire with fire, and bring up a candidate that the opposing party would be willing to vote for. In the case of battling against a mostly black district, find someone of the same color, but with a more conservative viewpoint than McKinney. Doesn't have to be polar opposite, someone more towards the center. Any change is better than just bending over and taking it without doing anything to resist.
I'm sure there are more options, those 3 just popped into my head. Give it some more thought, and I'm sure there are even more alternatives.
It's not that you aren't explaining your point. I understand what you are saying, but I think you are wrong. The power of the vote is what gives every adult in the country power. You have the power to change your government without the use of firepower or lynchmobs. All you have to do is get involved and vote. As a result, you get the government you are willing to accept.
Don't like it? Change it. Don't feel like making the effort to change it? Then deal with the consequences of your apathy.
I love your tagline. Mind if I steal it to print on a bumper sticker for my truck?
"In the middle of the night there is a reasonable explanation as to the mix up of addresses involved, and that is most likely what happened."
I completely disagree. Since this is when 'most' of these type of arrests are done, and these are supposed to be paid professionals, there is absolutely no excuse.
If it were me, I would sue for the actual physical damages plus $200 million for violating the sanctity of my home. Of course, that would have to be if I weren't home at the time. If I were home at the time, it is likely that I would be among the many casualties.
I hope the judge doubles it.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Which is exactly why they shouldn't be doing this kind of "work".
Gad! I miss Peace Officers.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
This whole lawsuit thing has become "life's lottery", as portrayed by Dick Gephardt....no resemblance between damages and the amount sought when an ambulance-chaser takes it and seeks to do his own wealth-redistribution from the deep pockets into his OWN pockets.
yup, Why not make it 200 million? The same logic applies.
If you're ever inconvenienced someone owes you money. Mistakes not causing any permanent or serious damage are unacceptable and those who experience any inconvenience should become instant millionaires. Makes sense to me.
1) All damages done to their home are paid for. The cops responsible should be forced to be present to watch while repairmen fix the damage they caused.
2) Since by now the mess from having their home ransacked has been cleaned up, the officers involved should be required to pay out of pocket for a cleaning service for the couple for a period of time, say 5 years, just to be punitive.
3) a sum amount to be paid out of the police department's budget for punitive damages, say 100 grand. This should cover the pain and suffering, humilitiation or what not.
4) All bills paid for the family to get therapy, long enough so that they once again feel safe going to sleep in their beds at night.
5) Another sum, also to come from the police department budget, to pay for a total security upgrade on the family's home. Alarms, cameras, fencing, reinforced doors and windows, etc.... plus the cost of maintaining a 24/7 presence of armed private security to protect the family from another home invasion from the cops. The security force should be maintained as long as item #4 is still ongoing.
To heck with the money. Bring them up on federal charges of breaking and entering, assault, threatening with a deadly weapon, you name it. Throw the book at them. This garbage must stop.
"I supposed you have never made a mistake at work before?"
The difference, of course, is that when us common folk make a mistake WE pay for it.
Sounds good! I didn't get a penny for having a gun put to my head and forced to the floor of my own home during a forced and unwarranted search. Maybe I was foolish not to pursue some recompense since I still shudder at the site of a cop. The lesson I learned was to never open the door for them and never step out of your house to speak to them. Treat them as the enemy because no matter what they will treat you the same.
Usually you get to redo the work or project. In the case of law enforcement, they have lots more pressure than you because they carry weapons and the results of mistakes can result in death.
I think they are far more under the gun than you could ever be in common professions.
It's yours. :)
Those all work but you still forgot the one that assures the department will never do this again, to anyone, ever.
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