"Folks, if you just take the time to look at the actual decision itself, you will find that it supports my initial suspicions that these guys were up to no good. I think that the court made the right decision on this one."
Justice is a matter of process, not of outcomes (See the writings of Thomas Sowell). It matters not whether the court was right; what matters is that the procedures are unjust.
They should have to prove wrongdoing before confiscating private property. It doesn't matter how "sure" they are, if they can't get a guilty verdict, the guy walks.
Besides, the court's reasoning is faulty.
"for the purpose of buying a truck that he had never seen"
People do that all the time. They hear about something they might want to buy, and they go see it. What's odd about that?
"from a third party whom he had never met"
I don't think I've ever bought a used car from someone I knew. Again, what's odd about that?
"with the help of a friend whose name he could not recall at trial."
Just this morning, I needed to remember the name of someone I worked with from April to June of this year. Drew a complete blank. Still can't remember it.
It happens.
The standard for confiscation of private property should be much higher than it is.
Especially if you only know him by a nickname. Take the great NASCAR hero, "Junior" Johnson. Quick, what's his name? Could you swear to it in a court? (It's Robert Johnson, by the way). How about "Chubby" Checker? I have an uncle with a name like this. If he weren't my uncle I'd have a hard time coming up with his real name. (Chubby Checker's real name is Ernest Evans). There are a lot of people out there known to their friends as Tex, Slim, etc. Quick, what is the Texas oil investor "T-Bone" Pickens' real name? (It's Thomas Pickens, Jr.)