Posted on 04/01/2007 10:37:48 AM PDT by Stoat
| Homeless Men Win $45,000 Lawsuit Against City Of Las Vegas March 29, 2007 4:26 p.m. EST Mary K. Brunskill - All Headline News Staff Writer
Las Vegas, NV (AHN) - Three homeless men arrested for sleeping next to feces won a settlement of $45,000 Thursday after taking the city of Las Vegas to court. Eastman Webber, David Hicks and Jerry Halfpap had been arrested last November under a provision against sleeping within 500 feet of feces or urine. However, the provision had been repealed in September, so the law no longer existed. Webber, Hicks and Hafpap were handcuffed and arrested at a park across from City Hall on November 16. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney Lee Rowland said police singled the men out because they were homeless and that their civil rights were violated. "The City has taken the wrong tactic by criminalizing homelessness ... Clearly, I think this settlement shows that the city cannot violate the constitution without consequences." Hicks said they would not have been arrested if they had not been homeless. "The constitution says we have all inalienable rights," he said. "And I'm entitled to those same rights." He also had no idea that they were near feces. "I didn't even know it was there," Hicks said, laughing. "Was I supposed to go around searching for it?" Each of the men now has $10,000. Fifteen thousand went to their lawyer, Brent Bryson, who charged them a reduced fee. Bryson said the money will give them the "ability to get back on their feet. They can purchase a used car, if they so desire. They can get an apartment." Hicks, 44, said he is going to use the money to rent out an apartment and join the labor union. "I'm going to get my own transitional housing," he said. "Like a typical citizen, I plan on looking through the newspaper and on foot for rentals. I have a game plan." Halfpap, 47, and Webber, 67, said they were still deciding what to do with the money. |
I doubt, however, than any such stories will be forthcoming.
That money will buy a lot of 40's. They gonna have a big ol' party.
"I didn't even know it was there," Hicks said, laughing. "Was I supposed to go around searching for it?"
He could not smell it
I would hope that they can turn their lives around. Perhaps the newspaper will embed a reporter with the plaintiff for a year?
Yes, I think that the statements from the two others to the effect that they weren't sure what they were going to do with the money is shorthand for "clear the path between me and the liquor store"
"Halfpap, 47, and Webber, 67, said they were still deciding what to do with the money."
What you usually do with money - drinking, drugs ... never consider getting a place to stay and a job. Now you'd have some escrow for a room to get started back to a productive life.
Another angle about how to win at craps.
As do I, although there are numerous news stories about lottery winners who have destroyed their lives as a result of an influx of cash and not knowing how to deal with it.
Perhaps the newspaper will embed a reporter with the plaintiff for a year?
Excellent idea, although this would require actual journalistic integrity and passion, which I have not exactly witnessed in overabundance these days.
So? Do you want the lawyers & their staff to be homeless, too? :)
I doubt you could find a spot that wasn't within 500 feet of feces in Las Vegas.
Granted the ordinace was repealed but...no sh** Sherlock. Was he expecting residential folks to go out and try to get away with it? /s
Maybe they can drink themselves to death before the money runs out.It will make a good test case,because if they do-then it might be cheaper for cities to give all bums 10k.
Actually the Review Journal in Vegas isn't to bad as far as newpsapers go. The other paper, the Vegas Sun is a poor excuse for day old bird cage liners.
Granted the ordinace was repealed but...no sh** Sherlock. Was he expecting residential folks to go out and try to get away with it? /s
Very true :-) I've always thought it strange that there couldn't simply be an ordinance that prohibits sleeping 'overnight' in open public areas within the city limits. It could be justified on humanitarian and safety grounds, in that sleeping out in the open in the city places the sleeper at risk for victimization from crime and harm.
My bathroom isn't anywhere near 500 feet away from my bedroom (more like 12-15 feet) . . . .come arrest me!
"I have a game(ing) plan."
My bathroom isn't anywhere near 500 feet away from my bedroom (more like 12-15 feet) . . . .come arrest me!
The anti-smoking zealots are feverishly working on ways to enact legislation that would allow exactly such a fate for smokers who dare to light up in their own homes, so I have no doubt that eventually your wish may be granted :-)
And they are doing it with money taken from honest taxpayers that kept working and on their feet to start with.
Congratulations.
" had been arrested last November under a provision against sleeping within 500 feet of feces or urine."
Little kids who crap in their diapers are now crimminals.
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