Posted on 05/09/2007 4:06:13 AM PDT by theothercheek
What do these towns have in common: Escondido (CA), Farmers Branch (TX), Hazleton (PA) Riverside (NJ) and Valley Park (MO)?They are among the cities and counties nationwide that have proposed or enacted local ordinances that bar landlords from renting to illegal immigrants, penalize businesses that hire them or train their police force to enforce federal immigration laws – and they all have been targeted by the ACLU, civil rights activists and business groups seeking to drive up the legal costs of defending the ordinances in court so high that town officials knuckle under.
The strategy worked in the case of Escondido, reports The Washington Post:
Escondido abandoned an ordinance that would punish landlords who rent to illegal immigrants after it discovered the legal bills could top $1 million. By the time the City Council agreed in December to settle a lawsuit challenging the ordinance, Escondido had spent $200,000, spokeswoman Joyce Masterson said.
When Farmers Branch prohibited landlords from renting apartments to illegal immigrants last fall, the town was slapped with four separate lawsuits challenging the ordinance. As of March, $262,000 has been spent on legal fees and court costs – mostly taxpayer money.
No taxpayer money is being spent to defend Hazleton’s ordinance banning landlords from renting to illegal immigrants, as the town has received $266,000 from thousands of donors around the country. Mayor Lou Barletta tells the WaPo that if Hazleton loses in court, the town could be ordered to pay the plaintiffs’ court costs, which could total as much as $2 million.
So far, Farmers Branch and Hazleton are not backing down. Tim O'Hare, the Farmers Branch councilman who spearheaded the ordinance, says the town’s insurance policy should cover the costs of two of the lawsuits: "Any thought that they can spend us into giving up or quitting is wrong," he tells the WaPo. For his part, Barletta says: "I'm sure the ACLU, part of their goal would be to run the city out of money in hopes that we would stop fighting, but I will raise whatever I have to."
Editorial Note: These towns need all the help they can get to fight their well-funded opponents in court. After complaints from the National Institute for Latino Policy, CNN removed a link on Lou Dobbs’ Web site to Small Town Defenders, which Hazleton has set up to collect private donations. The Stiletto doesn’t answer to CNN, so she is providing the link here - as well as a link to another group raising money to help small towns defend themselves in court, Mountain States Legal Foundation.
NOTE: In case I did not put all the links in correctly please refer back to the original source to access a link.
but unfortunately all the hispanics in FB and there are a TON are voting, any guess as to how they are voting?? What a sham and scam perpetrated by ACLU, DEMS and the ILLEGALS upon TEXANS in FB!!!!!
Could the town sue the Feds for the cost of dealing with the issue?
Or the BP ?
Money is the real tool . Only when it’s not profitable will the boarder be protected.
WE need to remove the attorney fee provision the illegal alien advocates use to fund their suits.
They actually can petition for attorney fees DURING the pendency of the case!
Unfortunatly two of the states with the most electoral votes have lawyer senators who favor amnesty.
I agree. Hazelton rewrote their ordinance to make it “bullet proof” in court - but the ACLU’s objective isn’t to prevail, it’s to make the town abandon the effort. I am hoping that organizations raising money for Hazelton to defend itself will get enough donations to give the ACLU a stiff fight.
Win or lose, the plaintiff lawyers will be paid their lawyer fees according to statute.
change the law and the battle will change.
Win or lose? Is this only in PA? I thought you paid only when you lost and only when you were the plaintiff - this, to discourage people from malicious lawwuits.
The mayor of Farmers Branch has now come out against the ordinance, because of costs. The city councilman who started the effort is still backing it strongly, as mentioned in the original post.
Link to one (very brief) news story below:
http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_story_128201921.html
A friend of mine had some jewelery stolen from him while in the custody of the Somerville MA police dept. He had a big time lawyer sue the city. The city claimed “Soveriegn Immunity” and the case was dismissed by the court. These towns should do likewise, but for the right reason.
ping
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