Posted on 12/28/2014 7:45:33 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Philadelphia prosecutors agreed last Thursday to halt efforts to seize the homes of two of the lead plaintiffs in a widely publicized federal suit challenging the city’s use of civil forfeiture laws in drug cases.
Philadelphia drops a Civil Asset Forfeiture case to prevent any court from ruling just seizing people’s property is unconstitutional. Phily.COM has reported the case of Christos Sourovelis and Doila Welch,who were both caught up in having their homes seized to pay police pensions when the police arrested a relative they claimed was dealing drugs on their properties. Today, you basically have to shun relatives and never pick up a hick-hiker in trouble for if they have any drugs, even marijuana, there goes your assets.
The prosecutors, only after these people has money for lawyers and the press got involved, moved for dismissal in Common Pleas Court. The prosecutor agreed to drop the cases against properties as long as both owners took “reasonable measures” to ensure no further drug crimes occurred there.
Here is the entire problem. Only the rich can win for it is your burden to fork-over huge legal fees. If you do not have the money for lawyers, there goes your property. This is what is desperately wrong in America. Any law passed becomes your burden to prove it is unconstitutional. They can actually pass the ancient right of kings under the Common Law since there is precedent known as Prima Noctum – first night. The governor, mayor, county freeholder, whoever, could “legally” claim the right to spend the first night in bed with any women getting married in their district. It would then become your burden to say – NO. That is uncivilized.
There is ABSOLUTELY nothing as it now stands for them to pass such a law. It is then the public’s burden to say no way and fight. This is seriously wrong within out legal system. This allows police to kill people randomly or to pull every person over on their way to work to see if they have all their identification. Whatever they do is OK because they do not FIRST have to go to some constitutional court and ask – is this law justified? Consequently, only the rich can defend the constitution. All others can pray – that’s about it.
This is the final stage of the collapse of the Roman Empire. When the state runs out of money, it historically attacks the people. In Rome, whole armies began sacking their own cities to get paid. The police are doing just that. Whatever they can confiscate goes to funding their own pensions. This is a national problem that will only get much worse going into 2020. We have NOBODY in Washington representing the people any more. It is all about them v the people. This is why we will see a rise in third-party activity for 2016.
Well, won’t the govt have to remove the cross, which would require destroying the (their own) building?
Turn their own rules against themselves.
Good catch. Thanks.
OOPS.
Wrong thread in my head — EEK.
Now, What next -—> Hopefully the inertia may spread to a real finding of unconstitutionality.
useful rule of evidence for normal people: give no credence
to claims of authorities conducting [most] no knock searches
and to those seizing property like this.
The bottom line regardless of the problems with this particular story, is that “civil asset forfeiture” is being abused all across this country. The reason we’re hearing more and more about it is because it’s being abused. There are bureaucrats who have made careers and names for themselves taking property of people under this stupid concept that should not have lost their property under asset forfeiture. Most people cannot fight it. It’s like trying to get your name off the no-fly list.
ah, but if it doesn’t... what next?
And btw Obama’s new AG pick has made her name doing just this. And brags about how much money she’s brought in using civil asset forfeiture.
it’s even gotten a mention in the MSM... it can’t be ignored
any more.
And further, given the latest scotus ruling with cops being able to deny your rights if they “reasonably” misunderstand the laws,
things are not boding well for citizens of the USA.
They are running out of time and they are setting up laws to make everyone criminals. They can’t catch the law-abiding because they don’t break the laws, so they make laws that are impossible not to break, or allow the cops to break the laws without punishment (but will crucify the citizens if they break them).
This country is tyrannical. And getting worse. I don’t want republicans in charge because they just want to be a different flavor of tyrant than the democrat tyrants. I want conservatives - and particularly Christian conservatives who know they have to account to God how they use their power - in charge.
Bump
I didn’t say all people who own pit bulls are drug dealers BUT drug dealers love to own pit bulls.
There is a difference that seems to have escaped you.
So if the people who lived next door to you had a son living with them who was dealing heroin on your street you would only have a beef with he the son and have no bad feeling with their parents?
We don’t need a third(3rd) party.. WE NEED a second(2nd) party..
There is already a 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th party.
Yes.
100+ years ago their son would have worked at the pharmacy and legally sold it to any one, that deemed they needed it for what ever reason.
100+ years later....How dare serfs seek relief from pain suffering and sickness, without consent of the Law/King! Off to the dungeon and seize their assets and their families!
Land of the free to house and quarter drug soldiers. Buh Bye 3rd.
Amen!
Unless they know they are accountable, then they are unaccountable!
wow, unbelievable video.
Wait until the healthcare industrial government complex gets involved by raising prices and making healthcare insurance secondaries impossible for the elderly or anyone to afford:
One thing that seems clear about the current health care debacle is the control the health care industrial complex and the government will have over my assets. And there seems to be no way around it. Tell me if I am wrong to believe this. It will help me sleep at night.
I am being told that I must have Medicare and an insurance overlay or pay penalties. I pay extra for the overlay. If for some reason I cannot pay for the overlay, and require care I will be put on Medicaid, and given care and my assets forfeited to the state/healthcare complex.
Now I understand that this has been a way to manage folks with small assets, in our community giving a house to the town for taxes and bills has been common for years. Our towns use to let the elderly live in their houses until after the death, then foreclose.
However the current combination of insurers, healthcare entities, and government can provide a very different picture. The government has opened a window to previously untapped assets, older people who have previously been able to cover their healthcare insurance, keep their assets intact and provide a boost for the next generation.
It seems to me that all the government/insurer axis needs to do is change the insurance price point depending on the financial needs of the government, insurer or healthcare institution. Less people able to afford, more assets turned over.
The other part, is how prices in healthcare do not reflect reality but instead, a very unrealistic and non market based assumption.
Now I am not opposed to paying for my own healthcare, but I damned sure refuse to be subjected to or pay unrealistic, manipulated and dictated prices, which affects everything from equipment, prescriptions and services.
Both these issues combine to provide a perfect storm of assets to be sucked out of the middle class. I would really like your opinion here. You have a reasoned free market perspective. You are also a good writer, rare in economics. Thank you for your time.
JGoodman: You have provided a very good description of both problems.
ME: And my attorney tells me that there is no way to shield my assets from the government/medical/industrial complex. Very painful to hear.
Some consumers take themselves out of the market with healthcare medical bill sharing, I could do that and if they will have me, that will probably be my choice. I am not sure that the complex’s reach won’t make that a futile gesture though.
Thank you for confirming what I have tried to talk to people about to no avail.
Interesting that my acquaintance who has lives a rather dissolute life, who never paid off anything including her student loans, owes tons on her house, with a low payment, will be able to keep her house, and I would lose mine. Painful.
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