‘Sweet Cakes’ Owners’ Bank Accounts Seized as Damages... [Before Christmas]

The Blaze ^ | 29 Dec 2015 | Chris Enloe

[amorphous]

On Monday, the Associated Press reported that "Sweet Cakes by Melissa" owners Melissa and Aaron Klein paid their state-ordered damages to a lesbian couple with check totaling $136,927.07 - but that isn't the whole story.

According to Fox News writer Todd Starnes, who spoke with Melissa Klein a few weeks before Christmas, Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries confiscated all of the money in her checking and savings accounts, including one that had money set aside for her church tithe. They totaled nearly $7,000.

[silverleaf]

God wasn’t a co signer on the account
But maybe the minister should have been
The Kleins sound totally naive
At least my accounts would have been small and in the name of a created legal entity and maybe also the kids

[amorphous]

The "injured" party:

Rachel Cryer & Laurel Bowman, now known as Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer.

Cake Shop Owner Cries Over Closing Business

---

Paul Thompson, a Portland attorney representing the Bowman-Cryers, also declined comment, saying, "We don't want to speculate on their motives as to why they do or don't do things."

The dispute goes back to January 2013 when Rachel Cryer and her mother came into the Sweet Cakes shop for a cake-tasting appointment, only to be told by Aaron Klein that the Gresham bakery did not do cakes for same-sex weddings.

Cryer and Bowman, as they were then known, complained to the labor bureau, prompting a state investigation, four days of hearings before an administrative law judge this year and, ultimately, Avakian's July ruling.

Lawyers for the Kleins twice asked Avakian to delay enforcement of his order while the Oregon Court of Appeals considers their case, saying payment would lead to "financial ruin," Willamette Week reported.

Avakian rejected the requests, citing the amounts raised for the Kleins from crowd-funding sites. He issued his final denial on July 27.

Subsequently, emails between Jenn Gaddis, the chief prosecutor in the labor bureau's administrative prosecution unit, and the Kleins' attorneys addressed ways the debt might be satisfied without putting up cash.

"If we can come to agreement on the terms and conditions of a bond or irrevocable letter of credit," Gaddis wrote to the Kleins' attorneys Aug. 6, "the agency will stay collection of the emotional distress damages from your client."

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/09/sweet_cakes_owners_who_refused.html

[amorphous]

http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-25119-bittersweet_cake.html

[amorphous]

52 PAGE PDF FILE OF INTERIM ORDER - RULING ON RESPONDENTS' RE-FILED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT AND AGENCY'S CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT

[Torahman]

Brad Avakian should be given a reciprocal response. Picket his office. Meetings he goes to....Why should this man, who is in the process of destroying a Godly, decent family enjoy serenity and peace? Is there no one in Oregon who is outraged by this?

[TwelveOfTwenty]

My “buy American” beliefs have taken a real beating over the past seven years. I have already chosen foreign over American to avoid patronizing companies that support this. I felt bad afterwards, but knowing I didn’t contribute to this made up for it.

[dp0622]

well, I DID add a disclaimer :)

I love Cruz. but SC picks are the only chance to overturn. no? realistically?

I wish someone would ask Trump his litmus test or choosing a SC justice. just would like to know.

[dfwgator]

[Marathoner]

That damned Avakian needs to, shall I say, get a visit. He should not know a moment’s peace in his worthless life.

[Gritty]

This extrajudicial confiscation very specifically violates several of the Bill of Rights - not that Liberals care about theat. Here are two very specific ones...

Amendment VII -
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII -
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

It goes without saying this is a monstrous outrage violating the Constitutional rights of these people.

[MayflowerMadam]

The gaystopo movement is Satanic. One more way to bring down America.

[MayflowerMadam]

Trump would really hit the situation hard. IF he believes the way we do.

I think Trump believes the way we do, not necessarily in the area of gay marriage. (I don't know what he thinks about that.) Being a successful businessman, I think he believes businesses have the right to operate any way they please and would not support any kind of thuggary.

[DaveyB]

I think Trump believes the way we do, not necessarily in the area of gay marriage....

Trump would probably negotiate a better deal. His deal might be that Sweet Cakes would only be required to bake a cupcake.

[MeshugeMikey]

from my POV the levy was one of the steps of said retribution the collection another

[eavesmac]

Just an accidental squirt of windex in the mix would produce the runs for everyone. (old restaurant trick for mean people)

[combat_boots]

Oregon is beautiful.

Its people are often peculiar.

Its transplants need to be resettled on some island in the Azores.