Comments on: Big Forfeiture Case To Be Heard in Federal Court on Monday

By: A Broker in Pillage | Nobody's Business

A Broker in Pillage | Nobody's Business — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:02:51 +0000

[...] which net the largest profits; a quarter-million dollar aircraft is small potatoes compared to a million-dollar motel: Imagine you own a million-dollar piece of property free and clear, but then the federal government [...]

By: David

David — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:47:07 +0000

Any reports of what was said at argument?

By: February 17 roundup

February 17 roundup — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:47:49 +0000

[...] Caswell Motel case from Tewksbury, Mass. heads to court, could test forfeiture law [Balko] [...]

By: Stephen Tower

Stephen Tower — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:37:20 +0000

I live in Tewksbury, and grew up the next town over. The Motel Caswell infamous for crime. It’s a really seedy place in an otherwise nice pleasant suburb. Still, there’s no justification for confiscating the property from the owner.

By: Psion

Psion — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:24:38 +0000

Supercat, I actually love that idea! Non-violent, and it gets the point across.

By: EBL

EBL — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:14:50 +0000

At least in Kelo they paid the money to the people whose property they took (granted at a level less than what it was really worth). Here these people have the choice of either fighting and incurring massive attorney fees or losing and getting nothing!

I am getting madder now just thinking about it.

By: EBL

EBL — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:13:08 +0000

This should be a bigger story than Kelo! I linked it to this post about a warning to the GOP candidates that no nanny staters should apply: http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/2012/02/warning-to-gop-candidates-no-nanny.html But this end run around the 5th amendments’s prohibition of takings without just compensation makes me mad.

By: StrangeOne

StrangeOne — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:32:32 +0000

#28 JCR

If he had done that the business owner would have been arrested for bribery first, with the prosecution taking things to the limit on ridiculous charges. The inspector might have had charges pressed if enough public outcry existed, but regardless you can be sure other government thugs would have made the business owner regret it. That’s how a mafia works, you screw one guy out of payment, and another is breaking your windows next week.

#37 paranoia

Look up the Supreme Court Case Kelo v. City of New London.

By: paranoiastrksdp

paranoiastrksdp — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:45:12 +0000

Someone in the private sector wanted that property and called in a favor, most likely. Hasn’t that happened before?

By: Mannie

Mannie — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:04:29 +0000

#22 | C. S. P. Schofield | February 10th, 2012 at 8:07 pm

Every time a high profile case is tried in the Media and the jury disagrees with the pundits, there are twits all over, screaming for a change in the rules, so that “they can’t get away with it next time”. These people should be clubbed to death like harp seals.

You’re much too nice.

By: Stick

Stick — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:21:33 +0000

@ #31 supercat – I’ve had similar fantasies myself. I thought of ‘investigating’ some of the more public players (DA’s, Police chiefs, state representitives etc), with the help of the seediest private eyes you can find. The videos of their nefarious activities would make interesting viewing on the ‘Free anonymous DVD’s’ that would be delivered to thousands of homes across the state. From there copies would spread like a plague across the country. Ah well, it will never happen.

By: CyniCAl

CyniCAl — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:24:38 +0000

#24 ftw

By: The Civil Forfeiture Outrage: American Government At Its Worst, So Naturally We Ignore It | Ethics Alarms

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:03:51 +0000

[...] to Radley Balko for the story.] Share [...]

By: JimBob

JimBob — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:40:14 +0000

@croaker

It also worked for Ellis Wyatt, if you’re of that persuasion.

By: supercat

supercat — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:18:34 +0000

@Psion: What I’ve wished would be that some people could start up a network and maintain a list of all the crooks in government and what they’ve done. I’m not sure how one would go about vetting the list to ensure that it only included the people who deserved to be on it, but what I’d like to see would be for many individuals and businesses to start denying these people all the various courtesies that make life bearable for honest people. Make it so that none of them will know, the next time they’re on the road and visit a diner, whether the waitress, with the full knowledge and approval of management, might “forget” their order, etc. Basically, find every possible way to make their lives miserable, as they deserve to be.

By: Psion

Psion — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:32:53 +0000

No … not arson, not a bulldozer. A hundred men of conscience and principle armed with rifles. The “Sons of Jefferson” I’d call them. Unfortunately, when I look in the mirror, I doubt I’d be one … and the fact that’s a common affliction is the reason things have gotten the way they have.

By: Dan Z

Dan Z — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:52:27 +0000

I would go all Killdozer if I owned the hotel.

By: John C. Randolph

John C. Randolph — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:16:32 +0000

Finally, the head inspector said something like “yeah, it’s not uncommon to have to spend $x resolving problems like this”. Finally cluing in, my friend left an unaddressed check for $x lying around the next time the head inspector visited. Funny, the check disappeared, nothing was said, but the next inspection passed.

It’s a shame that your friend didn’t get it on tape, and get that little prick thrown in jail.

-jcr

By: John C. Randolph

John C. Randolph — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:14:42 +0000

I’ll never understand how this B.S. ever passed muster under the fifth amendment.

It doesn’t. The US government, from the very beginning, has routinely violated the bill of rights.

-jcr

By: Andy S

Andy S — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:59:29 +0000

What’s the arrest rate for the population as a whole? How does it compare to the hotel’s guests?