One thing I think Jim is missing here is that not all lawsuits are for money. CUAPB is engaged in a multi-class class action lawsuit against the city regarding police policies and practices. However, we aren't asking for money. We are asking for changes in policies and practices (and adding new ones where needed) so that we can reduce the prevalence of police brutality, misconduct and abuse of authority. This will actually be good for the taxpayers, who will hopefully get a break from all of the other lawsuits for incidents related to police, which has cost the taxpayers some $13 million over the last 4 1/2 years.

Michelle Gross
Communities United Against Police Brutality

At 04:01 PM 10/4/03 -0500, Jim Mork wrote:
Suing
"Let's sue ourselves!" Boy, that'll help beef up police protection, get the roads fixed, etc,etc. What Heller and Graham seem not to grasp is that you don't sue BECAUSE the city has broken the law. You sue to voice your OPINION that the law has been broken. Court procedures test whether that OPINION is something a reasonable person can agree with. Before you get that decision, YOU AND THE CITY spend money they could better use elsewhere. Then if you lose, the city goes on, both of you are out money, and nothing has been accomplished but to reinforce what seems obvious beforehand, that you are wrong but querulous. And the really funny part: Both sums of money come out of YOUR pocket, not the pocket of the people with whom you have your quarrel. It may not be city-specific, but the fact is that Americans have learned to reach for the lawsuit about as unthinkingly as they reach for fatty foods. It is part of the misery of this society, and if you aint parto of the SOLUTION, then you ARE the problem, buddy. Heller says: "Get the picture? Throwing good money after bad never solves a
problem -- it just drags it out and makes it worse in the long run." Yeh, so let's drop this lawsuit nonsense which is precisely a case of that.

REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
________________________________


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Reply via email to