Wouldn't It Be Nice . . . .

[ThePilgrim]

Wouldn't it be nice if those who are abused by government bullies could sue the bullies personally.  Maybe then bad government officials of all stripes would stop using unlawful and unconstitutional tactics against the just plain folk who pay their wages.  Wishful thinking? . . . . prOBably.    

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeleef/2014/09/24/federal-appeals-court-no-qualified-immunity-defense-for-officers-who-engaged-in-blatantly-unconstitutional-raid/

[Jim_Alaska]

Actually Larry they can be if circumctances are right. The legal precedent is that government employees in positions of authority must know the law or regulations they are entrusted with. Having said that, it is paramount to understand that in normal every day cases the agency they work for will foot any legal costs and provide legal support and it will be paid for out of agency funds if an emplowee is sued.  But if the employee willingly breaks the law, or the regulations they are supposedly entrusted with, the agency then will not support them.

 

Courts have held in numerous cases that agency personel must be aware of, and understand the the laws and regulations they are entrusted with upholding. In their cases ignorance of the law holds no weight with judges.

 

This boils down to this: Once it is determined that the employee has done wrong, the agency will not longer foot the legal bill or provide any agency support. This means in effect that you or I can sue that agency employee personally and he has to defend at his own expense and pay any resulting judgements out of his own pocket.

 

I have had occassion to be involved in such instances in regard to my mining advocacy and property rights persuits.

______________________________
James Foley
Property and Mining Rights Advocate
Klamath River, California

[John81]

It's a tough thing to tackle. These agencies tend to cover for themselves and one another so rather than various governmental departments and agencies serving as checks and balances, they serve as a communal order of self-preservation.

 

This is why so often when a cop files charges against a crooked cop, or simply blows the whistle on them, they find themselves shunned and oftentimes given the dirties and most dangerous assignments or fired.

 

Looking back a few years at Illinois and their governor which got sent to prison, many of the politicians and governmental officials admitted that what he did was nothing new, the only reason he went down for his crimes was because he talked too much, was too open about his corruption and he threatened to drag others down with him. That drove the others to cover themselves by turning their backs on the governor. Had he played the corruption game behind the scenes, they would have all rallied to his defense.

 

Most who hold these positions are lost sinners doing what lost sinners do. While it's bad to see and we hope for better, we should recognize that wickedness comes from those who are wicked.