Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
500K $ is too much money for the injustice committed. A public apology and reprimand or firing of those responsible SHOULD be adequate. I read often about minorities wrongly incarcerated for 20 years finally being exonerated and then get nothing. NADA.
When I think of lawyers I too often think of class action suits that benefit the law firm and not the clients. There are the scum. I did read about some limitation on the lawfirm's "take" in class action. I asuem this is state or county regulated. I have not heard about a federal law regarding limitation.
But I am far outside of my zone here.
That's usually because of an Alford (sp?) Plea. Basically, when the government's chances start looking bad , and an inmate is looking like he's getting really close to defeating the government and winning freedom (and money), the government cuts an Alford Plea deal which allows inmate to go free without ever getting a penny.
This is very good for the inmate in the sense that he doesn't have to keep taking his chances with a politician (elected judge) at getting freedom. Alfords don't usually take a long time. If a prosecutor offers an Alford, that individual is usually walking out that day.
There have also been cases where the court system was so messed up that a person who went all the way still can't get a judgement or settlement.
$500k is a perfect amount. Why? Because what lawyers say is true. Things don't change because of media embarrassment. They don't change because people are angry. They change because a corporation, organization, or municipality gets hurt in their pocket.
The writing is on the wall. Case law is on the wall. Let one of your dumb donkey officers use arrest as a means of vengeance or other injustice, and you're going to lose a half a million dollars.
Now it won't be a problem they're "working on". They're going to fix it or go broke.
To a city, $500K is a rounding error. $50,000,000 might get their attention. (But probably not.)
