On Mar 23, 1998 06:03pm, RYAN BAGUEROS wrote to TOM RIGHTMER:
 RB>         ù Quoting Tom Rightmer from a message to Ryan Bagueros  ù
TR>> they are not worthy of a jury's time. There is usually considerable
TR>> time spent investigating these matters before a public announcement,
TR>> if that is what you are waiting for. If there is a conviction of
TR>> these officers, it won't be done by a newspaper or you.
 RB> It won't be done by anyone. As I've stated, the police department found
 RB> no wrongdoing in either case I've referred to, even though a civil
 RB> court found them at fault. So what does that do to your courtroom test?
All that proves is one attorney out did another in front of a jury.  Civil
matters don't have a burden of proof.  Just show that maybe the department 
as
at fault through improper training or any other influence directly out of the
officers control, and the jury can award a judgement.
Similar case involving me while I was driving a truck.  Lost the brakes, by 
the
time the emergency side came on, I was going 10-15 mph and stuck a car 
topped
at a stop light.  I was charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle,
which didn't make it through the jury selection phase before the Judge
dismissed the charge.
The civil trial commenced 1 year and 6 months later and the driver claimed 
he
was unable to bend over or walk due to back injuries.  The jury awarded her
$225,000, quite a sum for the time.  Then insurance company paid up and put 
n
investigator on her for a while.  Six months later I'm back in court, the
insurance company had pictures of her playing softball, jogging, working in 
her
garden, etc all taken a week after the trial where she claimed she would be
crippled for life.  The award was forfeit and we were back in court trying 
he
same civil claim again, and the jury once again awarded her $225,000, even 
with
the proof she wasn't injured (the trucking companies insurance company had
previously paid $35,000 in medical bills prior to the trial).
So civil claims aren't based on the hard cold facts of a incident, often the
awards are the result of the emotional state the courtroom theatrics leave 
he
jury in.
... Platinum Xpress & Wildcat!..... Nice!!!!
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