Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

  1. #1
    Senior Member CCUSA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    7,675

    Hazelton Donations Top $300,000/Already Spent Half

    Hazleton donations top $300,000
    City has used half so far to defend Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

    By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
    Staff Writer



    HAZLETON – As of last week, the city has received more than $300,000 in donations to the legal defense fund, and has paid out nearly half that amount in legal fees to defend the Illegal Immigration Relief Act that a federal judge struck down last week.

    The city on Monday provided a print-out of the fund’s check register showing the city had $158,093.55 remaining in the fund as of July 24 – the date of the most recent deposit.

    The city started the fund last fall after attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups sued the city on behalf of Latino groups and individuals to have the Relief Act and a related ordinance declared unconstitutional.

    The laws would fine landlords and suspend licenses of businesses that rent to or hire illegal immigrants and require all city tenants to register with the city and prove their citizenship or legal residency status to obtain a renter’s permit.

    As of March 28, when the city had received $166,573 in donations, it paid $54,829 to Kris Kobach, one of the lead attorneys, and $15,954 to city solicitor Chris Slusser, who helped craft the ordinance.

    Since then, Kobach received another payment of $60,381, and Slusser was paid another $7,582.

    The city also made a $10,000 payment to Scotsdale Insurance Co. – the city’s insurance carrier – as a deductible. Scotsdale had appointed the law firm of Deasey, Mahoney & Bender to help represent the city in court.

    The city also paid $1,162 to Precision Design – a public relations firm in Hazleton – for one year of Web-site hosting. Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta had a Web site designed so people could learn about Hazleton’s legal fight and make donations over the Internet.

    Barletta has said he hopes people continue to donate, especially because he’s unsure whether Scotsdale would pay the plaintiffs’ legal fees if the city loses all appeals.

    The city’s insurance policy covers the city’s legal fees and damages awarded, but it’s unclear whether damages would include the opposing party’s legal fees.

    Lawyers for the ACLU estimated that their legal fees total more than $1 million, and that they might ask the court to instruct the city to reimburse them after the appeal process ends.

    The city plans to appeal the case to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, and both sides have vowed to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if they lose in the Third Circuit.

    ON THE NET
    To donate to the city of Hazleton’s legal defense fund, go to www.smalltowndefenders.com or send a check to Hazleton City Hall, 40 N. Church St., Hazleton, PA 18201.


    Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.



    http://www.timesleader.com/news/2007073 ... _ART0.html
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  2. #2
    jjmm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Posts
    744
    [quote]Lawyers for the ACLU estimated that their legal fees total more than $1 million, and that they might ask the court to instruct the city to reimburse them after the appeal process ends. [/quote\

    Lovely. They set out to ruin and run over the rights of the citizens of this city, and now the city has to reimburse them for it.

    Geez, are we Americans going to wake up to this organization or not? Who IS the ACLU and who is funding them?? This is outrageous.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Steve's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    854
    The ACLU can only be as successful as the judges allow them to be.

    I think Hazelton is going to have a hard time, even if it gets its appeal heard by a sympathetic appellate court.

    If they win, then the ACLU will appeal.

    Then I think it would go to the US Supreme Court. I don't think they have to hear this case if they don't want to. Will they? Probably feel they have to weigh in on the issue, but enormous political consequences may make them nervous.

    What I'd like to know is how the ACLU has racked up $1million in fees, compared with Hazeltons less than $200K. Bigger legal team?

    I guess we only volunteer our time for free (actually costs us money).
    Steve
    Ohio Jobs & Justice PAC
    http://www.OJJPAC.org

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •