First Lawsuit to Come Out of Crowley-Gates Affair

[backslashbaby]

Guess whose it is:


http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/08/05/04/1104-72/index.xml


And important background info:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/073009_barrett_email_text/


I'm just going to let the irony sink in a minute, myself ;)

[semilargeintestine]

Wow, colourful language.

[clintl]

Fortunately for schoolchildren in the Boston area, he is no longer an English teacher, either.

[SPMiller]

Well, that's a genuine surprise. You'd think an outspoken racist might understand why he got suspended.

[backslashbaby]

Here he is on Larry King. Oh, my.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRv7eg3BnmA

It's my understanding that he's not suing for any outcome or ruling, btw - those processes aren't there yet. I believe he is suing because of comments made by officials. It's a little new for good articles on that yet - sorry. I saw this on CNN.

This guy takes the cake, though, eh?!!

[clintl]

He calls Gates "a banana-eating jungle monkey", and he's suing over what other people called him?

[backslashbaby]

He calls Gates "a banana-eating jungle monkey", and he's suing over what other people called him?

Yeah, pretty much! People around the world think he's an idiot racist now, and it's the city's fault.


Here's the claim:

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/080309Barrett.pdf

OK, it seems that this is separate from whatever hearings, complaints, etc the police force has for suspension/termination.

He is trying to argue that by saying that he "is gone", and by saying negative things about him on the global stage, officials conspired to restrict his civil rights and denied him Equal Protection, etc.

To remedy this, they need to not fire him, pay him damages and pay interest on the damages.

Fascinating. The poor boy has PTSD and can't sleep now either.

Oh, my.

[dgiharris]

THis is hilarious.

Truth is indeed stranger than fiction

Mel...

[Prozyan]

I remember several years ago I saw an episode of The Practice where a police officer was suing the city for disability. The disability was racism and the man claimed the job had made him a racist, so it was all the city's fault.

Wonder how long it will be before that storyline becomes reality.

[Fran]

Maybe he could use the settlement if he wins (HAH!) to go and be educated in how not to be a racist. You know, so he can keep the city from having to stump up even more money to defend frivoulous, time-wasting lawsuits from eejits who should know better. That'd be real public service.

[Alphabeter]

I'm surprised he didn't sue the school system for not teaching him more appropriate language to use when writing to a newspaper. I remember having to practice grammar and other writing skills in Letters to the Editor---when I was eight.

Or he could have sued his former military branch for not having the opportunity to learn that is not the way to refer to the actions of someone that you disagree with---no wait, that irony even hurts my head.

[jennontheisland]

I remember several years ago I saw an episode of The Practice where a police officer was suing the city for disability. The disability was racism and the man claimed the job had made him a racist, so it was all the city's fault.

Wonder how long it will be before that storyline becomes reality.
I'll bet his lawyer loved that show.

[BenPanced]

This unhappies me.

[Alpha Echo]

Was he serious when he wrote "ax" instead of "ask?" I mean...I know it's in the accent and all, but still...it's not a difficult word to spell!!!

[Williebee]

What I haven't heard yet?

What is the New Hampshire (?) National Guard's response to all this? If he's not on active duty status, he wouldn't (I don't believe) be subject to the UCMJ, but he's still subject to his own State's Code of Military Justice.

[Gretad08]

What a friggin moron! I LOVE that he has the stones to call someone else a poor writer.

Good luck ever gaining the respect of your fellow man. Hole up with your family and shut your mouth for a few years. Then maybe we'll let you come back out amongst the living.

[semilargeintestine]

Maybe he could use the settlement if he wins (HAH!) to go and be educated in how not to be a racist. You know, so he can keep the city from having to stump up even more money to defend frivoulous, time-wasting lawsuits from eejits who should know better. That'd be real public service.

If he wins, he won't need a settlement.

[BenPanced]

What a friggin moron! I LOVE that he has the stones to call someone else a poor writer.

Good luck ever gaining the respect of your fellow man. Hole up with your family and shut your mouth for a few years. Then maybe we'll let you come back out amongst the living.
Or at least until VH1 comes knocking with a "reality" series...

[clintl]

Was he serious when he wrote "ax" instead of "ask?" I mean...I know it's in the accent and all, but still...it's not a difficult word to spell!!!

He was obviously being intentionally racist when he wrote "ax". There is no doubt about what his intention was.

[Medievalist]

In addition to the clearly racist overtone--there's still a pronounced anti-intellectual tone.

I do think, still, that part of the initial confrontation's hostility was not only racially motivated (on both ends) but also a conflict of authorities and cultures.

There very much is a rising tone of anti-intellectualism as the economy sinks.

[Don]

Hmm... Medi, my memory's a little weak; guess it comes from being an old hippie.

I seem to remember another case where a crashing economy led to the rise of an anti-intellectual movement. Anything come to mind? :D

[Fran]

If he wins, he won't need a settlement.

I thought when someone sued and won they got a settlement. Is that not the case?

ETA: Apologies, I misread what you posted. But why won't he need a settlement?

[Gretad08]

In addition to the clearly racist overtone--there's still a pronounced anti-intellectual tone.

I do think, still, that part of the initial confrontation's hostility was not only racially motivated (on both ends) but also a conflict of authorities and cultures.

There very much is a rising tone of anti-intellectualism as the economy sinks.


bolding mine

I might call is pseudo-intellectualism as he attempts to promote his writing savvy in the first few lines by announcing his qualifications as an English teacher. What a joke!

[clintl]

In addition to the clearly racist overtone--there's still a pronounced anti-intellectual tone.

I do think, still, that part of the initial confrontation's hostility was not only racially motivated (on both ends) but also a conflict of authorities and cultures.

There very much is a rising tone of anti-intellectualism as the economy sinks.

Yes. I was pretty much completely shocked at how virulent in his anti-intellectualism my right-wing cop brother was a while back when we were having a discussion about teaching English to English-learners in school. When I tried to point out that his position was contrary to what research shows works best, he pretty much dismissed all university research as fraudulent.

[semilargeintestine]

I thought when someone sued and won they got a settlement. Is that not the case?

ETA: Apologies, I misread what you posted. But why won't he need a settlement?

A settlement is an agreement between two parties in a civil suit prior to a judge ruling on the case. It is basically a contract between the two parties that the judge then approves.

If you take the case to trial and win, you receive what is called a judgment in your favour. This can be anything from damages to an injunction. It depends on the context of the suit.

[Fran]

A settlement is an agreement between two parties in a civil suit prior to a judge ruling on the case. It is basically a contract between the two parties that the judge then approves.

If you take the case to trial and win, you receive what is called a judgment in your favour. This can be anything from damages to an injunction. It depends on the context of the suit.

Thanks. As far as I can tell he hasn't been formally punished or reprimanded, so I don't see the point of his suit if he's not looking to get money out of it, which is what I meant by settlement. He can hardly claim his reputation's been damaged when he's brought most of that on himself :)

[POPASMOKE]

A presiding judge could determine the case to be without merit and frivolous and dismiss it. Thus putting an end to this circus before it wastes more time and money.

[semilargeintestine]

Thanks. As far as I can tell he hasn't been formally punished or reprimanded, so I don't see the point of his suit if he's not looking to get money out of it, which is what I meant by settlement. He can hardly claim his reputation's been damaged when he's brought most of that on himself :)

A settlement isn't necessarily money. I don't know enough about the case to say what he's after or if he is likely to get it; however, from what I've read, it seems like just another frivolous lawsuit.

[backslashbaby]

Yeah, incredible racism - check. Anti-intellectualism - check. Crude sexism - check.

And some sort of jab at Catholics, I believe: "You're kidding me, right? Are you still in the 5th grade, Catholic School?" Or was he just being precise with detail :D ?

A big one to me is what he says about suspects and what he'd do if he were on the scene:

Your defense [4th paragraph] of Gates while he is on the phone while being confronted [INDEED] with a police officer is assuming he has rights when considered a suspect. He is a suspect and will always be a suspect. His first priority of effort should be to get off the phone and comply with police, for if I was the officer he verbally assaulted like a banana-eating jungle monkey, I would have sprayed him in the face with OC deserving of his belligerent non-compliance.

--- Don't suspects have any rights? Scary thing to have a cop say.

--- If a current police officer says he'd pepper spray a suspect for complaining, there's a real problem there.

[SPMiller]

Yes. I was pretty much completely shocked at how virulent in his anti-intellectualism my right-wing cop brother was a while back when we were having a discussion about teaching English to English-learners in school. When I tried to point out that his position was contrary to what research shows works best, he pretty much dismissed all university research as fraudulent."Pretty much completely shocked" doesn't even begin to describe. Fraudulent? Lol! Talk about jealousy.

[clintl]

He didn't actually use the word "fraudulent," but he basically said they don't know anything and just make up results to get more money. That visit made me realize why, when I go up to Oregon, I have so much more fun visiting my old college roommate who lives up there than I do visiting him.

I kind of decided for the sake of family peace (it was during a large dinner gathering of the extended family), that the conversation should probably end there. But what I really wanted to ask him was how much of an effort it took to be that big a moron.