"Mother of 3 Arrested for Taking Pictures of Tourist Attraction at Airport"

at least she won a default judgement against the city.
$70 million because the city attorney "forgot" to file a response...
that city govt. is full of idiots.
 
The Town of Southampton has failed to timely file an answer to the Nancy Genovese lawsuit, possibly leaving the taxpayers of the town on the hook for $70 million dollars. A motion for a default judgment has been filed against the Town of Southampton and Town of Southampton Police Officer Robert Iberger, and we are awaiting a decision by the court.

So what happened, and how could the town fail to defend itself against such a large lawsuit?

Michael C. Sordi, the Town Attorney for the Town of Southampton, represents both the town and defendant Robert Iberger, a Town of Southampton Police Officer. He is the attorney responsible for defending both the town and the Southampton Police, but as a result of personal issues, he inadvertently “forgot” to serve an answer. Sordi states in court documents that he telephoned counsel for the Plaintiff the day before his answer was due, advising that his mother was in extremis, and that the doctors treating her had suggested that her death was imminent. He was granted a verbal two week extension, but did not follow up in writing, as he was en route to his mother’s bedside.

A week later, the Town Attorney’s mother passed away. One week later, the Town Attorney’s 25 year old nephew died suddenly and unexpectedly. Michael Sordi states that over the course of these weeks he was in and out of his office tending to family business and grieving the loss of his family members, and that he quite frankly “forgot” that he had not served an answer in this case. He states “I simply got ‘caught up’ in my personal events and I thought, erroneously, that I had actually served the Answer, when in fact I had forgotten to upon my return to work.”

This has not been the first time that the Town Attorney has missed a deadline. Last year, he failed to timely file a response to a lawsuit against the town by a level 3 sex offender, putting the town at risk for an excessive judgment. Luckily, the delay in that case was positively resolved for the town.

Before Michael Sordi was appointed as the Town Attorney for the Town of Southampton, he was the lead attorney in Nassau County in a high profile federal case involving excessive force by a Nassau County police officer. The county lost the case, and the jury awarded the plaintiff nearly $20 million dollars. Michael Sordi was fired by Nassau County shortly thereafter in December 2009. Republican County Attorney John Ciampoli clamed Mr. Sordi, as the lead council on the case, did not complete any prepatory work for several pretrial motions that needed to be filed. He stated “I would characterize that case as having been grossly mismanaged and mishandled by my predecessors in virtually every way that I could imagine.”

Although town officials were aware of the Nassau County mess, they hired Mr. Sordi anyway. Last Friday, Michael C. Sordi, the Town Attorney for the Town of Southampton, was asked to submit his resignation. As part of his parting package, he will receive one month’s salary (his annual salary was $115,000), compensation for unused vacation and sick days, and the town will pay for his health insurance coverage through May 2011. Mr. Sordi also had the town sign an agreement that the town will “fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally” release him from any liability in claims or lawsuits brought against the town.

No word yet on if the taxpayers of the Town of Southampton will be on the hook for the $70 million dollar default judgment.




Oh dear!!! What a shame.
Mr. Sordi should be suspended from ever working in any area of the legal system.

What moron.
 
That city attorney's response reminds me of an old Steve martin bit:

You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. "Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?" First.. get a million dollars.

Now.. you say, "Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, 'You.. have never paid taxes'?" Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!"

How many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don't say "I forgot"? Let's say you're on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, "I forgot armed robbery was illegal." Let's suppose he says back to you, "You have committed a foul crime. you have stolen hundreds and thousands of dollars from people at random, and you say, 'I forgot'?" Two simple words: Excuuuuuse me!!"
Click to expand...
 
Photographers are under attack everywhere, especially since Sept 11. There are a TON of stories on photography forums. Some of them are absolutely ridiculous. Because if you take a photo of your neighborhood you're a peeping tom and if there are ANY children in ANY of your photos you're a pedophile. :blind:

Sigh. I'm sure glad I'm mainly a nature photographer. Birds and dragonflies don't call the cops.
 
I read that blog last night and I wonder if the truth is somewhere in between on both sides of it. Still, there's no question that not only in this case, but countless other similar cases that sometimes authority/power ends up getting applied improperly or outright abused. There are both rules and common sense regarding the application of authority & law which do go hand in hand. Sadly, we see way too many cases where common sense is completely disregarded at all levels of Law Enforcement. The use of discretion & common sense on the part of an Officer making an investigation on a person who's conduct/actions might raise suspicion might actually help discern the difference from someone who is truly innocent or who might be up to no good. There is a fine line between letting your guard down and making the mistake of assuming someone is either a criminal/engaged in criminal activity. Knowing and acting within that fine line can be crucial in both catching real criminals/terrorists and protecting the safety and rights of average citizens.
 
EasyEd said:
Is there something in the water in the US that is causing all this?
Click to expand...

Fluoridation!
United States Air Force Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper from Dr. Strangelove was right! :isadizzy:

I've spent a lot of time visiting the former GDR, taking lots of photographs of steam engines (barely legal if no military gear was in sight by coincidence) - but nothing comparable to this harassment ever happened to me. And the GDR's authorities weren't too famous for their reasonable behaviour...

Cheers,
Markus.
 
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