[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Flip Off Cop, Get $50K (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 11/27/2009 4:59:48 PM EDT
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Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. |
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Sounds right to me. Quoted: Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. |
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Any cop that gets his feelings hurt over the bird shouldn't be a cop. Same thing goes if the cop doesn't like being called an asshole, a dickhead, a mall ninja, JBT, or any other name. Part of the job.
On the other hand, walking around flipping people off could be considered disorderly conduct if the "flipper" meant it as a way of "breaching the peace". pato |
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Im not so sure this isnt BS. I mean come on. Youre telling me everyone here goes around flipping off cops?????????
I know I dont, and if I did , i would expect to get fucked with by said cop. If its that fucking easy , and now with a precedent, we should all go around flipping off cops til we get one to arrest us right. I mean they did "viloate his civil rights" |
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I do it regularly to the SO fucktards writing bogus tickets here on the highway by the house. How do I know they are writing bullshit tickets? A buddy who's a deputy there told me  When you say "bogus" and "bullshit" are you implying that they are writing tickets for offenses that never occurred or that they are writing tickets for offenses that YOU think are bullshit offenses? Big difference. pato |
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Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. The citizens of Butler county get to pay for the actions of the officer. 
Did he sue the correct party? Why not sue the officer? |
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Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. The citizens of Butler county get to pay for the actions of the officer.
Did he sue the correct party? Why not sue the officer? <TWEET!> Personal foul: Failure to read. 15 yard penalty, repeat down. |
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Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. The citizens of Butler county get to pay for the actions of the officer.
Did he sue the correct party? Why not sue the officer? <TWEET!> Personal foul: Failure to read. 15 yard penalty, repeat down. Hmmm, complaining about other people making mistakes, while making one yourself............................. priceless. |
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Cops should flip off motorists They're called traffic citations, last I heard.  His better option would have been to plaster the guy with legitimate, albeit pimpy, traffic tickets. Which would clearly have been seen as retaliation for exercising 1st Am rights anyway. |
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Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. I wonder what the Judge would have done if the cop had stood up in court and told him to FO. After all, first amendment rights and all. 
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Quoted: Quoted: Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. I wonder what the Judge would have done if the cop had stood up in court and told him to FO. After all, first amendment rights and all. Different First Amendment rights in Court than on a public street  |
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Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. The citizens of Butler county get to pay for the actions of the officer.
Did he sue the correct party? Why not sue the officer? <TWEET!> Personal foul: Failure to read. 15 yard penalty, repeat down. Good call, but I think we all know what I'm getting at. If they would hold the people that cause this shit liable this shit might stop. |
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Any cop that gets his feelings hurt over the bird shouldn't be a cop. Same thing goes if the cop doesn't like being called an asshole, a dickhead, a mall ninja, JBT, or any other name. Part of the job. On the other hand, walking around flipping people off could be considered disorderly conduct if the "flipper" meant it as a way of "breaching the peace". pato When someone used to flip me the bird I laughed at them. That pissed them off more. I never arrested anyone for flipping me off. You'd have to be a dick to do so. |
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Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. The citizens of Butler county get to pay for the actions of the officer.
Did he sue the correct party? Why not sue the officer? <TWEET!> Personal foul: Failure to read. 15 yard penalty, repeat down. Hmmm, complaining about other people making mistakes, while making one yourself............................. priceless. My mistake didn't cost somebody(tax payers) that doesn't have a fucking thing to do with it 50k...........his did
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Any cop that gets his feelings hurt over the bird shouldn't be a cop. Same thing goes if the cop doesn't like being called an asshole, a dickhead, a mall ninja, JBT, or any other name. Part of the job. On the other hand, walking around flipping people off could be considered disorderly conduct if the "flipper" meant it as a way of "breaching the peace". pato When someone used to flip me the bird I laughed at them. That pissed them off more. I never arrested anyone for flipping me off. You'd have to be a dick to do so. Yes, if you read the story, he flipped of another motorist as well. The problem becomes, once on motorist flips off another, there is likely to be a pattern of escelating responses. |
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My mistake didn't cost somebody(tax payers) that doesn't have a fucking thing to do with it 50k...........his did
Yeah. Freedom of Speech doesn't protect, inciting riotous behavior, slander, libel, or "fighting words", as a few types of examples. That could have very easily gone the other way, if a different Judge heard the case. |
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My mistake didn't cost somebody(tax payers) that doesn't have a fucking thing to do with it 50k...........his did
Yeah. Freedom of Speech doesn't protect, inciting riotous behavior, slander, libel, or "fighting words", as a few types of examples. That could have very easily gone the other way, if a different Judge heard the case. I agree.
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Any cop that gets his feelings hurt over the bird shouldn't be a cop. Same thing goes if the cop doesn't like being called an asshole, a dickhead, a mall ninja, JBT, or any other name. Part of the job. On the other hand, walking around flipping people off could be considered disorderly conduct if the "flipper" meant it as a way of "breaching the peace". pato Ahh, disorderly conduct (which the cop did try to no avail in this case). Kinda like Article 88 of the UCMJ––-the "catch-all". If nothing else fits, throw an Article 88 at 'em. |
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My mistake didn't cost somebody(tax payers) that doesn't have a fucking thing to do with it 50k...........his did
Yeah. Freedom of Speech doesn't protect, inciting riotous behavior, slander, libel, or "fighting words", as a few types of examples. That could have very easily gone the other way, if a different Judge heard the case. I agree.
I wonder how long you would be amused, if you had a neighbor that yelled "fuck you" every time he saw you. I bet you would have a different perspective on "Freedom of Speech". Espcecially, if he did it when you had friends, or your children within ear shot. |
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My mistake didn't cost somebody(tax payers) that doesn't have a fucking thing to do with it 50k...........his did
Yeah. Freedom of Speech doesn't protect, inciting riotous behavior, slander, libel, or "fighting words", as a few types of examples. That could have very easily gone the other way, if a different Judge heard the case. I agree.
I wonder how long you would be amused, if you had a neighbor that yelled "fuck you" every time he saw you. I bet you would have a different perspective on "Freedom of Speech". Espcecially, if he did it when you had friends, or your children within ear shot. Well, we wouldn't have any 1st Amendment issues to worry about––-we'd move straight to assault! 
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My mistake didn't cost somebody(tax payers) that doesn't have a fucking thing to do with it 50k...........his did
Yeah. Freedom of Speech doesn't protect, inciting riotous behavior, slander, libel, or "fighting words", as a few types of examples. That could have very easily gone the other way, if a different Judge heard the case. I agree.
I wonder how long you would be amused, if you had a neighbor that yelled "fuck you" every time he saw you. I bet you would have a different perspective on "Freedom of Speech". Espcecially, if he did it when you had friends, or your children within ear shot. Well, we wouldn't have any 1st Amendment issues to worry about––-we'd move straight to assault!
Which is probably why the cop wrote the citation when 1 citizen flipped of another citizen, so it didn't move to "road-rage". Not simply because he was messing with the "flipper". |
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Any cop that gets his feelings hurt over the bird shouldn't be a cop. Same thing goes if the cop doesn't like being called an asshole, a dickhead, a mall ninja, JBT, or any other name. Part of the job.On the other hand, walking around flipping people off could be considered disorderly conduct if the "flipper" meant it as a way of "breaching the peace". pato This |
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Quoted: Quoted: Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. The citizens of Butler county get to pay for the actions of the officer. Did he sue the correct party? Why not sue the officer? You mean the citizens of Allegheny county. |
 I hope the cop has learned his lesson about free speech. Quoted: Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. |
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Link Fu Pittsburgh City Council initially approved today a $50,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by a Butler County man who gave the middle finger to a motorist and a police officer in 2006. David Hackbart, 35, of Butler sued the city after an April 2006 incident in which he displayed his middle finger at a motorist and a police officer. The officer cited him for disorderly conduct. The county eventually dropped the charge, but Hackbart sued to recover the cost of defending himself. U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled in March that the officer violated Hackbart's First Amendment right to free speech. Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, declined to comment on the case because it is considered pending litigation. Council could award the money next week. The citizens of Butler county get to pay for the actions of the officer.
Did he sue the correct party? Why not sue the officer? You mean the citizens of Allegheny county. Yes you are correct. I've already been called on my mistake.
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It wasn't too many years ago when it was illegal to shoot the finger to a police officer. It was defined as Disorderly Conduct. (At least in Texas.)
A person also could not cuss at a police officer, same offense. Disorderly Conduct - Abusive Language. I know most of you have been brainwashed into thinking that these were "bad laws", but America was a much better place in those days. Police officers, as officers of society's court, were shown respect, or you would be fined. America was a better place. |
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How classy and cosmopolitan our society has become in recent years.
Welcome to the Obama-nation.  I wish I could link this to a recent article I read in the newspaper, I don't see it online. One WI city in the early 1900's had laws.................... Swearing in public $10 Making loud noise in Church, $300 + up to 90 days in jail. Discharging a rocket, artillery, or firearm within the city limits $10. |
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Cops should flip off motorists They're called traffic citations, last I heard. His better option would have been to plaster the guy with legitimate, albeit pimpy, traffic tickets. Which would clearly have been seen as retaliation for exercising 1st Am rights anyway. I guess you glossed right over the part where he said LEGITIMATE, didn't you. The cites are for violations of the law. You don't want the cite, don't break the fucking law, Einstein. pato |
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Quoted: $ 50k? The cop wrote him an appearance ticket, he went to court a few times and it was dropped. Does that sound like something a jury would award $ 50k for? Remember the 1983 action itself comes with attorney's fess so that the amount for settlement included the amount of fees necessary to prosecute the action against the county. |