Thursday, October 3, 2019

ACLU & Madison Co. Try to Seal Settlement

The ACLU and Madison County are trying to seal a settlement agreement in federal court.  The two sides recently settled a lawsuit over the use of roadblocks in Madison County.  The motion for protective order states:

3. The final Settlement Agreement and Apartment Incident Agreement both contain confidentiality provisions that provide that their terms and conditions shall be maintained in strict confidence and shall not be released to any person or entity who is not a party, except under specific circumstances set forth in each Agreement.

4. The final Settlement Agreement and Apartment Incident Agreement further provide
that the parties, jointly, will ask this Court to enter a separate Order providing for the confidentiality of both Agreements to prevent any of their contents to be released to anyone.

5. The parties, pursuant to the terms of the final Settlement Agreement, are jointly moving
this Court for the entry of a Consent Decree. This Decree will be a matter of public record. The
parties seek only to maintain the confidentiality of the contents of the final
Settlement Agreement and the Apartment Incident Agreement....

8. Due to the nature of the litigation between the parties, Defendants highly anticipate
that outside parties will attempt to obtain the contents of the final Settlement Agreement and the
Apartment Incident Agreement despite the parties’ determining that the contents of these
two Agreements shall remain confidential. Such attempt may be made through public records
requests under the Mississippi Public Records Act, as well as through other legal proceedings.
One of the documents recently submitted stated monetary damages are going to be paid to the plaintiffs.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves. 

Kingfish note: Uh-huh.  Let's get something straight.  Madison County officials work for the people.  That means they have a duty, no, a commandment to report their actions to the people they represent.  Period.  The citizens of Madison County have every right to know the terms of any settlement agreement in this case.  If the ACLU doesn't like it, too damn bad.  The ACLU knew it was suing a government body and that it had no expectation of privacy. They also have a right to know how much money is paid to the plaintiffs on their behalf. 

The Hinds County Chancery Court ruled several years ago in the Motorola case that settlement agreements by government bodies were public records.  The Ethics Commission ruled settlement agreements were public records and the Attorney General has opined so as well.  Alan Lange and other media outlets successfully challenged the sealing of a settlement agreement in a federal lawsuit between Attorney General Jim Hood and State Farm more than ten years ago.

One lawyer for Madison County said he was more than happy to defend the protective order (by the hour, of course).  We shall see.














23 comments:

Anonymous said...

"If the ACLU doesn't like it, too damn bad."

WTF are you talking about? The motion was filed by the County. Quit trying to make the ACLU your whipping boy. If you've don't like it, don't vote for Randy Tucker.

Also, if Reeves agrees to seal it, guess what? It's sealed. Supremacy clause, sports fans.

Anonymous said...

It appears that the ACLU took Madison County to the woodshed-

Anonymous said...

either way it should not be sealed...no matter who wants it sealed.

Anonymous said...

Thr ACLU released the hounds from NYU and Columbia on Madison County. Now the Sheriff's Dept. Will be the ACLU's bitch.

The sad thing is that the crime is endemic and this will make it harder to fight crime.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, 10:29, for shining light on FAKE NEWS about the ACLU.

In my opinion, all settlements should be public, filed in courthouse records, and reported by the media, regardless of whether they involve private citizens, corporations, governments or anything else. The ONLY legitimate reason to seal a settlement agreement should be to protect minors' privacy.

Anonymous said...

Who wants to wager that those paragons of liberal journalistic virtue, the Clarion-Ledger, Jackson Free Press and Mississippi Today say absolutely nothing about this fiasco.

Hell, Madison County is a conservative county. Ladd should be going ape-shit that they are trying to cover-up this settlement. ESPECIALLY since she's been dropping all this bluster of late about "tough-love accountability journalism" and transparency.

Here's a chance to belittle and demean Madison County and those liberal schmoes are whistling while looking the other way.

Bizzarroworld said...

Madison Co. should ask China to investigate the ACLU.

Anonymous said...

I disagree with @11:11 above. I certainly think this settlement agreement should be public, because this a government body, with elected officials, using taxpayer money. But if two private citizens sue each other, I don't think the settlement should have to be public. Because the public has no rights to put their nose in the business of a private citizen.

This settlement however should absolutely be public.

Anonymous said...

First, ALL settlement agreements should not be public. If that were the default rule, then there would be far less disputes resolved short of a trial, which would swamp the judiciary and clog the dockets. But ALL settlement agreements involving injunctive relief and/or the expenditure of public funds should definitely be public record. While I don't give a shit about what Allstate paid to settle a fender bender, what my tax dollars are being used for and what agreements a government entered into to govern its conduct are critically relevant to a free society. Allowing a settlement agreement like this to remain cloaked under seal invites a host of problems down the road, aside from the obvious fact that the public has an interest in it. In the future, the board of supervisors could go into executive session to discuss matters related to the confidential settlement agreement and take significant actions outside of public scrutiny under the ruse that it is doing so under the terms of the secret agreement. It's complete bullshit. Also, why is it that Mike Wallace and Wise Carter seem to have their hands on all of these secret agreements? That guy is the most overrated lawyer in Mississippi who charges outlandish rates. And he's a complete asshole to boot.

Anonymous said...

DAMN MHB, where the hell are you? You should be alerting every resident of Madison about this outrage.

Anonymous said...

The slimeball Republicans of Madison County speaking out of both sides of their mouths! Who is truly surprised?

Anonymous said...

The ACLU, SPCA, Black Life Matter & all other civil right organizations are a shake down racket using race baiting tactics to extort money from anyone who has money. The United States is imploding within itself! Long live the New World Order!

Anonymous said...

@10:29 & @11:11 Cheerleaders, is it fake news that the ACLU is not disputing nor opposed to the motion to seal?

Anonymous said...

No side of this dispute should want this sealed. ACLU and P.D. agreeing to keep secrets, does not serve the citizens they both claim to protect.

Anonymous said...

I have been stopped at Madison County roadblocks on Yandell Road numerous times. I consider them to be a "taking" of my precious time without compensation. That being said, I believe that the roadblocks discriminated against anyone without a badge. Too bad the lawsuit was not on behalf of all citizens of the county and that the ACLU will not be refunding any settlement monies.

Anonymous said...

The Fake Antifa-Baltimore Crowd continues to rule this country.

As a society, we are in a shit-heap and Madison County is on the verge of welcoming it's third landfill.

Lumumbula Senior might have been right! This state will become the Republic of New Afrika.

Anonymous said...

12:35...You can't be serious. A legal sobriety checkpoint road block is a 'taking of your time'. You stupid dolt! Tell it to the mothers and dads sitting in the ER waiting room while surgeons are waiting on your/my child hit by a drunk driver. Taking your time without compensation my ass! You 'Precious' Dolt.

Anonymous said...

what a great pick the ole' misserites got for their chancellor!! har-de-har-har.

Anonymous said...

Why did high Sheriff Randy Tucker want it sealed?

He has nothing to hide.

Anonymous said...

I can't think of any reason for sealing this information. Can someone with legal background tell us why these things are sealed? What purpose is served?

(please hold the guesses from the cheap seats)

Anonymous said...

Clarion Ledger picked this up.

Madison County is the party wanting to keep the settlement a secret.

ACLU did not request this.

Anonymous said...

Let’s look at the optics, and ask who has the most to lose? Objectively and obviously both parties have something to hide, but the Madison County SO would be drained financially if they kept going toe to toe with the ACLU.

Anonymous said...

First, it was not (and would not be) the Sheriff who proposed that anything be sealed. That's the work and strategy of an attorney(s). People named in a lawsuit are not at that pay grade.

Second, Madison County SO was not defending this lawsuit. The county of Madison was. They pissed away more money on Rudy Warnock over the past ten years than it would have cost to defend the lawsuit. But, you cut your losses and move on.

There are way plenty of real and current criminals wearing nice loafers and diamond earrings in Canton for the justice system to be fiddle farting around with cops stopping people who need to be stopped.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.