This Ruttenberg mess started in 2001 when David had the unbelievable audacity to report MP’s now head of narcotics to his MP Police superior about defamatory remarks alleging David’s participation in drug use/dealing. It is now 2008 and, despite numerous sting and set-up attempts by authorities, David has never been found to have any such dealings.

You don’t have to believe me, but I know for a fact that David never engaged in such activity or any of the other malfeaseances that MP authorities have attributed to him. The important thing, however, is that those MP authorities, and in that regard I include the Mayor, the Chief of Police and the City Attorney, also know full well, after 7 years of unsuccessfully trying to get David, that the allegations against David (including their attempt to blame him for the Kevin Brendel pornography farce) are not supportable. Unfortunately (for them), in their eagerness to railroad David they failed to understand his background (he comes from a family of lawyers) and tenacity with the result that they now face a federal suit in which they are defendants (the Mayor and Chief of Police, not the City Attorney) not only in their official capacity but also in their personal capacity.

I believe that the MP authorities are quite concerned about David’s suit and their own personal liability. I believe that they are quite willing to spend tax payer dollars to protect themselves even knowing that their activities were improper and unconstitutional. I don’t know if there is a recall procedure for Manassas Park, but if there is it should be employed based on their obsession with their self interest to the detriment of the well being of MP citizens. Further, whether or not there is a recall procedure, there should be a grass roots effort in the next election to oust the Mayor and the current council and put in place people who will protect constitutional rights, and other interests, of MP citizens and business people, rather than looking out for themselves. Their first order of business should be to fire the Chief of Police and the City Attorney.

With all due respect, park’d, and fully appreciating your sincerity and interest in what’s gone on in this matter, I don’t think any of the foregoing will happen. What I’ve learned in all this is that the average guy doesn’t really care about protecting rights until his own rights are violated. Because of this self interested officials can get away with murder and nothing is done. Police and prosecutors will cover for police malfeasance and nothing is done. Without substantial technical ability and financial resources you can’t even wage a battle agianst the odds, you have to lay down and die. In many respects, constitutional rights are nothing but a mirage in this country and, realizing that after more than 60 years, I feel very sad.

Try $200k.

What can a few Manassas Park CITIZENS do to take the mayor and council to task on this blatant wasteful expenditure of our tax dollars while the city is on the brink of bankruptcy due to foreclosures and already rampant wasteful city spending (Police HQ, town center, and 35Mill school)?

I’m already at the brink of what I can afford to spend as it is with the outrageous taxes this town charges. $350 a month in taxes on a $275k townhouse (if I’m lucky) is just an utter outrage. This can’t continue. How have the FBI and State Police not come in here yet, arrested these clowns, and returned us to PWC yet?

Golem: Have you any advice for us CITIZENS of the park on what we can do to bring the mayor and council to task for this or are we just screwed?

The bottom line, Ladies and Gentlemen, is that, barring a successful Petition for Rehearing” (unlikely), just as David has claimed in his multimillion dollar suit in the Federal court, the permit, along with the ABC license and the business itself, was David’s legal property. As alleged in the Federal suit, the City unconstitutionally fabricated evidence, and commited perjury with respect to that evidence, in order to illegally take from David that property. In fact, that unconstitutional taking continues at this very minute with the City’s recent revocation of the same permit based, as they themselves admitted, on the same fabricated evidence and perjury.

If David wins his appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond, all of this, including the current unconstitutional taking discussed above, will be presented before a Federal jury. To be honest with you, I can’t wait.

PS. I also enjoy watching the City spend large sums on lame legal efforts like the “Petition for Appeal.” First they tried to convince the public that they really won the Circuit Court permit case and then they spent a small fortune trying to appeal the decision they really won. I’ve always enjoyed watching big time $300+/hr lawyers run in circles. Not much fun, though, for the tax payers of Manassas Park.

Then again, perhaps I read that part of Greg’s post which said “Ruttenberg was not even allowed to file a brief in this case or present arguments.”

Yours is a pretty bold claim for someone who posted a comment which failed to explain to Greg that his terminology was incorrect, and that his relation of the procedure was partially incorrect.

Nevertheless, I will take to heart your comment regarding my “blogging behavior.” After all, you clearly know from whence you speak.

However, I DID get the procedure right, a fact which you manage to breeze right over.

It is James Young who speaks of what he does not know.

Virginia has (or did, as of 1994/95) a rather odd procedure, however, insofar as the petitioner on a writ of certiorari is allowed to present oral argument to a three-judge panel, which decides whether the Court will take the case. The respondent is allowed to file a brief opposing the petition for a writ of certiorari, but is not allowed to present argument. If cert. is granted, then both parties present oral argument.

You should double-check your facts though, Greg. While I have no doubt that Dave was not permitted to present argument against granting the writ, I am all but certain that he was permitted to file an opposing brief.

Of course, if he wasn’t allowed to, he probably saved a few bucks.

“The sellers subsequently appealed this Decree to the Supreme Court of Virginia. Certiorari was denied on July 18, 2005.”

The complete opinion:

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:doy4H8GB1KYJ:inetdocs.loudoun.gov/circuitcourt/docs/letteropinions_/chancery_/ch22367consolid/ch22367consolid.doc+certiorari+virginia&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=75&gl=us

….and here:

Hoar filed a Petition for Certiorari to the Virginia Supreme Court, which was granted.

Complete quote:

http://www.skilaw.com/jimcases-hoar.html

What was Greg thinking?