In addition to his numerous other awards and accomplishments, civil and criminal defense attorney Charles Ware is a "U.S. Super Lawyer," a "Top Lawyer in Maryland," a recipient of the prestigious national "Charles Hamilton Houston Award for Outstanding Litigation," and he is recognized and ranked by his satisfied clients as well as his legal peers as one of Maryland's "BEST 10 DUI and DWI Attorneys" [AIDUIA].
Police seizures of individuals' personal and real property allegedly pursuant to various state and Federal versions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is apparently out of control.
Just recently in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburbs, a family's home was taken from them by the police even though the married homeowners themselves were not charged with any crime nor accused of any wrongdoing (neither criminal nor civil). The police had about six weeks previously showed up at the couple's house and arrested their 22-year-old son on charges of possessing and selling $40 worth of heroin out of the home. Though the son had no ownership interest in the house, police alleged --- but have not as yet proved --- the son was selling drugs out of house (allegedly on a regular basis).
Police and other authorities came with the electric company in tow to turn off the power and even began locking the doors with screws, the family says. Authorities won't comment on the exact circumstances because of pending litigation regarding the case.
Police and prosecutors came armed with a lawsuit against the house itself. It was being forfeited and transferred to the custody of the Philadelphia District Attorney. Authorities said the house was tied to illegal drugs and therefore subject to civil forfeiture.
In two years, nearly 500 families in Philadelphia had their homes or cars taken away by city officials, according to records from Pennsylvania's attorney general. Authorities use a civil forfeiture law that allows them to seize people's property when that property is connected to the sale of illegal drugs.
Philadelphia officials seized more than 1,000 houses, about 3,300 vehicles and $44 million in cash, totaling $64 million in civil forfeitures over a 10-year period.
In Pennsylvania, the "City of Brotherly Love" is far and away the most aggressive in the state when it comes to people's property. Over a four-year period, Allegheny County, the second largest county in Pennsylvania, filed about 200 petitions for civil forfeiture. Philadelphia filed nearly 7,000 petitions in one year alone, according to a class action lawsuit by several victimized families of the seizure and forfeiture schemes.
No comments:
Post a Comment