A bankruptcy attorney's open letter to homophobic Michigan auto shop

[ehrnst]

"Dear Dieseltec:

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Jeffrey Mapes, and I specialize in bankruptcy law -- helping individuals and corporations when things go wrong. I noticed your post on Facebook where you decided to alienate most of the general public by stating that you will refuse service to openly homosexual people. This is certainly an unorthodox business strategy, and perhaps it will work for you, but I get the feeling you will need a bankruptcy attorney pretty soon and I wanted to offer my services. Like you, I am white, male, Christian, a business owner, and a gun owner. Unlike you, I provide services to everyone regardless of their sexual orientation because it doesn't matter to me -- I hope this won't be a deal breaker for you.

If that upsets you, let me tell you a little bit more about our office to try and persuade you. The first thing you will notice is how friendly and compassionate the office staff is. Despite your inane, incoherent and just plain dumb comments, we know that everyone makes mistakes and we want to help you overcome them. They will also be more than willing to help you with some basic grammar that you seem to struggle with.


If you still need more convincing, let me assure you that we will make certain that your bankruptcy petition is filed correctly and there are no errors. You stated in your post that you would incorrectly assemble a vehicle in order to prove a point. I want to let you know that despite the fact that I would love to prove a point to you about tolerance, I won't compromise my standards of quality to do so. After all, I have to look in the mirror at the end of the day and if I didn't do my best for everyone, I would have trouble sleeping. Perhaps you could give me pointers on how you sleep at night?"


More...
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/04/an_open_letter_to_the_michigan.html

[Gothmog]

1. As a lawyer, I found this letter to be very funny

[City Lights]

2. Haha, excellent letter!

Thanks for posting!

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Good stuff. OK, so after reading the Facebook mess I wonder...

what does the "Christian" mechanic do when a gay gun owner shows up?

And a public threat to deliberately make a faulty repair for any reason should be grounds to yank his business license.

[ehrnst]

7. He has no business license - he thinks that Big Guvmint should back off on that.

Real piece of work.

[left-of-center2012]

16. He has no business license?

He's against government regulations. LOL

[calimary]

24. He has no business license???? YEEEEEKS.

[Mariana]

14. A faulty repair could endanger people's lives. nt.

[hippywife]

52. Thank you!

And even if it didn't, I hope whoever carries his business liability insurance was made aware of that statement. That alone is going to be cause for him to need a bankruptcy attorney when he can't remain in business because no one is willing to insure him.

Like I mentioned the other day, sometimes I'm really glad, and think it's generally a good thing, when assholes publicly identify themselves.

[niyad]

36. let's see, he is against dishonesty and thievery, yet boldly announced he would sabotage

repair work:

In regard to gay people, Klawiter's post said: "I am a Christian. My company will be run in a way that reflects that. Dishonesty, thievery, immoral behavior, etc. will not be welcomed at MY place of business. (I would not hesitate to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons. Homosexuality is wrong, period. If you want to argue this fact with me then I will put your vehicle together with all bolts and no nuts and you can see how that works.)"

isn't that both dishonesty and thievery?

I hope the cummins people go after him big time.

[TinkerTot55]

39. And there's the answer:

Remind this "christian" ( lowercase "c" for un-Christian like behavior ) of the scripture:


Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars........

oh, like compliance with the laws, etc.

[Mariana]

59. Obviously, he means other people's dishonesty and thievery.

You know, those people, the ones who are going to hell. Generally everyone who he disagrees with or disapproves of.

He's a Christian, so it doesn't matter what he does, it only matters what he believes. He's going to heaven in any case.

[Jamastiene]

53. Pretty soon, that will be legal too;

making faulty repairs because they think the person might be gay. It will be covered under "religious freedom."

[peacebird]

4. Tweeted!

[rpannier]

5. Wow Color me not shocked. The bigot is a dead beat freeloader

and a teahadist nut who doesn't understand the law

Anti-gay auto shop owner fights attempt to license business, claims government intrusion

The auto shop owner who posted on Facebook that he would refuse to serve openly gay customers does not have a city business license, according to Grandville administrators.

Brian Klawiter earlier this year told the City Council that requiring a license violates his constitutional rights because it authorizes city inspectors to enter his property without a warrant.

"This is a blatant and intentioned violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution," Klawiter told the council on Jan. 26. "I dispute your lawful ability to do what you claim. I will not sign the application. I cannot and will not give up my civil rights, especially when requested by a government entity for which the Constitution was designed to limit the power of.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/04/no_business_license_for_auto_s.html#incart_story_package

He'll likely be shut down soon
This is what happens when you're a loon who advertises that you're a loon

[Grins]

10. Which is worse...?

"The auto shop owner who posted on Facebook that he would refuse to serve openly gay customers does not have a city business license."

Making him the GOP's next Joe the Plumber.

"Brian Klawiter earlier this year told the City Council that requiring a license violates his constitutional rights because it authorizes city inspectors to enter his property without a warrant."

Making him a "Sovereign Citizen".

I don't know which is worse.

[yardwork]

22. The two often go together. I also noticed his racism.

Typical.

[sendero]

25. He'll be the next...

.... to try the GoFundMe route. Whether or not that will pay off for him is unknowable, but one thing I do know, this tactic will generate lesser and lesser returns as time goes on.

[louis-t]

29. He already tried that.

His gofundme was shut down. It had $5 in it. From a gay woman.

[sendero]

31. Aweseme..

.... it's a given in my book that that pizza place getting all that dough for nothing was going to engender a boatload of imitators. but it the site just deletes them, so much the better.

[louis-t]

34. As I recall, the woman who gave the $5

left a note asking if he would accept, or was her money "too gay" for him.

[cui bono]

56. Haha...

[A Simple Game]

12. Now that corporations are people,

Brian Klawiter earlier this year told the City Council that requiring a license violates his constitutional rights because it authorizes city inspectors to enter his property without a warrant.

perhaps this will end up as a case before the Supreme Court? I hope not because this court agreeing with him would not surprise me.

[RT Atlanta]

21. Quick comment on 'corporate personhood'

And this could be a giant and detailed thread on its own...

If entities are now deemed by law to have personhood, doesn't that mean they are also now subject to criminal laws and the penalties associated with them, including 'death penalty' for capital offenses?

This potential for death penalty for corporate persons is a topic I would LOVE to see researched and argued in a law review symposium.

[calimary]

26. Well, you know that saying - "I'll believe corporations are people when one of them comes home from

Afghanistan in a body bag."

[daleanime]

48. +1

[A Simple Game]

38. We can hope but I doubt it would ever happen. n/t

[AndyTiedye]

49. Corporate Personhood Would Actually be an Improvement over the Corporate Godzillahood We Have Now

for precisely the reasons you cite:

If entities are now deemed by law to have personhood, doesn't that mean they are also now subject to criminal laws and the penalties associated with them, including 'death penalty' for capital offenses?

This potential for death penalty for corporate persons is a topic I would LOVE to see researched and argued in a law review symposium.

Of course the death penalty does not apply to corporations, because they are above that, even when they willfully kill people.

[allan01]

6. and how is the businness owner going to determine who is gay?

so, when can we start descriiminating against the str8s ? not . treat them with love . nice rebutt.

[treestar]

30. That's the funny part of it

These idiots have served gay people without knowing it many times, and would continue to do so.

[muntrv]

35. Doncha know? He has a gaydar, which detects gays.

[jwirr]

8. Good letter and it makes the real point of this entire arguement. Laws do not address how we

feel or who we like or do not like. Laws address the right of all human beings to equal services in the public venue. It is not about if the owner likes someone it is about his business giving equal service to ALL.

Thus the so called Christian rw can believe whatever they want to believe but their public business cannot be base on discrimination. That is against the law.

Too be clear I do not believe that same sex marriage is wrong. My church does not preach hate of any kind. What I am trying to say is that we are not going to be able to end discrimination by changing their minds - we just make them dig in deeper - poor dears are being persecuted you know. But to act on those beliefs is against the law. That is something we can do about the hate.

[rurallib]

9. maybe dieseltec should relocate to a country more in line with his views

Saudi Arabia or Somalia or maybe Uganda. Russia, maybe? Putin hate s the gay also.

[calimary]

27. Somalia's the best place. TOTAL anarchy there. He'd probably feel completely at home.

AND - all the guns you can eat! Bet they don't have ANY annoying restrictions or nuisance-y regulations over there!!!

[central scrutinizer]

11. They will shut down tomorrow

appear on some right wing radio shows the next day making vague references to threats, then put up a crowd sourcing page the day after that. That is one business model that is a proven winner. Just ask the pizza people.

[tblue37]

13. Their GoFundMe page was rejected. nt

[central scrutinizer]

15. Now there is niche ready to be filled

A right wing alternative to GoFundMe that will take any cause, no matter how racist or vile and take 10% off the top.

[erronis]

17. They'll probably get a big chunk of seed money from the Cocks and fundies.

Ooooh. That's the name: FundieMe.com. Quick, someone reserve it!

[Jamastiene]

54. I thought that was the Republican Party's web site, already.

Don't give them any more ideas. That's the LAST thing we need.

[Fla Dem]

18. Couple of links to the back story.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/michigan-car-garage-owner-brian-klawiter-stirs-controversy-refusing-service-gay-customers-1496858

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article18702738.html

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/17/us/michigan-business-bans-openly-gay-people/

[Stryguy]

44. A couple of links to the owners criminal record

Of wife beating and probation violations.

https://opencourtrecords.org/case.php?id=11259
https://opencourtrecords.org/case.php?id=11259

[cwydro]

62. Wow. nt

[left-of-center2012]

19. His GoFundMe site shut down

On another site it said he hoped to gain from the experience of that pizza shop in Indiana that got scads of money donated,
but this auto mechanic's GoFundMe site was shut down.

[cui bono]

57. And these are the guys who are against 'freeloaders'???

[RT Atlanta]

20. Nice way to generate some publicity for the bk atty

I like this attorney's entrepreneurial approach to not opining with his own views and generating a lot of free press for himself.

[samsingh]

23. notice how 'gun owner' is mentioned as an identity. the nra has been very successful with their

twisted messaging and brainwashing.

people don't say: "and a computer owner" or "a golf player".

gun owner is stated with attitude like it means something. why announce it?

[calimary]

28. So people like me know whom to avoid.

[haele]

32. So he can attract fellow sovereign citizen loons.

To the Sovereign Citizen, a Citizen's constitutional rights consist of:
(1) The ability to use the first Amendment to lie, verbally bully, discriminate, and incite unreasonable and blanket hate against anyone or any group that doesn't fit the proper 'Murican's definition of a citizen, up to and including the flavor of religion or color of skin a Citizen prefers without taking responsibility or enduring the repercussions of your acts and words.
(2) The ability to use the second Amendment to physically bully and confront people who don't agree with proper 'Murican's definition of a citizen, up to including the flavor of religion or color of skin you prefer.
(3) The third doesn't apply to non-citizens, only Citizens. When the Civil War part II breaks out, and all the Citizens overcome those weak, cowardly, and corrupt non-citizens that are running 'Murica, the Citizens will be able to quarter the patriotic militia members wherever needed, even if it is in a private home, for the country's own good.
(4) The ability to ignore the probable cause clause of the fourth Amendment and believe that no government can say anything about what a "citizen" does on:
(a)any property claimed as a Citizen's own (whether rightfully gained or not), and (b) to any non-citizen or otherwise ambulatory "property" (i.e., at-will employees, wimminfolk and children) that Citizen claims as their own.
- even if there is a warrant issued for a supposed "crime" that the Citizen commits in protection of his or her own right to act the way they believe because, well - freedumb, or something like that.
(5) The ability to claim the fifth Amendment will never apply to their property or their actions, but can be used with impunity on people they don't like for letting their property be "trashy" or for being "a hazard to the community well being". Oh and protection double jeopardy or self-incrimination - only for "sovereign citizens". Likewise, the 6th and 7th only applies to citizens. All those "non-citizens" and useless eaters of taxpayer's cash that take up probably around 3/4 of the country (according to sovereign citizens) can be shot on sight...

So, not to belabor the issues, claiming to be a proud gun owner when the discussion in hand has nothing to do with guns is a form of identification, a "merit badge" to idiots like this. What does the issue of owning a gun have to do with illogically claiming a right to discriminate against "teh gay" with impunity unless one wants to intimidate the majority of others who have better and far more logical moral and frankly religious arguments about why that is wrong.

Haele

[catbyte]

46. I think it was because dumbass diesel man said he'd give a discount to gun owners.

[Initech]

33. Ha ha ha ha ha ha, that was awesome.

[Prism]

37. We need to stop giving these people attention.

It's what they want - to be martyred.

Why oblige them? Every time some idiot says something, we give them the media oxygen they crave. We're doing them a favor.

I don't care about this guy. I don't care about the pizzeria. And I certainly don't need a bankruptcy attorney seeking publicity by white knighting for me.

The whole circle is a parasitic jerk.

[RecoveringJournalist]

40. Perfect!

The only thing that would have made this better is some type of closing along the lines of: "If you have a problem with what I am saying, please feel free to stop by my house to discuss it personally with my partner and I.

[Thespian2]

41. Kudos to Jeffery Mapes!

Excellent letter! Problem is Dieseltec seems to have few working brain cells, so it may have trouble understanding the points made in the letter.

[wryter2000]

42. I love that last line

Pointers on how the bozo sleeps at night.

[Stryguy]

43. Convicted wife beater & Violated his probation.

Dieseltec owner Brian Warren Klawiter:

https://opencourtrecords.org/case.php?id=11259

https://opencourtrecords.org/case.php?id=11259

[catbyte]

45. Grandville is about 10 miles down the road from my house, so it can be a sucky place to live.

But there are enough folks like Mr. Mapes that make it bearable. I found the letter hilarious and spot on. Good show, Mr. Mapes. It also makes me kinda wish I needed a bankruptcy attorney!

[Beartracks]

47. To paraphrase Martin Luther...

The Christian mechanic does his duty not by servicing engines only for Christians or by putting little crosses on the receipts, but by providing good service.

And good service would, of course, mean no willful malicious behavior.

==================

[The Wizard]

50. It's a scam to get bailed out

by fringe right wingers who will send cash to a U-fund-me account. It worked for that failed pizza business. Still the dumbest country on Earth.

[oldandhappy]

51. good letter -- thanks for the post

well said!

[cui bono]

55. This sentence is unfortunate:

They will also be more than willing to help you with some basic grammar that you seem to struggle with.

I do love the letter though.

I'm tempted to have him work on my car, get into an argument with him about LGBTQ rights, let him 'fix' my car with "all bolts and no nuts", take it somewhere else immediately to prove this intentional sabotage, then sue the shit out of him.

[C Moon]

58. He's taking a beating on Yelp. :D

[47of74]

61. Unfortunately

Yelp will remove those reviews in a day or two because they violate their TOS.

[Hulk]

60. Sad fact is...

The homophobic bible-thumpers will very likely rally to his side, and like the pathetic pizza mom n pop shop that "wasn't going to cater gay weddings&quot ....?seriously?), they bilked the gullible fools for $750,000 for absolutely nothing, but stating what so many other homophobic bible-thumpers wanted to be able to say.

Yes, this nobody, with his ass-backward grease shop is NOT going to serve gays. And the bible-thumpers will rally to his defense and put him on easy street; just like the pathetic pizza bigots, the sarah palin, joe the plumber, and all the rest of these sick fooks.