Waco judge agrees to let most bikers go -- if they sign a contract not to sue for wrongful arrest!

[KamaAina]

http://washingtonweeklynews.com/texas-tyranny-waco-judge-agrees-to-let-most-bikers-go-if-they-sign-a-contract-vowing-not-to-sue-for-wrongful-arrest/

Earlier today, detainees in the Jack Harwell Detention Center in Waco were told that in exchange for bond reductions, they must sign a document stating the Waco police “had the right to arrest the inmate and that he/she will not file a lawsuit against McLennan County and/or the City of Waco.”

On the two-week anniversary of the “shootout at high noon” at the Twin Peaks restaurant between motorcyclists and law enforcement officers, at least 170 people remain detained on $1 million bonds.

This latest information was reported to an attorney representing at least one of the detainees. “It appears the public defenders office in McLennan County is involved in this scurrilous activity,” said Paul Looney, a Houston attorney with Looney & Conrad, P.C. “I’ve never seen anything like the lawlessness that the authorities have perpetrated on these people and now to add insult to injury they are trying to cover their own tracks in exchange for bond. I will be in the reception area of the McLennan County D.A.’s office tomorrow morning at 8:30 with the intention of not leaving until we have the issue of bond resolved.”

“They know these people aren’t dangerous or they wouldn’t be offering the bond reductions and they know the police and the D.A.’s office have violated the law and now they are trying to hold people hostage until they agree to waive their rights. It’s unconscionable,” said Clay S. Conrad, Looney’s law partner.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. WTF?

This is real - isn't it?

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Justice, Texas style. I might just sit in jail and preserve my right to sue their asses off.

They basically arrested everybody within arresting distance.

And gave all of them outrageous bail.

[herding cats]

3. I'm not sure this is true.

I head this the other day and I found this at the time.

Bikers’ attorneys battle over fake litigation waiver rumors

A Houston attorney’s media release alleging that jailed bikers were being forced to waive their rights to sue the city and county is false, but the controversy it created has that lawyer squaring off with a Waco attorney over the rumors.

As with many aspects of the chaotic May 17 incident that left nine dead and 18 wounded at Twin Peaks restaurant, there are differing versions to how the waiver rumors began.

Houston attorney Paul C. Looney and Waco attorney Brittany Lannen each claim the other is responsible for rumors spreading like wildfire among the jailed bikers, their families and friends and on social media that the bikers were being told they needed to waive their rights to sue the city of Waco or McLennan County in exchange for bond reductions.

Looney’s Sunday media release accused McLennan County officials, including those in the “public defenders office,” of this “scurrilous activity.” McLennan County has no public defenders office.

“I’ve never seen anything like the lawlessness that the authorities have perpetrated on these people, and now to add insult to injury, they are trying to cover their own tracks in exchange for bond,” Looney claimed in his Sunday statement.

But State District Judges Matt Johnson and Ralph Strother, who have approved bond reductions recently for at least 25 of the bikers, say Looney’s assertion is not true.
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/twin-peaks-biker-shooting/bikers-attorneys-battle-over-fake-litigation-waiver-rumors/article_e7712d41-80e8-5001-9bde-9e1e1a7f996d.html?mode=jqm

[tammywammy]

5. I heard this morning they've scheduled bond hearings and they start this Friday.

I doubt this is true.

[herding cats]

7. On that sites home page: 600-POUND WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO 40-POUND BABY

I wouldn't take anything there as literal without some double checking.

[tammywammy]

9. I wouldn't either. LOL

I heard this on 1080AM on my drive to work.

[freshwest]

8. Aww, the Bandidos wouldn't lie, would they? Such upstanding gentlemen, beloved by all Americans...

[jberryhill]

11. Are you questioning the word of Mr. Looney?

He comes from a long line of notable Looneys.

[libdem4life]

4. Hey, y'all, they're just some good ol' boys out for a little fun...got a little rowdy...

said sorry. What's the big deal? They're white, aren't they? Didn't mean no harm.

Land of the Free and the Brave and the White. Arggggg.

[cyberswede]

6. Well, good thing they didn't cheer during a graduation ceremony, then.

[jberryhill]

10. That's farcical on its face

Ummm... since they would have to come back into the jurisdiction of that court system in order to sue for wrongful arrest, then it makes no sense to reduce bond on the promise not to do so.

In other words, it would make sense to give them a bond reduction if they promised to sue for wrongful arrest, since that would guarantee their appearance in the jurisdiction and thus reduce the potential flight risk.

But reducing it for a promise not to sue for wrongful arrest, puts the incentives in the wrong direction.

Hard to believe that any such deal would be proposed or made.

On edit, from the article linked above:

“This mythical waiver was brought to our attention by a post from Mr. Looney. No client of DLW Law has signed such a waiver, and no such waiver will ever be presented by DLW Law. We are unaware of any other defendants who have signed such a waiver. No one from this office has seen this waiver and has no knowledge as to who drafted it and whether it even exists.”

Umm... yeah... it came from a Looney.

[Glassunion]

12. IIRC one of the bikers is in the process of filing a civil rights lawsuit

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. details of which can be found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026774040

Apparently the Justice of the Peace, who, in the lawsuit is accused of having NO legal training, had also delayed any bond hearings until
Aug.which meant all of those arrested, who had been given one million $$$ bail, would have to sit in jail till Aug.

So far, ONE person caught up in the mass arrest is suing.
The lawsuit ( link at the other DU post) has some interesting details of this mass arrest.