gail22
03-29-2007, 05:07 PM
Homeless men win $45,000 settlement with City of Las Vegas
http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6294566&nav=15MV
March 28, 2007 03:34 PM
Sleeping next to human feces. Not many people would want to do it, but it's not a crime in Las Vegas. Yet three homeless people were arrested and charged with that offense last November.
Those three men sued the city over those charges and just won a settlement for $45,0000. That was how much the City of Las Vegas says the experience those three men went through was worth after being arrested for a nonexistent city ordinance.
"The City has taken the wrong tactic by criminalizing homelessness," ACLU attorney Lee Rowland said. The civil rights of David Hicks, Jerry, and John, were violated last November, according to Rowland.
Rowland says the three were singled out because they are homeless and arrested for a city ordinance that had already been rescinded. "I didn't even know it was there," Hicks said laughing. "Was I supposed to go around searching for it?"
Hicks says the feces in question was over two hundred feet away and that he had no idea it was even there. He says police would not have even made the arrests if he wasn't homeless. "The constitution says we have all inalienable rights. And I'm entitled to those same rights."
"This quick money to them represents an ability to get back on their feet," attorney Brent Bryson said. "They can purchase a used car, if they so desire. They can get an apartment." Bryson says he originally sued the city for $2 million, but decided on a quick settlement instead so his clients could get the money sooner.
Bryson says it wasn't about the money, but about helping his clients get back on their feet. "I substantially discounted my standard fees for a case of this nature."
Out of that $45,000 settlement, each of the three men were supposed to get $15,000. But after Bryson's reduced fees, each man was handed a check for $10,000, leaving Bryson with a payday of $15,000.
Hicks says he's happy with any amount. He says he plans on using the money to get an apartment and to join the labor union.
The ACLU says the settlement sends a message to the city. "Clearly, I think this settlement shows that the city cannot violation the constitution without consequences," Rowland said.
News 3 tried to get in touch with the City Attorney's Office about this settlement, but they did not return our calls.
The latest survey by Homeless Service Providers shows the number of homeless people in southern Nevada is somewhere around 15,000 people.
http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6294566&nav=15MV
March 28, 2007 03:34 PM
Sleeping next to human feces. Not many people would want to do it, but it's not a crime in Las Vegas. Yet three homeless people were arrested and charged with that offense last November.
Those three men sued the city over those charges and just won a settlement for $45,0000. That was how much the City of Las Vegas says the experience those three men went through was worth after being arrested for a nonexistent city ordinance.
"The City has taken the wrong tactic by criminalizing homelessness," ACLU attorney Lee Rowland said. The civil rights of David Hicks, Jerry, and John, were violated last November, according to Rowland.
Rowland says the three were singled out because they are homeless and arrested for a city ordinance that had already been rescinded. "I didn't even know it was there," Hicks said laughing. "Was I supposed to go around searching for it?"
Hicks says the feces in question was over two hundred feet away and that he had no idea it was even there. He says police would not have even made the arrests if he wasn't homeless. "The constitution says we have all inalienable rights. And I'm entitled to those same rights."
"This quick money to them represents an ability to get back on their feet," attorney Brent Bryson said. "They can purchase a used car, if they so desire. They can get an apartment." Bryson says he originally sued the city for $2 million, but decided on a quick settlement instead so his clients could get the money sooner.
Bryson says it wasn't about the money, but about helping his clients get back on their feet. "I substantially discounted my standard fees for a case of this nature."
Out of that $45,000 settlement, each of the three men were supposed to get $15,000. But after Bryson's reduced fees, each man was handed a check for $10,000, leaving Bryson with a payday of $15,000.
Hicks says he's happy with any amount. He says he plans on using the money to get an apartment and to join the labor union.
The ACLU says the settlement sends a message to the city. "Clearly, I think this settlement shows that the city cannot violation the constitution without consequences," Rowland said.
News 3 tried to get in touch with the City Attorney's Office about this settlement, but they did not return our calls.
The latest survey by Homeless Service Providers shows the number of homeless people in southern Nevada is somewhere around 15,000 people.