Gun Store Owner Wins Big against County

[Straightshooter2]

Wasn't T&T involved, along with other shops on LI, in the illegal actions by Rice a few years back, when they arrested the shop owners for "illegal" AR sales?
What became of that?

The article says the Grand Jury "dropped the charges." He has another suit against them for that arrest.

CW

 

[ladder13]

The article says the Grand Jury "dropped the charges." He has another suit against them for that arrest.

CW

Thanks, maybe I should have read the article.

 

[chief38]

I am quite familiar with this case because I live here and have been into his shop. ALL the other 6 shops that were affected (those owners were also arrested on bogus charges all at the same time - sting operation conducted by the DA) were told and coerced into signing an agreement with Nassau County that all the charges would be dropped across the board and that they could open their doors the very next day as long as THEY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT NOT TO SUE THE COUNTY. THE ONLY ONE who did NOT sign that agreement was Marty from TNT and so he did sue them. All the others just wanted to be left alone and re-open where as Marty wanted blood.

 

[Frank46]

Back when I lived on Long Island T&T was my most favorite gun shop. Marty always treated me right and still remember the I'll buy you fly to american hamburger and walk out of there with bags of fresh hamburgers.
And he was always good for a dunkin donuts run as well. I wish him well. Frank

 

[GaryS]

The judge subsequently reduced the award to $1.3 Million.

I love this quote from the county attorney.

It was important to appeal because while the jury believed compensation for the plaintiff was proper, the amount was too high and not consistent with the facts presented at trial," county attorney Carnell Foskey said in a statement. "As a result of this decision, Nassau County taxpayers saved $3.8 million."

The taxpayers could have saved all of the money if the cops hadn't acted like thugs from a banana republic.

This all started because one of the cops in the pistol licensing section asked the owner to do something that was likely illegal. When the owner refused, the cop made up charges against him.

Note that this isn't police bashing. I'm a big supporter of the police and 99.9% of them to the job the right way. It's just this guy and the nitwits in Suffolk County that make it tough for the rest of the police.

As federali said, the DA in Nassau is vehemently anti gun. So much so that ADA's are not allowed to have carry permits or carry for self defense.

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

Awesome!!!

 

[GaryS]

Good for him! He also has a second suit against them for the 2011 arrest for selling "illegal assault weapons". Another case where the cops didn't know the law.

I am quite familiar with this case because I live here and have been into his shop. ALL the other 6 shops that were affected (those owners were also arrested on bogus charges all at the same time - sting operation conducted by the DA) were told and coerced into signing an agreement with Nassau County that all the charges would be dropped across the board and that they could open their doors the very next day as long as THEY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT NOT TO SUE THE COUNTY. THE ONLY ONE who did NOT sign that agreement was Marty from TNT and so he did sue them. All the others just wanted to be left alone and re-open where as Marty wanted blood.

 

[johngalt]

Seems like there needs to be some kind of reform to address criminal cases like this. A prosecutor with an axe to grind or political aspirations has no downside to bringing dubious cases. Maybe something similar to proposed 'loser pays' reforms for civil cases, where the state/county pays for the defense if they lose. There needs to be a stronger incentive for prosecutors to investigate instead of just throwing **** at the wall and seeing what sticks.

 

[GaryS]

Remove their personal immunity from being sued for malicious prosecution and they'll change quickly. Since DAs, and by extension ADAs are politicians, they are often tempted to prosecute cases based on politics.

Which is what the DA in Ferguson refused to do, despite intense pressure. Which is what the "special state attorney" in the George Zimmerman case did do. She filed charges to satisfy political demands.

Which brings us back to my banana republic judicial system.

Seems like there needs to be some kind of reform to address criminal cases like this. A prosecutor with an axe to grind or political aspirations has no downside to bringing dubious cases. Maybe something similar to proposed 'loser pays' reforms for civil cases, where the state/county pays for the defense if they lose. There needs to be a stronger incentive for prosecutors to investigate instead of just throwing **** at the wall and seeing what sticks.