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2007-03-25 Home Front: Politix

High court hears case on right to sue federal employees

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Posted by Anonymoose 2007-03-25 10:27|| || Front Page|| [11132 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The court MUST find for Mr. Robbins.
The government works for us. We own them. That fact MUST remain the controlling factor. Therefore they can never turn against any citizen with impunity.

Posted by wxjames 2007-03-25 12:36|| 2007-03-25 12:36|| Front Page Top

#2 As a Gov't employee, you are individually liable if negligent, corrupt, or not following direction/official policy. I've dealt with USF&W and Cal F&G environmental staff where they basically extort either additional mitigation or $ for funding their pet projects in exchange for not delaying your project. It'll be tough to make this stick. They are pretty smart about how they operate

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-03-25 12:48|| 2007-03-25 12:48|| Front Page Top

#3 I don't think it an issue that he can sue the govt, I think this is an issue of suing individuals in govt which is different. He can sue BLM as a whole, but suing individuals in the BLM is the sticking point.

Posted by djohn66 2007-03-25 13:00|| 2007-03-25 13:00|| Front Page Top

#4 The dispute in this case goes back to 1994, when Robbins purchased a guest ranch in Wyoming, not knowing that the BLM, which controls the federal land adjoining the ranch, had granted the previous owner a right of way over federal land in exchange for an easement. Though the previous owner had properly recorded the right of way, the BLM had not yet recorded the easement when Robbins purchased the ranch. When a BLM employee asked Robbins to reinstate the easement without offering any compensation, Robbins declined.

Not a lot of information but it looks like Robbins tried to play hardball & the BLM folks replied in kind. It looks like he had the Right Of Way previouly agreed upon but felt no obligation to allow the BLM the easement. OK, some office type at the BLM screwed up w/r timeliness on the recording the easement but how much would that easement have hurt Robbins?

As far as the "BLM harassment" I suspect this is similar the driving a red corvette. You attract unwanted attention, no matter what you do. You don't drive even 5 mph over the limit or you are toast. Robbins attracted the BLM's attention. OR they could have been doing their jobs and he might be the sort to sue just cause he could. There is insufficient information w/r to the parties concerned.

Most real ranchers in the West have a lot of property & no money to speak of. The late comers make their money elsewhere then they come in, buy several ranches from the "natives" and then declare themselves to be "ranchers". It would be interesting to know if Robbins is one such individual as he seems to have plenty of money.

Posted by Throger Thains8048 2007-03-25 13:12|| 2007-03-25 13:12|| Front Page Top

#5 Notice how seldom the term "government worker" is used?

Posted by Besoeker 2007-03-25 15:02|| 2007-03-25 15:02|| Front Page Top

#6 These acts are criminal or they should be. I don't think anyone is above the law when it comes to criminal stuff.

Posted by gorb 2007-03-25 15:43|| 2007-03-25 15:43|| Front Page Top

#7 Being able to sue IRS and OSHA employees for abuse of power would be a bonus, not a detriment. Since by definition the IRS violates our rights it would a nice way of getting rid of it.

Posted by Kalle (kafir forever) 2007-03-25 18:06|| 2007-03-25 18:06|| Front Page Top

#8 The worst thing going against this guy is that he is being represented by Laurence Tribe, as notorious a nogoodnik lawyer as was William Kunstler. He long held ambitions of being put on the SCOTUS, but is such a turd that not even Bill Clinton would do it.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-03-25 18:58|| 2007-03-25 18:58|| Front Page Top

#9 Go to the following link for a fairly balanced article on this subject:

http://cowboytimes.blogspot.com/2007/03/high-noon-for-hot-springs-rancher-at.html
By GIL BRADY for The Cowboy Picayune-Sunny Times.

It sounds like Robbins is not squeeky clean in his motives and the BLM types played by the rules in a hardball fashion. Pick you own side but I'm not enthused with rich "Rancher" wanna-be's that don't take care of the land & infringe on their neighbors grazing. Used to shoot folks for that.

Posted by Throger Thains8048 2007-03-25 19:11|| 2007-03-25 19:11|| Front Page Top

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