1/BREAKING NEWS: In 2016, attorney #StephenGill, legal advisor pro tempore for Al-Nashiri military commission, was arrested at home in MA, flown to VA & detained overnight to testify as witness in GITMO proceeding.
Today, Fed District Judge in MA ruled USGOVT may be liable.
2/We filed lawsuit under Fed Tort Claims Act in 2018. DC Fed Court transferred case to MA. What military officers did in this case should shock the conscience of any reasonable person. And bc of that, our lawsuit survives.
3/Judge ruled we filed valid claims for unlawful trespass (for searching Gill's home) & intentional infliction of emotional distress (for using excessive force).
Approx 15 Marshals in full riot gear w/assault rifles & hand-guns drawn & pointed at him despite no threat of danger.
4/Court wrote: "Gill was allegedly shackled by force, handcuffed and transported to the Alexandria County Detention Center, where he was detained overnight with little food or water. Such conduct plausibly violates the Fourth Amendment as constituting excessive force..."
5/It was also stated that "amended complaint permits the reasonable inference that the arrest described therein and the events which took place thereafter involved extreme and outrageous conduct."
END/This is a rare battle victory against USGOVT involving usually protected military & law enforcement activity. Such conduct never should have been allowed to happen & needs to be prevented again. GITMO proceedings remain fundamentally flawed.
We (@JohnPhillips/@BradMossEsq) are now rep'ing Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) who has been sued for defamation by President Trump's 1st National Security Advisor #MichaelFlynn.
2/Enforcement of the rule of law is an important and valuable principle in our Democracy. Unfortunately, the law can be abused as a weapon to try and intimidate those who stand up against government corruption and misconduct.
3/As part of MAGA’s efforts to silence those who challenge their actions to undermine Democracy, President Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who in 2017 pled guilty to a felony count of “willfully and knowingly” making false statements to the FBI ...
3/After weeks of failed attempts to negotiate mutual date, which is what professionals do, we properly issued Notice of Deposition on May 30 for today. Even though #Grenell is Plaintiff & chose VA as his venue, he does not wish to travel from CA for his deposition.
2/If individuals made protected disclosure to supervisor in employee’s direct chain of command, an OIG or appropriate congressional committee or its members, they are protected #whistleblowers.
Doesn't mean they are credible or accurate, but attacking status undermines system.
3/I served as co-counsel to IC #whistleblowers whose complaint led to Trump's 1st impeachment (not our objective). Cong. Jordan was hypocritically a key attacker of WBer's lawful & legitimate status. It was wrong then, it is wrong now.
I will be appearing in Montgomery County Maryland District Court Monday afternoon to represent driver ticketed by @MDSP for flashing headlights at car that dangerously cut them off.
2/I've been down this route before. In 2009, I was ticketed for flashing my headlights at Montgomery County speed trap. I challenged ticket as being unconstitutional & lawful.
3/Ticket was dismissed. @mcpnews admitted my actions were lawful. Then Police Chief #TomManger (now @CapitolPolice Chief) personally apologized to me, which I accepted as sincere, & I dropped my plan to file lawsuit.
NEWS ALERT: @MarkSZaidPC reps more than 2 doz federal #AHI victims & family members. Below is our statement in response to IC Assessment findings issued today.
We already have #FOIA litigation to compel release of report & @ODNIgov must update Court by March 20th.
2/Full statement reads:
"My firm represents more than two dozen federal AHI victims from within the Intelligence, Military, Law Enforcement and Diplomatic communities who experienced incidents domestically and overseas....
3/This also includes minor children of our dedicated workforce who are also victims of these AHIs. Our representation started a decade ago.
The latest U.S. intelligence assessment lacks transparency and we continue to question the accuracy of the alleged findings....
We just filed new fed lawsuit against #Trump & two criminal defs for wrongful death of @CapitolPolice Ofc #BrianSicknick arising from #January6th insurrection/coup attempt. #Accountability
Our legal team is: @PhilAndonianEsq @mattkaiser @noahbrozinsky @BradMossEsq
Official media release:
Any recovery from this lawsuit by Officer #BrianSicknick's estate, represented by longtime partner #SandraGarza, for his wrongful death due to #January6th is planned to be donated to charity.