[*BCM*] NYC tries to sue "Critical Mass"

[Anne Wolfe]

I'd have to read the pleadings (not much time for that right now), but I wonder the
following;
1) Who exactly are they trying to sue?  CM is an incorporated, not particularly
associated  grouping.  Basic legal procedure says you notify the other side of the suit
(or in the case of an injunction, you might not notify them til after, but I'm not
getting into that here) and they get the chance to speak their side, you speak your side,
judge decides who's right/where the law stands.  Since no one actually belongs as it were
to CM, who's going to stand up for CM.  Then again, that last statement could be a double
edged sword - if no one actually belongs, and therefore no one is to stand up, then if
they find  a way to sue CM, CM gets banned.  Think about it.
2) Injunction on what grounds?  If I meet my friends as arranged on a Thursday night and
go for a bike ride, am I parading?  And if I'm not blocking traffic, or inconveniencing
publich health or safety (which if CM was big enough, could be an argument.  In the words
of one demo organizer "where the hell are these millions of people going to go to the
potty?"), what's the big whoop?

--- Tom Revay <trevay at rcn.com> wrote:

> At 09:47 AM 10/30/2004 -0700, you wrote:
> >The NYPD tried to file a suit against "Critical Mass" in an attempt to
> >stop people from riding their bikes together on the last Friday of the
> >Month.  Fortunately, it looks like the judge has at least an ounce of
> >sense in him/her and refused to hear the case.
> >
> >I'd like to see a counter protest of car drivers trying to "take over
> >the city".  And then we could sue them for participating in a parade
> >without a permit.  Oh, wait.  They already have taken over the city...
> >Anyone up for a lawsuit against car traffic?  We could claim that Car
> >and Driver Magazine "fosters and organizes" these unlawful "rush hour"
> >rides!
> >
> >http://info.interactivist.net/article.pl?sid=04/10/26/0042213&mode=nested&tid=14&tid=1
> 
> As you know, I'm not a CM fan.  But I like your suggestion. 8-)
> 
> ...........................Tom
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> 


=====

"If your sister, or your brother, were stumbling on their last mile, in a self-inflicted exile, you'd wish for them a humble friend." - Dar Williams

 

 





		
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Y! Messenger - Communicate in real time. Download now. 
http://messenger.yahoo.com