At left is Brad Reinhart, the
illustrious Director of the City of Reading Codes Office, arrogantly
grabbing his crotch after a meeting. An employee grabbed a picture
of Brad Reinhart as he's in the middle of a grab of his own...well, you
know what he's grabbing. The full picture is found
here of
Brad Reinhart. Is he glad to see us or playing pocket pool? Or
is this the Reading Gestapo salute? Is this a secret society hand
signal of the Codes Office? Is it a gang sign? Or is Brad
imitating Michael
Jackson?
BRAD REINHART AND OTHER
Codes Officers
from the City of Reading use a sledgehammer to bust down doors,
and force a health and safety inspection. Brad Reinhart, the City
of Reading, and others are sued by the property owner and the tenants.
VIEW THE VIDEO HERE OF
BRAD REINHART USING A SLEDGEHAMMER TO SMASH THE DOORS OF A PROPERTY.
CITY OF READING: THIS IS A "HEALTH & SAFETY
INSPECTION":
FLOURIDE IN WATER EXPOSED: Does the
City of Reading Flouridate the Water? How to
make people stupid, lethargic and apathetic. Are the politicians and
other criminals in Reading, PA drinking too much Flouride?
CITY OF READING INTEL: Do you know that States, Counties
and Cities keep two sets of books? Read about
Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports
and how they hide assets owned by government.
All City of Reading Codes Officers must take an oath of
office to obey the Constitution. They are public servants. And
yet, they violate the Constitution through warrant less searches,
refusing to answer basic questions about their forms, and colluded with
Magisterial District Justices to increase prosecutions.
"The oath of
office: I _________ do solemnly swear that I will support, obey, and
defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the
City of Reading Home Rule
Charter; and that I take this obligation freely, without any
reservation, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of Codes
Enforcement Officer with fidelity, so help me God."
All
public officials, whether elected or appointed take an Oath of Office,
PA Constitution, Article VI, Section 3 states:
Senators, Representatives and all
judicial, State and county officers shall, before entering on the duties
of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or
affirmation before a person authorized to administer oaths.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend
the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this
Commonwealth and that I will discharge the duties of my office with
fidelity."
CONTACT
This website was posted on behalf of property owners concerned about
retaliation and retribution, if they were to speak their mind. In
the exercise of freedom of speech, this website expresses political
viewpoints on how property owners are impacted in Reading, PA.
Comments, questions, etc.?
GDJalil@hotmail.com
I
post this website to give voice to those who are too afraid to speak for
themselves.
--Guillermo D Jalil
Does the City of Reading
Codes Office remind you of Stalin?
THE
CITY HALL MANIFESTO
by Guillermo D Jalil
How to deal
with bullies in City Hall.
Anyone may copy the contents of
this website. No rights reserved.
THEIR TRAP/THEIR GAME
They issue a citation/violation placing you into a defensive position. It's a
lose-lose situation for you. If you beat the citation, you still lost time and
money fighting the citation. They operated on work time and got paid. You lost
work time and lost money. They depend on this to keep you in a defensive
posture and aggravated. All they need to do is write another citation or
violation. You defend, defend, defend costing you time and money. After work,
they go home and forget about you. You go home thinking about the problem. If
you win, they laugh between themselves. They know they won by making you upset,
poorer or frustrated.
HOW DO YOU TURN THE TABLE ON CITY HALL?
Make your case their headache at
work and at home. When they wake up, you must be the first person on their
mind. When they go to the toilet, they must be thinking about you. Wear them
out and wear them down. Do this and they will think twice before they ever
touch you, or your property, again. Then, expect their retaliation. Be ready for the retaliation
and use it against them. That's the best solution to fighting City Hall.
And this website will teach your the principles of how to get this done.
REDEFINE VICTORY. Don't focus on suing for money.
Rather, focus on exposure
and occupying their time. Make them spend money. Expose them at every
opportunity. For every minute they are occupied with you, they are not
victimizing someone else. For every person they occupy to defend their
position in court, they are disabled from writing up other complaints.
The citations and violations they write
are used as a supplemental "tax" on the local peasants. When you occupy
their time, they must spend more money on your case than what it's worth.
Then when they retaliate, they must then defend against your claim of
retaliation. This is the real battle. The battle is not over money,
it's over employee time. The battle is not over compensation to you.
It should be how they can wrestle free of the complaints you filed, so they can
get back to their own schedule, and a normal life. This is victory.
When they wish you went away, so they can go back to their schedule of easy
targets....this is victory.
WHAT TO DO WHEN DEALING WITH A BULLY, AND SOMEONE FINANCIALLY STRONGER THAN YOURSELF
If you refuse to fight, they'll pick on you again. If you fight, you'll
probably lose. But...giving them a black eye in the process will make them
think twice before picking on you again. The goal: Make them know they were in
a fight after it's all over. Make it more expensive for them to fight than they
realized. Make it inconvenient and costly for that City Hall bully. When the
City Hall bully realizes that you're more than a bag of chips, he'll move on to
someone else. He'll retaliate and that's fine...use it against him.
Then use that retaliation as evidence to sue him, his supervisors and the
City itself.
THE
SOLUTION: TRAP THE BULLY INTO YOUR FIGHT. HERE'S WHAT TO DO:
1. VIDEO TAPE/AUDIO TAPE INTERACTION WITH CITY OFFICIALS. THEY ALWAYS LIE. USE
THEIR LIES AGAINST THEM. SHOW PROOF IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
2. POST A WEBSITE.
Expose their actions in a public forum. Everyone in your town already
knows who is corrupt. Those considering doing business in your town should know
what's going on. This is important because:
a. It emboldens others to act and join your fight.
b. The website is a central place for other victims to share stories,
strategies and experiences.
c. You may be able to find like minded people to help you.
d. You may be able to enhance your defense because others will contribute
corroborating evidence for your cause.
e. It embarrasses the aggressor.
f. The aggressor thinks twice before doing it again. You've taken the
wind out of his sails. Once exposed, he'll think twice before victimizing
someone else.
g. You're better able to organize your thoughts and your plan.
h. You're better able to organize documents on the computer.
i. You provide tools and encouragement for others who thought about
fighting City Hall, but afraid they were the only one. Don't let them feel
alone. Be the first and others will follow--I promise.
h. Supervisors are aware of the situation and feel aggravated about the
website. Although you may never hear of it, they'll call the aggressor unto the
carpet complaining about the website and what happened. They will cover up
their mistake. Then use their cover-up against them.
3. ALWAYS TAKE IT TO THE VERY NEXT LEVEL.
Expect to lose at the District Justice level. Most District Justices in
the City of Reading are
in collusion with the City. This particularly applies to DJ William Hall. He's
seemingly 100%
in collusion with the City. Just sit in his "court room" and you'll see the
evidence. Every decision he makes, every comment he states, is in favor of
the City.
So, this is what you do on the DJ level in facing the City of Reading Codes
Office:
Subpoena everyone remotely
related to your case and occupy their time as much as you can. This
means you subpoena the Assistant City Solicitor, so the City Solicitor must
represent the case. Subpoena the codes officer, the codes
officer's direct supervisor, and a few other codes officers that may or may
not be connected to the case. This will occupy the entire morning, or entire afternoon,
of the City Solicitor, the Assistant Solicitor and one or more Codes
Officers. This is an accomplishment! The City can't continue to
harass property owners with bogus codes violations when hearings occupy too
much of their time.
In court, get their side of
the story and ask as many questions you think are relevant to your case.
In court, ask as many
simple or stupid questions as you like and occupy their time.
If District Justic (DJ)
William Hall doesn't let you subpoena witnesses, then he violated your
rights. Ask an attorney on how to motion to have the case thrown
out because his office didn't allow you to subpoena witnesses. Or,
just appeal the case the Berks County Court of Common Pleas (ask an attorney
if you like) by filing paperwork at the courthouse. Anyone can do it.
Look up the Bill of
Rights. You have the right to call witnesses on your behalf.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused
shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public
trial, by an impartial jury of the State and
district where in the crime shall have been
committed, which district shall have been
previously ascertained by law, and to be
informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses
against him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have
the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
In case you're considering
obtaining an
attorney for the DJ hearing... Most people don't.
What the District Justices think and decide are insignificant if they
rule against you. Why is it that they don't count? If
you lose, you can appeal the decision to a real judge: In the
Berks County Court of Common Pleas. Then the matter
will be decided by a competent person who has a real law degree. And
the Berks County Judges actually passed the bar exam! Although
there are many District Justices in Pennsylvania who are competent and
respectful, most of DJ's in the City of Reading are biased and
unprepared to do the job. Many them, unfortunately, produce the
appearance of due process, but are just a farce. Accept this
and move on.
Remember, you get a new
hearing once you appeal. What's said and decided in this
hearing is meaningless, even if you are found "guilty" of the
codes violation. What matters is that you occupied their time, you
collecting information on what they have as evidence, and you received
an education about the system. Focus on relaxing in court.
Use the hearing to take
notes on the evidence they have against you. This is the evidence
that they purport to have. Expect them to lie in court.
Don't be shocked. This is how they operate. It's normal to
them. Don't get upset.
Everything that's said
at the DJ hearing is not recorded in any way! The City of Reading
Codes Officers can say anything they want, and even change their story,
and there's no record to refer to. If it's not recorded, it
doesn't count. Relax, this is how they do it in the City of
Reading.
On appeal, subpoena the same characters again! This means the
Solicitor, the Assistant Solicitor, and the Codes Officers must spend a
second morning or afternoon defending their position on the same codes
violation. They can't afford to make money this way.
Remember, City Hall considers their violations and citations as a source of
income. Turn that into a flowing river of headache for the public servants
involved. Make them spend more money defending their violation/citation than
what it is worth.
a. Expose their actions to the public
b. Occupy their time as much as possible. If there's an upcoming hearing,
subpoena as many of the city officials, their supervisors and Assistant City
Solicitor to every hearing. This means the City Solicitor must cover the
hearing on behalf of the City.
This ties up their time. If one person is able to tie up the time of four
or five codes officials for one hour or half the morning, that's a net loss for them. They can't
fine others while they are dealing with you. If more people did this, they
would think twice before harassing anyone with frivolous violations.
Here's the bottom line: By walking or
driving around the City of Reading, anyone can pick out hundreds of flagrant
codes violations. Instead of compelling changes to properties that are a
public hazard, they inspect good properties and cite them for frivolous
violations. Therefore, they are targeting property owners who have good
properties because they have something valuable to lose--so they are willing to
pay up. And then the Codes Office cites people for failing to file rental
permits. Why? It's about money for them. This has nothing to
do with health and safety. Since they really are in the business of
collecting fees and fines for their department, they use "health and safety" as
a cover for their activity. This is just an additional tax upon the
property owners of the City of Reading under cover of "health and safety
inspection." It is a scam.
HINT:
Look at each city official and their supervisors, and department head. Many
times, they are required to reside in the area. Many times, they don't follow
their own rules.
4. EXPECT RETALIATION -- AND USE IT AGAINST THEM
Retaliation is their reaction. It's also to your benefit. A retaliation claim
against them is usually stronger, and carries more weight, than the initial
problem or issue. It makes them look bad. They always make mistakes when they
are retaliating because they are reacting. When they are reacting--you win.
Their retaliation is almost always emotional and explains why they are so sloppy
in its execution. Expect retaliation when you haven't "gotten the message." Be
ready and then use it against them. Once they retaliated, repeat the principles
stated above and complain some more. Their retaliation is your reason for legal
action. It's the best foundation for a legal claim.
Bait them to
exercise maximum power of their position. Credibility is lost when they
exercise the maximum force behind their authority and it creates a financial
negative for them. Focus on consuming their time, their energy, their
effort and their credibility.
5. LOOK FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Municipalities are now using traffic cameras to catch violators. Usually the
company that installs or supplies the cameras are in bed (financialy) with the
municipality that uses them. Look for conflicts of interest that to use against
them.
6. RECOGNIZE THE HABITS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS. USE THEIR HABITS AGAINST THEM:
-Most of them are lazy and not results oriented.
-They are paid to do and not to think. They are paid to show up more than
anything else.
-They are focused on avoiding mistakes and handling paperwork. Use this against
them. Did they do the paperwork? Did they make a mistake? Did they lie?
-They lie for one another and back each other up. When they do, use your audio
and video surveillance to snag them in their lies.
-They are hiding in public service since they can't make it in industry.
-There is always a hostile relationship between public servants in each office.
They suffer from the chicken syndrome. Chickens are always picking on a member
of their own group until that member is dies, expelled or leaves voluntarily.
That member is your friend. Posting a website may place you in contact with an
angry public servant willing to spill the beans (blow the whistle) to ditch
their coworkers. Find that person and you have an inside track to what they'll
do next.
-They lie to their employer and others. It's commonplace. Many of them are in
violation of an ordinance within their own community (residency requirement,
qualifications, etc.)
ALWAYS TAKE THESE STEPS WHEN INTERACTING WITH A PUBLIC SERVANT:
Ask whether what they seek from you is mandatory or voluntary. If they fail to
answer, it's voluntary. Send them a letter of the exchange and express that
you're under no expectation to do a thing. Tell them that they have ten
business days to list what they want and to state whether it's mandatory or
voluntary.
Ask them under what law it's mandatory. Ask for a copy of the procedures. Give
them ten days. Make sure it's in writing.
Send a copy to the supervisors that they didn't respond. Keep copies for
yourself.
Always document each call and send them a copy of the documentation. Ask them
to challenge the documentation within ten business days. If they don't, your
documentation is the truth.
COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN
When you complain, forget
about the local paper. The Reading Times and the City of Reading
are very much in collusion. The paper doesn't write negative
stories about the leadership of the City of Reading. This is due
to Al Boscov. He buys a substantial amount of advertising from the
Reading Eagle. Therefore, he disapproves of any story that casts a
bad light on the City's management of affairs. The peasants of the
County of Berks don't do anything about this. They continue to
look the other way thinking, "I don't live in the City of Reading, I
don't care. If those people want to live like animals, more power
to them." Don't rely on the Reading Eagle to pick up your story.
The internet is independent of the City of Reading, their minions, and
the newspaper.
Complain to a higher authority.
File a complaint with the State Attorney General and any other agencies
that's willing to listen. Most municipalities often have a board or committee
that hears and investigate municipal employees.
They City of
Reading has a Charter Board. File complaints. Keep them
busy. Let them know you're complaining. Your complaints and their
timing are important. Your complaint must take place before they
retaliate against you. Their retaliation is evidence!
Encourage others to file complaints.
7. SEEK OUT DISGRUNTLED PRESENT AND PAST EMPLOYEES OF CITY HALL FOR INSIDE
INFORMATION.
Past
employees of City Hall are more likely to talk about internal operations,
who controls the office and the way they look at issues
Present
employees won't help you for fear of losing their job. Your strategies with
present employees are the following:
Wait
until they are fired or quit. Be nice to the employees that are not
victimizing you. They may be assets in the future.
Even
those who took a hand at making your life difficult may turn to help
you. If the City victimizes the employee that wronged you, that
employee may be your strongest ally.
Sometimes your best asset is time. Wait for the City to denigrate,
victimize and mistreat their own employees. This may take a couple of
years. But it always happens.
Those employees that had a hand in abusing your rights will soon get
their turn from within their group. It always happens.
Abusers can't help themselves. It's a form of justice.
Someone always has enough and files a complaint. Then the
complainant receives retaliation and there's a lawsuit. It's the
game they play. The abusers always assume it's the public's money
their wasting--so it doesn't matter. But it does matter to their
own careers. If you do a proper job of illuminating their conduct,
they can't quit and they can't find a better job. No municipality
seeks to hire a codes official that carelessly creates lawsuits.
8. ALTHOUGH THEY APPEAR TO SUPPORT THEIR EMPLOYEES THAT TARGET YOU, THEY
ARE NOT HAPPY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
Behind the scenes, they are questioning the judgment of the employee. If that
employee makes too much trouble, produces too much controversy, or creates too
much noise, that support will eventually run out.
EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS:
Look at what happened to Jatinder Khokhar, the former Codes Manager for the City
of Reading Codes Office. He moved to Berks County and refused to live in
the City of Reading, as required by the City Charter. Although he kept his
driver's license out of Virginia, he lived in Berks County. He then
violated the rights of property owners spawning several lawsuits against
himself, the City of Reading, the Mayor and Solicitor, and several of his
subordinates. Then citizens filed complaints with the City of Reading
Charter Board because Jatinder Khokhar deliberately refused to move into the
City as required. He even insulted the City of Reading, by saying that his
wife would kill him if he would move his children from Virginia to the City of
Reading. This produced a backlash from taxpayers and property owners.
The litigation, the depositions, the meetings, the conferences, the
conference calls, and the internal strife in the department has left the
department disorganized and unable to recover. Jatinder Khokhar was left
unable to testify in court against alleged code violators due to his residency
challenge with the Charter Board. Further, the Codes Office was unable to handle
simple tasks, such as sending out the permit notices. Eventually, the
Mayor got sick of Jatinder Khokhar, the Drama Queen of the Codes Office.
The Mayor arranged for Jatinder Khokhar to be escorted from City Hall.
Bye-bye Jatinder.
What to learn from
Jatinder Khokhar's example?
Every legitimate complaint you
file with the Charter Board, Ethics Board, licensing body and court does the
following:
Keeps the perpetrators busy
defending themselves
People who step on others
create drama inside their own
department--when residents defend their rights.
Jatinder Khokhar
embarrassed the Mayor for his public comments, for refusing to move into
the City as required by the Charter, and for producing lawsuits for the
City.
Jatinder Khokhar kept the City Solicitor's
office overwhelmed with complaints and litigation
His
retaliatory actions produced
evidence for the lawsuit. The filing of complaints against the
perpetrator will generate paperwork and evidence. There are two
types of evidence produced:
Evidence
of their mistakes and wrong-doing
Evidence
of retaliation after you complain. Often times, your retaliation
claim against them is stronger than the initial claim of their
wrong-doing.
THE CITY
OF READING PAID $40,000 TO PAY OFF ONE GROUP OF PLAINTIFFS AFTER
VIOLATING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THEY HAVE MORE LAWSUITS
FILED AGAINST THEM AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE.
Evidence of
wrong-doing on behalf of the perpetrator inside City Hall
Evidence of collusion
between the departments of City Hall and knowledge of the Mayor, and
City Solicitor's Office.
OR
Evidence of collusion,
deliberate neglect, or negligence between the Charter Board
Investigator, Ethics
Board, or other Board or committee responsible to investigate
abusive, unconstitutional or irresponsible behavior of public
servants.
If the Board or
office responsible for investigating malfeasance or abusive
behavior is not doing their job, your first order of business is
the following:
Generate
publicity for the board that failed to do their job.
File a
complaint against members of the board or committee.
File a civil
complaint (Check with your attorney i.e. Order of Mandamus)
to force the board or committee to investigate.
Post a website
exposing this conduct.
Point out
individuals within an organization with specific actions
they've taken, or failed to take, that breached their duty.
Many times
the head of a board or committee is an attorney. That
attorney is working as a volunteer or at a reduced rate to
obtain credibility in the community, or plans to run for
political office. In your website, make it personal.
Share specific information about what happened, or that
didn't happen, about that attorney and identify his law
practice.
Remember
that sunshine makes cockroaches run for cover.
Politicians and lawyers are one in the same. They are cockroaches. Open the blinds and watch them
scatter like the vile trash roaches they really are. Vamoos!
Your job is to carry the ball as far as you can to make sure that employee runs
his course in terms of spending his credibility points. This means that
you want to exhaust the credibility of that employee by casting attention on
that
perpetrator, identifying co-perpetrators, finding
co-victims, writing that website, and encouraging others to talk and share their
story.
Nobody likes to deal with a drama queen. And if that employee appears to create
drama for the City's supervisors, City Council or the Mayor, he won't be
popular. Although they will defend the employee tooth and nail in the public
eye, and
in defending legal action, the employee will face the scrutiny of his superiors
behind closed doors. Expect the City to entrench and defend the actions of
the City employee every step of the way. This is normal for inadequate,
short-minded, uneducated politicians who are unprepared to do their jobs.
9. CONTACT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ASK FOR A MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER
PRESIDENT. Explain the situation and how this situation is anti-business. The Chamber is
important in terms of votes, influence and information.
10.
USE THE INAPPROPRIATE ABUSE OF POWER, RETALIATION, AND INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT OF
PUBLIC SERVANTS AGAINST THEM IN COURT.
11.
IDENTIFY CITY HALL'S INSURANCE COMPANY THAT COVERS THEIR LITIGATION.
SOLICITORS ARE OFTEN OVERWHELMED. CITY HALL PAYS AN INSURANCE COMPANY
TO COVER LEGAL EXPENSES.
Send a copy of all
complaints and issues to the insurer. You can find out the insurer through
the risk management department. This can cause the insurance rates to
increase for the City. And the City may be pressured by the insurer to
back off. If there's a lawsuit brewing, the stench of the City's actions
may be enough to send the Insurer packing, or threatening to increase rates.
The insurer has more weight and influence than you think!
12.
DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM HAS GONE AWAY BECAUSE THERE IS SILENCE.
They may be silent
but they are also angry at you. They are still looking to retaliate.
They are waiting and looking for an excuse. Fight them using the law,
using internal complaint procedures, and let all of it take its course.
Silence is not peace. They are waiting to do it again.
13. WHEN
SOMETHING HAPPENS, NOTIFY PEOPLE IN WRITING BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN
RECEIPT.
This
place people on notice. It also makes co-workers and co-perpetrators stuck
in a position. They can no longer claim they don't know about the
situation. Their action, or failure to act, works against them. They
know this and hate receiving any notice of what is happening.
When you have a telephone conversation
with a Codes Officer about any situation. This is what you do:
Within 24 hours, write a letter to the
codes officer about what was discussed. Then add, "This was the complete
substance of our conversation on this date of ____________. You have ten
(10) business days to dispute my account of the conversation. If you fail
to do so within ten (10) business days, then you admit and accept that my
account of the conversation is true and correct."
Keep the registered mail information
and returned receipt.
This works because of the following
reasons:
They are disorganized.
They don't have time to read
and respond to this type of correspondence.
They always fail to keep the
correspondence for future hearings.
They forget that you sent the
letter.
14. IF
THE PUBLIC SERVANT HAS A LICENSE TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION, OR TO ENGAGE IN A
CERTAIN ACT, FILE A COMPLAINT.
15. WHEN THE POLICE ARE
INVOLVED, DON'T CRITICIZE THEM. STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY.
The police work for the Mayor.
They police are just a victim of the Mayor, as are the residents of the City.
They too think he's a pompous self-righteous jerk. They want to stay away
from the politics and just do their job.
They are subject to the arbitrary actions of the politicians and must deal with
the crazy criminals on the street. Even if the police are ordered to do
something that violates your rights, be patient with them. Instead of
retaliating against the police, focus on the political idiot who called them to
harass you. If you react emotionally and make a mistake, then you're
playing on their turf again...spending your money reacting to their allegations.
Instead, use the administrative
remedies from inside City Hall to target the public servants responsible for the
violations. By keeping the police out of civil and criminal charges, they
are not emotionally uninvolved-- and unmotivated to retaliate.
16. KEEP IT LEGAL, KEEP IT CLEAN,
ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH.
17. LOOK INTO USING RULE 27 OF
THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE TO COLLECT EVIDENCE AND COMPEL
TESTIMONY, EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO CASE.
Most people don't know this.
Ask your attorney about this rule. You are able to order any employee
of the City of Reading to give testimony even if you haven't file a lawsuit!
You are then able to use that evidence against them, and can share that
evidence with others. Here's the link:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/Rule27.htm
If they don't show for the
deposition, then your attorney can motion the court to force them to
testify.
Rule 27.
Depositions to Perpetuate
Testimony
(a) Before an
Action Is Filed.
(1) Petition.
A person who
wants to perpetuate testimony about any
matter cognizable in a United States court
may file a verified petition in the district
court for the district where any expected
adverse party resides. The petition must ask
for an order authorizing the petitioner to
depose the named persons in order to
perpetuate their testimony. The petition
must be titled in the petitioner's name and
must show:
(A) that the
petitioner expects to be a party to an
action cognizable in a United States court
but cannot presently bring it or cause it to
be brought;
(B) the
subject matter of the expected action and
the petitioner's interest;
(C) the facts
that the petitioner wants to establish by
the proposed testimony and the reasons to
perpetuate it;
(D) the names
or a description of the persons whom the
petitioner expects to be adverse parties and
their addresses, so far as known; and
(E) the name,
address, and expected substance of the
testimony of each deponent.
(2) Notice and
Service.
At least 20
days before the hearing date, the petitioner
must serve each expected adverse party with
a copy of the petition and a notice stating
the time and place of the hearing. The
notice may be served either inside or
outside the district or state in the manner
provided in
Rule 4. If that service cannot be made
with reasonable diligence on an expected
adverse party, the court may order service
by publication or otherwise. The court must
appoint an attorney to represent persons not
served in the manner provided in Rule 4 and
to cross-examine the deponent if an unserved
person is not otherwise represented. If any
expected adverse party is a minor or is
incompetent, Rule 17(c)
applies.
(3) Order and
Examination.
If satisfied
that perpetuating the testimony may prevent
a failure or delay of justice, the court
must issue an order that designates or
describes the persons whose depositions may
be taken, specifies the subject matter of
the examinations, and states whether the
depositions will be taken orally or by
written interrogatories. The depositions may
then be taken under these rules, and the
court may issue orders like those authorized
by
Rules 34 and
35. A reference in these rules to the
court where an action is pending means, for
purposes of this rule, the court where the
petition for the deposition was filed.
(4) Using the
Deposition.
A deposition
to perpetuate testimony may be used under
Rule 32(a) in any
later-filed district-court action involving
the same subject matter if the deposition
either was taken under these rules or,
although not so taken, would be admissible
in evidence in the courts of the state where
it was taken.
(b) Pending
Appeal.
(1) In
General.
The court
where a judgment has been rendered may, if
an appeal has been taken or may still be
taken, permit a party to depose witnesses to
perpetuate their testimony for use in the
event of further proceedings in that court.
(2) Motion.
The party who
wants to perpetuate testimony may move for
leave to take the depositions, on the same
notice and service as if the action were
pending in the district court. The motion
must show:
(A) the name,
address, and expected substance of the
testimony of each deponent; and
(B) the
reasons for perpetuating the testimony.
(3) Court
Order.
If the court
finds that perpetuating the testimony may
prevent a failure or delay of justice, the
court may permit the depositions to be taken
and may issue orders like those authorized
by
Rules 34 and
35. The depositions may be taken and
used as any other deposition taken in a
pending district-court action.
(c)
Perpetuation by an Action.
This rule does
not limit a court's power to entertain an
action to perpetuate testimony.
Peasants permit
themselves to be stepped on by others and don't put up a fight.
Peasants witness the persecution and harassment of others and do nothing about
it. If others are not free from tyranny, then neither are you.
So...are
you a peasant? Or, are you a sheep? Bbaa baa baa baa. Perhaps you're
a member of the mindless flock. If so, get the flock out of there!
The author of this website is engaged in political
commentary criticizing the City of Reading, the legal system in general, and
on bullies. Anything on this website is not to be considered legal advice.