Jury will hear suit against Cheney's Secret Service agents

[sabra]

Source: Denver Post

A federal judge in Denver has declined to toss out a lawsuit against four U.S. Secret Service agents who arrested a man in Beaver Creek in 2006 after he approached former Vice President Dick Cheney to criticize the Iraq war.

U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello issued her ruling from the bench this morning and said a jury is going to have to decide the case.

"There are too many disputed issues of material fact to grant summary judgment in this case," Arguello said.

Steven Howards sued the four agents claiming they violated his civil rights after he was arrested for harassing Cheney in June 2006.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12140350

[midnight]

1. It's best not to dispute those issues in a court of law?

[merh]

2. According to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

(and most state court civil procedure rules) - a motion for summary judgment is warranted if the court finds, upon a review of the pleadings, depositions, affidavits in evidence, that there is no disputed issues of material fact. In other words, Cheney's lawyers moved to have the case dismissed or for a summary judgment claiming that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact to establish a civil wrong that the SSA committed.

The judge found there are enough issues in dispute that the matter must be heard by a jury.

[Piewhacket]

3. Bizarre

According to the article:

"Howards said he simply walked up to Cheney in the Beaver Creek shopping mall, touched him and said
his policy in Iraq was 'disgusting.' "

Touched him? He admits to touching Cheney? That is what the article said.
Its insane. That could get him arrested. Something is weird here.

Secondly, also according to the article, the Secret Service was monitoring his CELL PHONE?
You gotta be f* joking.

I can only conclude the reporting on this incident is completely FUBAR. Such things are fubar
generally for one of these reasons: (1) incompetence, (2) editorial bias.

[JeanGrey]

4. This should have been dismissed. You cannot "touch"

the President or Vice President. That's assault. What is wrong with people?

Simply trying to speak to them when the SS tells you to back off is grounds for arrest.

I agree something is not right here.