"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
news:ILsTb.9136


I'm really sorry to hear that. Good luck w/insurance.

"Don White" wrote in message
...
What about a 'citizen's arrest'.
I believe you are able to hold someone caught committing a crime using the
minimal force necessary.

Hi Don: I don't know if that applies only in Canada. It may be O.K. in the
USA.

We can do it in Canada by declaring to the person "You are under arrest"
and its done, you can then hold them. If they try to escape they can be
charged with resisting arrest. A very serious charge.

Jim Carter
"The Boat"
Bayfield

in the US-
the kids are set free without so much as a harsh word, their parents
sue the police, and the robbery victim pays double.

DSK.... Pertaining to law, and going OT momentarily, this (the following
article) could pertain to stealing a life. A copy and paste article straight
from Vineland, NJ.

Staff photos/Charles J. Olson, Richard Walsh, 45, and other supporters of
Michael
Albano protest on Friday outside of the Lipman Law building in Vineland. "I'm
out here to prove this wrong," said Michael's
father Nelson Albano.

Nelson Albano, father of the late Michael Albano pickets in front of the Lipman
Law building.

VINELAND -- Local attorney Gary Wodlinger said he did what he was
legally bound to do, and now he wants out.
The lawyer has been under fire since last week when he served the family of
Michael Albano with a five-count lawsuit that partially blamed the teenager for
his own death.

Albano was killed in a December 2001 accident when a drunk driver ran a red
light and plowed into his pickup truck at Park and West avenues.

Wodlinger said Friday he would spend the weekend drafting a motion requesting
permission to step down as the lawyer for James Calhoun, the passenger in the
drunk driver's car. Calhoun initiated the
lawsuit.

The attorneys' decision was applauded Friday afternoon by the cluster of
friends and family of Albano who were picketing
Wodlinger's Sixth Street law firm. But they wanted more than that.

They wanted Wodlinger to publicly acknowledge that 19-year-old Albano was an
innocent party in the crash that claimed his life and prompted lawmakers to
toughen penalties for repeat drunk drivers.

Albano's father, Nelson, coordinated the demonstration after Wodlinger authored
the civil lawsuit that noted Calhoun's injuries
were the result "of the negligence and carelessness" of his son.

"I'm out to prove this wrong," said the wind-whipped Nelson Albano, standing on
a sidewalk outside the law firm across from police headquarters. "I want my
son's name cleared."

Picketers carried signs with such messages as "All Money, No Morals"
and "This firm defends drunks." Passing motorists honked horns. Mayor Perry
Barse stopped by with encouraging words.
Nelson Albano thanked those who joined him standing in the cold by offering
hand warmers, hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies handmade by a supporter.


Wodlinger on Friday issued a statement that, in his opinion, Michael Albano
wasn't responsible for the accident. But, he explained, he was legally required
to put the question to a jury as part of a lawsuit to gain Calhoun access to
Personal Injury
Protection Benefits and Uninsured Motorist Benefits through the Unsatisfied
Claim and Judgment Fund.

The morning of the deadly crash, Calhoun was a passenger in a car driven by
Carlos Rosado, who was drunk at the time.

Rosado, who had several previous convictions for driving while intoxicated, is
now serving a 12-year prison term for the accident that took Albano's life.

Wodlinger met Calhoun days after the fatal crash when a relative referred him
to the firm. He recalled Calhoun had a fractured
shoulder and leg injuries and wasn't very forthcoming with information about
the case.

In fact, it was Calhoun's stepfather, who has since passed away, who presented
Wodlinger the case. "We undertook an investigation," Wodlinger said, explaining
the police reports weren't available.
Because the accident was fatal, the reports were forwarded to the Cumberland
County Prosecutor's Office. But the firm didn't get any additional information
from Calhoun.

"He never came back," said Wodlinger, adding he didn't see his client for two
years.

Because Rosado was uninsured, Wodlinger filed the civil suit to protect
Calhoun's legal interests, just beating the two-year statute of limitations.
"Failing to do so would be a breech of my duty to Mr. Calhoun," he said.

Wodlinger's suit named Rosado; his wife, Milagros; the estate of Michael
Albano; the N.J. Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund; and the state insurance
commissioner.

Wodlinger said he expected the Albanos' attorney would ask a judge to dismiss
Michael Albano's estate from the case. In fact, he said, he would have joined
that motion

Michael's parents, Nelson and Debbie Albano, were served with the suit two days
after watching Gov. James E. McGreevey sign Michael's Law, named in honor of
their son. The legislation mandates jail time for those convicted of three or
more DUI offenses.

It had taken the Albanos two years to nudge the law through the state
Legislature. "We won a battle," Nelson Albano said It was a short-lived
victory, he said, because the lawsuit devastated the family. The suit made them
angry. But the charge their son had been negligent and careless outraged them
and the
community, who had rallied around the couple after their loss.

A Jan. 24 Daily Journal article about the lawsuit flushed out Calhoun, who
visited Wodlinger's office Tuesday. At that time,
Wodlinger explained to his client that he would no longer be able to represent
him because of his uncooperative nature and for other reasons.

It will probably take Cumberland County Superior Court about a month to rule on
Wodlinger's request, he said. At that time, Calhoun may be given a timetable to
hire another lawyer or represent himself.

As for serving the Albanos with the suit two days after the signing of
Michael's Law, Wodlinger said that was unintentional. He acknowledged there was
no good time to serve the family. The suit was received by the court's Civil
Case Management Office Dec. 3, well before the Legislature passed Michael's
Law.

Nelson Albano said Friday he's pleased that Wodlinger is stepping away from the
case. But he wanted the attorney to publicly acknowledge his son was
innocent. "He's tarnished my son's name," Albano said.

Later in the day, Wodlinger clarified his position to say it's his opinion that
Michael Albano wasn't responsible for the accident.
That was all the Albanos had wanted to hear.

Nelson Albano shared Wodlinger's statement with the protesters, who cheered and
then hugged each other. After four hours of good-natured protest, they prepared
to head home to celebrate what they felt was yet another victory for Michael.

Originally published Saturday, January 31, 2004. The Daily Journal, Vineland,
NJ.

Very creative idea!

DSK wrote in message .. .
Capt. Frank Hopkins wrote:
Hit again...
This time they got the generator, GPS, binox, toolbox, magnagrill, fishing
poles, and a long list of miscellaneous items.
KRAP Now I have to go fight it out with the insurance.

That really sucks. It almost sounds like they targeted your boat because
you have a lot of nice stuff.

Ever thought about keeping a python or cobra aboard? That'd keep thieves
the heck away... and if not, then you have less food to buy for it...

Regards
Doug King

"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message link.net...
Hit again...
This time they got the generator, GPS, binox, toolbox, magnagrill, fishing
poles, and a long list of miscellaneous items.
KRAP Now I have to go fight it out with the insurance.
--
Capt. Frank Hopkins

www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

Man, they got you good, it sounds like, sorry to hear.