NationStates Jolt Archive

well that is what happened to the hells angels

Hells Angels get $990 K for dead dogs
Guard dogs shot during 1998 police raids

Tuesday, February 7, 2006; Posted: 11:06 a.m. EST (16:06 GMT)

SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- A California county will pay nearly $1 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club after police shot and killed three guard dogs during raids of the group's headquarters and suspected members' homes.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved the $990,000 settlement in a closed session Monday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The decision came two months after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the county's arguments that sheriff's deputies should be immune from liability in the case.

The San Jose Police Department also was named in the suit because its officers shot the dogs, but the city hasn't worked out an agreement with club members. City Attorney Rick Doyle told the paper the case may go to trial.

Lower court judges ruled that actions of the deputies and San Jose police officers during the January 1998 were unreasonable, most of the evidence obtained was unnecessary and the officers did nothing to avoid killing the animals.

A lawyer for club members says a lot of property was destroyed in the raids and some evidence was kept for more than a year.

Ninety officers raided the club's San Jose headquarters and nine homes of suspected members to gather evidence against suspected member Steve Tausan who was being held on murder charges in connection with an August 1997 killing at a strip club.

Tausan was acquitted of all counts in 1999 after arguing the killing was in self-defense.

The settlement with the county includes $530,000 in attorney's fees and $460,000 to be divided among 15 people including eight current or former Hells Angels members, six spouses or significant others and one friend of a member.

Officers from the cities of Santa Clara and Gilroy also were involved in the raids, and those cities settled their cases several years ago for a total of less than $50,000, the plaintiffs' lawyer told the Chronicle.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The Hells Angels are actually getting MONEY? This country really is crazy if this is the result. This really is messed up.

Cool! Hells Angels 1 Cops 0

The Hells Angels are actually getting MONEY? This country really is crazy if this is the result. This really is messed up.

Why is it messed up? The police shot the dogs when it was not needed, so they deserve the money.

Why is it messed up? The police shot the dogs when it was not needed, so they deserve the money.

Supposively. Must be some expensive dogs that the poor Hell's Angels lost. I tell you I'm weeping. This is a lawsuit nation though and any idiot can make a claim and win. Plus it's California so that explains some of it.

If the police shot my dogs unreasonably they would be very lucky to leave my property without casualties or me alive. That's just how I am.

The Hells Angels are actually getting MONEY? This country really is crazy if this is the result. This really is messed up.


yeah it really is. Sorry i left my 1st post blank but i just didnt know what to say to this

I see it as a mixed blessing.

Hell's Angels getting money: Not Good

However, police being granted immunity from Liability: Bad Precendent to set. They are already immune from obligation to "serve and protect", they should get immunity from excessive use of powers either.

I see it as a mixed blessing.

Hell's Angels getting money: Not Good

However, police being granted immunity from Liability: Bad Precendent to set. They are already immune from obligation to "serve and protect", they should get immunity from excessive use of powers either.


absolutely agree....the state(police) allready abuse there position of power to often,and get away with it.
giving them immunity would send the worse possible message.

the had to be alternatives to killing the dogs,if they had warrants,they allready had the places under surveillance,and were aware of guard dogs...tranquiliser darts come to mind.

instead..they did what alot of cops do...act like marines bashing in to a place, yelling and screaming with guns.

i think most cops need to go to a warzone and get it out of there system...the macho thing that is.

if they killed my dogs when they obviously had alternatives...they would be lucky to just being sued.:mp5:

well that is what happened to the hells angels
Hey. It's the Land of Fruits and Nuts. What can I say? :D

What you guys don't understand is that this was just one big fishing expedition. The warrents shouldn't have been given in the first place. I know these guys pretty well. They hang out at a bar I've been hanging out at for four years. None of the guys whoes homes were raided are criminals, they're just bikers. The Hell's Angels aren't the same club they were 30 years ago. Your reaction to hearing the name Hell's Angels is based on a reputation they built a long time ago. The reason these cops got these warrents wasn't for collecting evidence in a murder investigation. That was just an excuse to poke around. They were looking for anything they could find and they found nothing that resulted in any charges or that effected the murder case in anyway yet they killed these dogs and then kept property they found for months, even years. If they had evidence that illegal activity was going on at these homes or at teh clubhouse they should have gotten warrents relating to those crimes. They didn't because they had no evidence and in fact, aside from some personal pot smoking, there are no crimes going on there. These guys are all painters and plumbers and sheet rock hangers. They're not drug dealers.

I see it as a mixed blessing.

Hell's Angels getting money: Not Good

However, police being granted immunity from Liability: Bad Precendent to set. They are already immune from obligation to "serve and protect", they should get immunity from excessive use of powers either.


police do need to know when to draw the line

That's my (well ok I don't pay taxes yet) tax money!

Cool! Hells Angels 1 Cops 0actually after that crackdown on Hell's Angels a few years back its more like:
Cops 83 Hells Angels 2

actually after that crackdown on Hell's Angels a few years back its more like:
Cops 83 Hells Angels 2



only 83?

http://www.kevinmuggleton.com/Graphics/Only-in-America-front.jpg

The Hells Angels are actually getting MONEY? This country really is crazy if this is the result. This really is messed up.

cops don't have the right to shoot any damn thing they want, or to kill any damn thing they want. if you think they do, suffer the consequences and not only that, but enjoy getting no compensation into the bargain. i think this is the most sane thing that's happened in this country in a while.

If the police needlessly shot the dogs then I think it's fair enough that some compensation was paid. But the amount was ridiculously excessive, it should have been far less.

If the police needlessly shot the dogs then I think it's fair enough that some compensation was paid. But the amount was ridiculously excessive, it should have been far less.

how do you put a price on a priceless life?

Vegetarianistica']how do you put a price on a priceless life?
If you looked at it that way you could justify paying a billion for it. We have to put things into perspective, an animal's life isn't worth as much as a human's. Considering the amount relatives get for a human death (Though I'm not sure what the going rate is in the US), I think that the amount is excessive.

only 83?

someone posted that the angels are mostly plumbers and painters.

i am a very good friend (nay..best friends)of a pagan,good friends with a lifetime outlaw,even have courtesy cards from the daytona beach chapter of the outlaws,
i also know some angels casually.

they are plumbers and painters and family guys.

the rep is b.s. with the cops,gives them an excuse to don their flak jackets and mp-5's,and act all rambo,when in fact they will not meet any resistance!
just makes them feel all tough and bad ass,wishen they were real soldiers but mostly to scared to go after real crimminal gangs.

simply put...the illegal latin gangs that are here illegally,have no compunction to shooting it out with cops...beats being deported to el salvador or honduras,and being killed when custody is transferred to the death squads down there.
or shooting it out with bloods or crips that are facing life in prison if caught.

instead.they armor up,raid some bikers house(cause everyone assumes bikers=b movie bs from the sixties)and they look they are fighten crime,to joe public,but they are not really dealing with the real crimminal gangs.you know..the ones that shoot back!the ones that rape and murder and do home invasions.

that would be a tad bit dangerous to the wannabe rambo's,better to act like you are doing something,rather then put your ass on the line and deal with real bangers.

all the bikers i know are a rough bunch..but usually to themselves,and the most you would get is a beating.and they do mostly fight amongst themselves over the drug stuff..but even that is of little impact to the average person.

mostly they like to be like a romantic version of the cowboy..free and wild..not under anyones thumb..but in reality..mostly contractors that fight with each other, and like riding hogs.

i'd say...cops=83 b.s. arrests acting like they are doing something....angels=screwed because the cops are to chicken shit to go after the real scumbags polluting the country.

and yes..with any group there is dirtball losers...but they are no threat to society in reality(some individuals are..but they do something dumb soon enough to violate the probation they are always on)mostly..just a conveniant target for the cops that want promotions,and the prosecutor that wants his name on the front page.with out any serious danger to themselves.

go after ms-13 and you will get my respect...go after some plumbers house and shoot his dogs so you can act tough...good luck getting any respect from me..only disdain!

they killed the guys dogs..betcha 100..in front of his kids..shackled daddy in front of his kids..and for what...a pot possession charge?

no other charges filed..the cop that shot the dogs should be fired and jailed for unlawfull discharge of a firearm,and reckless endangerment..they would charge me with that if i shot the cop dog snarling and biting at me in my home...guess they are above the law.:sniper:

The pliantiffs reached a very reasonable settlement with the authorities who apologised for their abuse of power actions and settled out of court. $50,000 I think it was ?

Now, whether the plaintiffs are a motorcycle club or girl scouts, the point is that law enforcement officials blatantly abused their powers. If we let the police act unlawfully towards any parts of our societies, then the whole system is undermined.

What's messed up is this bit from the report:
The settlement with the county includes $530,000 in attorney's fees and $460,000 to be divided among 15 people including eight current or former Hells Angels members, six spouses or significant others and one friend of a member.
You guys over there need some serious tort reform. Though I guess this proves that lawyers are (53/46) 115% worse than Hell's Angels.

What's messed up is this bit from the report:

You guys over there need some serious tort reform. Though I guess this proves that lawyers are (53/46) 115% worse than Hell's Angels.

what a great point...frickenn lawyers...but still...they did their job..i dont want cops kickenin my door...killing my dogs so they can get in the paper..and having no legal recoarse...so villafy lawyers all day long..fact of the matter is..if johnny hot shot cop didn't bash in my door..shoot my dogs..cuff me in front of my kids..would we need lawyers?

I would imagine that there is more to this than is in the paper, otherwise the city would try the case. Unless those dogs were unusually valuable, I can't see a million dollar settlement without some unstated reason behind.

(Or the city's lawyers are just really, really lazy).

Well to be fair they actualy are not geting that much for the dogs

$530,000 in attorney's fees


Which usualy means they spent that much on it (or closE)

what a great point...frickenn lawyers...but still...they did their job..i dont want cops kickenin my door...killing my dogs so they can get in the paper..and having no legal recoarse...so villafy lawyers all day long..fact of the matter is..if johnny hot shot cop didn't bash in my door..shoot my dogs..cuff me in front of my kids..would we need lawyers?
Agree with you there, but point I wanted to make is that these ridiculous amounts that get bandied about every so often are so heavily inflated by the lawyer's fees. Like the whole Rodney King debacle. His lawyers claimed over $3 mill in fees, including sharging several thousand just for going to watch a movie with him.
And that I don't agree with.

The Hell's Angels aren't the same club they were 30 years ago. Your reaction to hearing the name Hell's Angels is based on a reputation they built a long time ago.

Like pipebombs in Montreal?

Some Hell's Angels groups are most certainly still gangsters.

Agree with you there, but point I wanted to make is that these ridiculous amounts that get bandied about every so often are so heavily inflated by the lawyer's fees. Like the whole Rodney King debacle. His lawyers claimed over $3 mill in fees, including sharging several thousand just for going to watch a movie with him.
And that I don't agree with.

that i'll give you..and my brother and sister are lawyers..and my daughter is going to be one soon..

and i am an "outlaw"
yet if it wasnt for abuses from the gov...there would not be ridiculous suits filed and awarded.

my own sneaky cynical thoughts on that are funny.

not to sound cynical...but i am a realist,and i know money whores..i am not wrong.

i'll give some dumb whore bitch a million,rather then paying real claims,it is about money...always.

pay one dumb ass suit..to aggravate the population about "friv" suits,and get tort reform..so legit suits are limited...simple economics.

the dumb fuck that got a million for dumping coffee on her..screwed thousands of real suits..just because of public sentiment for tort reform.

rant offf...but really..do you honestly think a company would pay millions because some twit spilled their coffee?


or was their a deeper motive..hmmm.

if i was a large law firm,and paid pac money to hold sway over elected officials...i would pay the dumb ass chick that spilt coffee on her twat...and sued cause it was to hot.

because the average person would say..thats stupid..of coarse coffeee is hot..why pay her???
i would pay her just to piss of the average dumb ass..so they say it is getting out of hand..we need tort reform..and voila..

guess what...tort reform...people are really stupid.

of coarse some dumb twat spilling coffee on her self does not deserve compensation..but they paid her..yet the guy that got injured from a defective product gets bupkis,,,cause there are 10 guys or gals hurt really then some twit spilling coffee...but who would you rather pay...1 twit..or 10 legitamate claims..but with tort reform..you are laughing all the way to the bank

i'll gladly give some gadfly a million to insure i aint got to pay millions of legit claims.

in a nutshell.

Is that so? Go Hell's Angels! XD

Is that so? Go Hell's Angels! XD


haha..carefull what you wish for...

haha..carefull what you wish for...


and xd means extreme duty..of which i am all to familiaer with...but never mind

If only the money came from the pockets of the police officers and not from the tax-payers... then they might learn something.

that i'll give you..and my brother and sister are lawyers..and my daughter is going to be one soon..

and i am an "outlaw"
yet if it wasnt for abuses from the gov...there would not be ridiculous suits filed and awarded.

my own sneaky cynical thoughts on that are funny.

not to sound cynical...but i am a realist,and i know money whores..i am not wrong.

i'll give some dumb whore bitch a million,rather then paying real claims,it is about money...always.

pay one dumb ass suit..to aggravate the population about "friv" suits,and get tort reform..so legit suits are limited...simple economics.

the dumb fuck that got a million for dumping coffee on her..screwed thousands of real suits..just because of public sentiment for tort reform.

rant offf...but really..do you honestly think a company would pay millions because some twit spilled their coffee?


or was their a deeper motive..hmmm.

if i was a large law firm,and paid pac money to hold sway over elected officials...i would pay the dumb ass chick that spilt coffee on her twat...and sued cause it was to hot.

because the average person would say..thats stupid..of coarse coffeee is hot..why pay her???
i would pay her just to piss of the average dumb ass..so they say it is getting out of hand..we need tort reform..and voila..

guess what...tort reform...people are really stupid.

of coarse some dumb twat spilling coffee on her self does not deserve compensation..but they paid her..yet the guy that got injured from a defective product gets bupkis,,,cause there are 10 guys or gals hurt really then some twit spilling coffee...but who would you rather pay...1 twit..or 10 legitamate claims..but with tort reform..you are laughing all the way to the bank

i'll gladly give some gadfly a million to insure i aint got to pay millions of legit claims.

in a nutshell.

Oh, please don't bring the Stella coffee case up again. We've suffered through enough threads about her.
fyi, I didn't find it unneccessary or frivolous in the slightest. If you read the case properly, it was well justified.

Oh, please don't bring the Stella coffee case up again. We've suffered through enough threads about her.
fyi, I didn't find it unneccessary or frivolous in the slightest. If you read the case properly, it was well justified.
easy..dont read it or respond...simple..no?

easy..dont read it or respond...simple..no?
I was just warning you, cause you haven't posted much. We went through a period of Stella coffee threads and I don't want to see them repeated.
Thankfully we're past that and into Muslim cartoon threads now.
hooray.

easy..dont read it or respond...simple..no?


or do you have other more sinister reasons?
are you a litigator...i cant see how you can pooh pooh my point on that case,,,,,maybe was legit..but the fact remains...leo's use it,as does other insurance entities..to squash legit suits.

my point is..coffeee is hot...you dump it on you lap..your a twit for suing..me...i would be embarrassed to sue due to my stupidity...but maybe you have an alternative point?

fact is..it screwed alot of legit cases...cause everyone was up in arms how some dingbat can spill/burn themselves,,,and get paid..it changed the mindset of litagation....if you can argue that..i am all ears.

it was used as a test case to piss off joe america..nothing more..i would never think to sue if i spilt coffeee on myself....but her atty did ok...no?


you gotta be a lawyer..lol..no offence.

I was just warning you, cause you haven't posted much. We went through a period of Stella coffee threads and I don't want to see them repeated.
Thankfully we're past that and into Muslim cartoon threads now.
hooray.

thanks..i like a good heads up..but i like reason even more.

i have not been involved with the stella thread..so you are correct in assuming i was new to the forum...and thanks by the way.

it was nice of you to warn me off,but i just went on a rant..so..sorry.

ok consider it dropped..but how can one resist..."muslim cartoon threads"

it just begs for comment..just the nomenclature..muslim cartoon thread is soooo tempting.
but i will behave..promise..or i will chop off your infidel head,,,,cause you drew a cartoon.