Posted on 01/24/2005 3:14:19 PM PST by Nice50BMG
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Mon Jan 24, 2:28 PM ET
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MIAMI - A trial opened Monday in a $3 million-plus lawsuit by 13 people who say they were injured or traumatized when federal agents seized a screaming Elian Gonzalez from his Miami relatives' home.
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The opening witness was neighbor Maria Riera, who testified that she clutched her chest and thought she was dying when an agent doused her with tear gas during the April 22, 2000, raid to reunite the 6-year-old boy with his father in Cuba.
The 13 neighbors and protesters are seeking up to $250,000 each, claiming that agents used excessive force during the armed raid.
"I was stopped by a gentleman on my left approaching me with a shotgun," said Riera, who lived across the street from the home where the boy had lived since shortly after he was rescued from a shipwreck on Thanksgiving Day 1999.
She said a black-garbed agent wearing a mask ordered her to "stand back" or he would shoot, adding a word of profanity. She said she complied, but a second agent approached with a gas gun as she stood in her driveway and left her in a gray cloud of tear gas.
A total of 108 people sued over the raid, but U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore limited the case to people who were not on the Gonzalez family property and were beyond police barricades.
Elian, now 11, was one of three survivors of a shipwreck that killed his mother.
The raid took place after the family refused to return the boy so he could be taken back to Cuba.
Amen to that.
It's only a claim, it's not a fact.
If they were so simple to deal with, betcha' the government wouldn't have bothered to send a lawyer to the court eh?!
I hope this gets traction, I hope the JD has to shell out millions and I hope those scumbags lose their jobs
No, it's time for a jury to decide.
I'm sure you do. Lots of people believe things that may have never happened.
Here's hoping for a jury that takes a dim view of people being assaulted by Federal Officers on their own property
Good luck in the job search. May I suggest something that doesn't involve law enforcement.
You’re assuming that is what happened. The Gonzalez family made the same claims and their case was dismissed. If any of the officers did use excessive force, then they should be fired, but the Gonzalez family could not prove it, so I doubt the neighbors will be able to prove it.
As for a new job, I'll be here for a long long time. Thanks for your concern.
You're 100% right. It was a made for TV hit, and I have never understood why anyone, regardless of how they felt about the situation, could ever support that.
They claimed they would.
I think the neighbors who were standing on their own property and got thrown around have a pretty good case
Probably no one will prosecute those bastards who actually went into the house, have to agree with you on that. Interesting that the government is being very careful not to have their names publicized.
Imagine what their neighbors would think if they knew they had a "hero" like that living next door.
Decent people would shun them. Hence no publicity.
A for you continuing in your present capacity, a pity, you obviously approve of the whole thing.
Just the kind of mentality we need in Federal Law Enforcement
I think the neighbors who were standing on their own property and got thrown around have a pretty good case
Probably no one will prosecute those bastards who actually went into the house, have to agree with you on that. Interesting that the government is being very careful not to have their names publicized.
Imagine what their neighbors would think if they knew they had a "hero" like that living next door.
Decent people would shun them. Hence no publicity.
A for you continuing in your present capacity, a pity, you obviously approve of the whole thing.
Just the kind of mentality we need in Federal Law Enforcement
I'm still wondering how that THUG pointed gun at Elian (in the photo) can live with himself. He's probably using the excuse that he was just following orders....
Janet had a drama mentality. Waco, Ruby Ridge, Elian are all excellent examples of it.
The Gonzalez family made the same claims and their case was dismissed.
John 3:20.
That's a lie.
Where you there?
Gee, and none of them are even the kid in question.
Do you reckon their sacred cubano yards got trampled or what?
Nice folks. We need more like 'em, eh?
Yes we do.
They vote Republican.
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