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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · 1d

Good news for your Tuesday!

An appeals court has ordered Texas to return the life savings of @ij.org clients Ameal Woods and Jordan Davis, which were taken through civil forfeiture.

Neither was ever charged with a crime.
ij.org/press-releas...

Texas Appeals Court Reverses Forfeiture of Innocent Americans’ Life Savings and Orders Harris County to Return the $41,680 It Seized - Institute for Justice

Today, the Texas First Court of Appeals reversed a Harris County civil-forfeiture judgment entered after a six-day jury trial and rendered judgment for Institute for Justice (IJ) […]

ij.org

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · 8d

Over the weekend, new U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan submitted a "statement of interest" on behalf of the administration against @ij.org's lawsuit challenging the warrantless use of ALPRs.

The feds love mass surveillance.
ij.org/press-releas...

As Abuses Mount Nationwide, Administration Calls on Court to Reject Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of License Plate Readers - Institute for Justice

NORFOLK, Va.—On Saturday, the new United States Attorney Lindsey Halligan submitted a statement of interest in a constitutional lawsuit against the city of Norfolk, defending the city’s use of 176 Flo...

ij.org

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · 20d

New documents show the city of Norfolk, VA tracked the location of @ij.org clients Lee Schmidt & Crystal Arrington 4 & 6 times per day, respectively, using ALPRs.

All without a warrant.

Check out Kevin’s deep dive into those documents for @nbcnews.com

Kevin Collier @kevincollier.bsky.social · 20d

New from me: Filings from a Virginia lawsuit offer a rare insight into how often Flock automatic license plate readers track people going about their daily lives: Multiple times a day, and hundreds over a period of a few months this year.

Police cameras tracked one driver 526 times in four months, lawsuit says

Flock Safety says it has become “the largest public-private safety network” in the country.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Dan King🇺🇦

Institute for Justice @ij.org · 29d

VICTORY: Officers Denied #QualifiedImmunity for Arresting and Jailing Woman at Christmas
🧵

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Reposted by Dan King🇺🇦

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · Sep 6

Broward County police "had a warrant for a different Jennifer... who was 23 years younger; five inches shorter; and had a different hair color, eye color, skin tone, social security number, and home address. 'When I was in jail, nobody would listen to me that they had arrested the wrong person.'"

Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Sep 4

HUGE WIN

A judge has ruled the police officers who overlooked obvious evidence they were arresting the wrong woman when they arrested @ij.org client Jennifer Heath Box in a case of mistaken identity are NOT entitled to qualified immunity. 🧵
ij.org/press-releas...

Victory: Broward County Officers Not Entitled to Qualified Immunity for Arresting Innocent Woman in Case of Mistaken Identity - Institute for Justice

On Wednesday, United States District Court Judge Melissa Damian ruled a Texas woman’s lawsuit against the Broward County Sherrif’s Office and several deputies of the […]

ij.org

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Sep 4

The court ruled there are "observable differences between the individual and the person described in the warrant and there was plenty of time for officers to verify the identity of the person being arrested but the officers ignored red flags and arrested the person anyways."

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Sep 4

After days of trying, Jennifer's brother (who is a police officer himself) was finally able to convince Broward County they had arrested a completely innocent woman.

Jennifer was released and told "it happens."

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Sep 4

The innocent Jennifer spent the next three days in jail. She missed Christmas with her family and didn't get to see her son off to the airport before he deployed with the Marines.

While she was in there, her family worked tirelessly to get her out.

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Sep 4

Despite the fact that none of the information on the warrant matched any of the information on Jennifer's ID, Broward County Deputy Peter Peraza insisted on moving forward with the arrest.

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Sep 4

On Christmas Eve 2022, Jennifer was arrested getting off a cruise ship in Ft. Lauderdale.

But the warrant was for a different Jennifer with a different last name, who was 5 inches shorter, 23 years younger, and had different hair color, eye color, skin tone, SSN and address.

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Sep 4

HUGE WIN

A judge has ruled the police officers who overlooked obvious evidence they were arresting the wrong woman when they arrested @ij.org client Jennifer Heath Box in a case of mistaken identity are NOT entitled to qualified immunity. 🧵
ij.org/press-releas...

Victory: Broward County Officers Not Entitled to Qualified Immunity for Arresting Innocent Woman in Case of Mistaken Identity - Institute for Justice

On Wednesday, United States District Court Judge Melissa Damian ruled a Texas woman’s lawsuit against the Broward County Sherrif’s Office and several deputies of the […]

ij.org

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Aug 13

Our client, Serafim, was issued a citation for failure to submit a boiler report. But his home didn't even have a boiler, because the previous owner removed it.

Serafim was not allowed to appeal the fine & didn't even learn about the fine until years later.

Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Aug 13

In NYC, the Department of Buildings issues "unreviewable" fines for code violations, giving property owners no way to appeal, even if they have proof they're innocent.

Today, @ij.org asked #SCOTUS to hear our case challenging this scheme.
ij.org/press-releas...

Innocent Property Owner Asks Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging New York City’s ‘Unreviewable’ Code Fines - Institute for Justice

WASHINGTON—Today, an innocent New York property owner—who was fined for a code violation he did not commit and had no way to appeal—is asking the […]

ij.org

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Aug 6

🚨Today, the village of Scarsdale, NY terminated its automated license plate reader camera contract, after 450 residents spoke out against it.

@ij.org applauds this move & the hard work of the activists who reached out to us to protect their 4th Amendment rights.
ij.org/press-releas...

Public Interest Law Firm Applauds Westchester County Village for Ending License Plate Reader Contract - Institute for Justice

ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) applauds the village of Scarsdale, New York for terminating its contract with the automated license plate reader (ALPR) […]

ij.org

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 30

In 2019, Judge Eric Eighmy jailed 2 innocent kids because they didn't want to go with their mom during a custody dispute.

A court ruled he wasn't entitled to judicial immunity.

Now, he wants qualified immunity.

@ij.org submitted a brief urging the court to deny immunity.
ij.org/press-releas...

Public Interest Law Firm Urges Appeals Court to Once Again Reject Immunity for Judge Who Personally Jailed Kids - Institute for Justice

ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) submitted an amicus brief in a case seeking to hold a judge accountable for throwing two innocent children […]

ij.org

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Reposted by Dan King🇺🇦

James Smyth @jamessmyth621.bsky.social · Jul 29

There are two ways to get your pierogi at Veselka

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 22

It took nearly 3.5 years for Cristal to get her money back. So, we sought interest payments and attorney's fees under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act.

Yesterday, the court said Cristal hasn't "substantially prevailed" in court and thus wasn't entitled to fees or interest.

Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 22

Cristal tried to navigate the forfeiture system herself, but never got her day in court.

So in 2022, she teamed up with IJ to file an appeal seeking a chance to make her case in front of a judge.

After a court ruled she was entitled to make her case, the DEA gave her $ back.

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 22

Cristal's ex was acquitted of all charges, and Cristal was never even suspected of a crime. Still, Rochester Police partnered with the federal government to take Cristal's money through civil forfeiture.

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 22

In October 2020, police were serving warrants for Cristal's then-boyfriend, whom they suspected of dealing drugs.

When police raided Cristal's home, they found nothing illegal. Still, they seized $8,040 she was going to invest in her food cart business.

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 22

In 2020, Rochester Police took $8,040 from Cristal Starling w/o suspecting her of a crime.

After @ij.org stepped in to sue, the DEA gave Cristal's money back.

But Yesterday, a judge ruled she isn't entitled to interest or fees. We'll appeal. 🧵
ij.org/press-releas...

Court Rules Rochester Woman Not Entitled to Fees or Interest After Police Seized Her Money Without Suspecting Her of Crime; Woman Will Appeal - Institute for Justice

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—On Monday, the United States District Court for the Western District of New York ruled that a Rochester woman was not entitled to attorney […]

ij.org

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 17

In a win for @ij.org's activism work, Kansas City, Kansas has put a 3-year moratorium on its parking minimum law.

This is a huge win for small businesses in KCK.
ij.org/press-releas...

Victory: Kansas City Places Moratorium on Mandatory Parking Minimum Rules - Institute for Justice

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Today, a new resolution went into effect placing a three-year moratorium on Kansas City’s parking minimum rules for affected properties east of Interstate […]

ij.org

Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 8

People have a constitutional right to use their own property to help others in need.

That's especially important when you consider the massive housing shortage that's driving prices up.

Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 8

After the city's planning commission approved the ADU, the city council voted 5-2 to reject it, arguing it violates the unwritten "intent" of the city's zoning laws.

In our lawsuit, we explain this denial violated local, state and federal law.

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Dan King🇺🇦 @kinger-dc.bsky.social · Jul 8

Alex and Lynda Pepin want to build an ADU in their back yard to help out a local family down on their luck.

The ADU complies with all zoning laws. Still the city of Blaine, MN denied their permit.

Today, @ij.org sued the city.
ij.org/press-releas...

Blaine Family Sues City For Backyard Cottage Permit Denial - Institute for Justice

Press ConferenceWhen: Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.Where: 1684 132nd Ave NE Blaine, MN 55449Who: Blaine, Minn.—Today, a Minnesota family, Alex and Lynda Pepin, joined forces […]

ij.org

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