Berkeley’s infamous tree-sitters have been hit with a rude surprise since they came down to earth: Judges are socking them with thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees.
Ironically, much of the money - which could total more than $10,000 per sitter - is going straight to the University of California, the very institution the tree-sitters were protesting as they tried to save a grove of trees outside Memorial Stadium.
“It’s really vindictive,” said an attorney for some the sitters, Dennis Cunningham. “They don’t have this kind of money.”
Maybe, but university lawyer Michael Goldstein isn’t making any apologies. “We’ve asked the judge to throw the book at them,” Goldstein said flatly.
UC Berkeley estimates it spent more than $800,000 on police and other security measures during the 22 months sitters were up in the trees. The university spent $40,000 alone on the scaffolding that went up around the final tree during the last day of the protest this month. From Little Green Footballs:
Ironically, much of the money - which could total more than $10,000 per sitter - is going straight to the University of California, the very institution the tree-sitters were protesting as they tried to save a grove of trees outside Memorial Stadium.
“It’s really vindictive,” said an attorney for some the sitters, Dennis Cunningham. “They don’t have this kind of money.”
Maybe, but university lawyer Michael Goldstein isn’t making any apologies. “We’ve asked the judge to throw the book at them,” Goldstein said flatly.
UC Berkeley estimates it spent more than $800,000 on police and other security measures during the 22 months sitters were up in the trees. The university spent $40,000 alone on the scaffolding that went up around the final tree during the last day of the protest this month. From Little Green Footballs:
Uh-huh. And why is it ok for dipshit hippies to cost others money with impunity? Why, upon losing in court, don't they have to pay the money back? The University was forced ... FORCED .. to put up the money upfront and now these jackasses don't want to be responsible.
This is just horseshit. We need tort reform and we need it badly. When idiots like this pull these stunts, the rest of us have to pay. It isn't free. Also, why was it necessary for the university to provide food and water to trespassing, naked, dumbass hippies? How is that "the law?" Any lawyers in the house?
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“It’s really vindictive,” said an attorney for some the sitters, Dennis Cunningham. “They don’t have this kind of money.”
In the immortal words of Anthony Vincenzo Baretta, "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time."
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