ATS JUDGE SHOPPING IN BELLINGHAM, WA BACKFIRES!  DEMOCRACY PREVAILS!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/notes/ban-traffic-cameras-in-washington-state/judge-rejects-anti-initiative-lawsuit-guaranteeing-bellingham-initiative-on-tick/242633965767687

Judge rejects anti-initiative lawsuit, guaranteeing Bellingham initiative on ticketing cameras for November ballotby Ban Traffic Cameras in Washington State! on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 5:15pm

       Huge victory for the voters today in Bellingham.  Our initiative letting the voters of Bellingham decide whether they want those obnoxious ticketing cameras or not will be on the November ballot, thanks to the arrogance and belligerence of the red-light camera company.  After employing an extensive effort at judge-shopping most of the morning, the attorney for ATS tried to bully and browbeat the judges in Whatcom County Superior Court into hearing their minor motion in the case - instead, they so pissed off the judges, that the final judge, Judge Mura, ruled on the merits and dismissed their lawsuit altogether.

       It's over -- the voters of Bellingham are guaranteed the right to vote in November on our initiative.  We are absolutely thrilled with resolving this case so quickly and 100% of the credit goes to the arrogance and belligerence of the red-light camera company itself.  Their actions today serve as a perfect metaphor for how they do business.  They don't care about anyone but themselves.  

       The attorney for the powerful Seattle law firm who represents ATS traveled up to Bellingham for a one-on-one meeting with the judge where they were asking for an order shortening the time to hear the case.  After finding out Judge Ira Uhrig, who is battling cancer, was unavailable, they bulldozed into the courtroom of Judge Charles Snyder, the chief justice, who was hearing criminal cases.  He eventually booted them out of his courtroom.  They then moved on to Judge Steven Mura, demanding that their motion be heard.  Oh, he heard it ... and then some.  He read the pleadings and decided that oral argument was unnecessary.

       He handwrote an order dismissing their lawsuit, ruling that they have failed to prove the public vote on Bellingham Initiative No. 2011-01 would cause them "irreparable harm."  Their TRO (temporary restraining order) was denied:  http://media.bellinghamherald.com/static/images/downloads/JaredPaben/Camlawsuitdecision.pdf

       Remember, ATS' attorney was only there to ask the court for an order shortening the time to hear the case -- instead Judge Mura dispensed with the case in one fell swoop - he ruled on the merits and so now it's over.

       We are thrilled that the judges in Whatcom County did not put up with ATS' arrogance and we're hopeful that Bellingham's voters won't either.

       And while our brilliant attorney Stephen Pidgeon was there to advocate for the citizens right to vote, the Mayor and City Council's attorney was as useless and unhelpful as a potted plant.  The mayor, city council, and the red-light camera company have been colluding to block the citizens from voting.  Only because of Stephen Pidgeon's efforts on behalf of initiative sponsors were the interests of Bellingham's citizens represented today.

       Here's a breakdown and timeline over this battle that began in November:  http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics/politics/eyman-says-he-wants-his-voters-want-more-choices-t-shirt-back/#ixzz1TvAeFKRl

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