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Home Front: Culture Wars
Judge Tosses Bid to Revive Reparation Suit
2005-07-07
This suit had big play in the Chicago papers. As we say around here, "they could smell the meat a-cookin'."
CHICAGO (AP) - An effort by slave descendants to gain reparations from corporations that allegedly benefited from slavery was dismissed Wednesday by a federal judge.

Judge Charles R. Norgle characterized the issue as basically political, and said it should be decided by the legislative or executive branch. He added that the plaintiffs have failed to show a link between themselves and the 17 corporations named as defendants, and that the statute of limitations rules out damages for wrongs committed before slavery was abolished in 1868.

It was the second time Norgle dismissed a version of the slave reparations suit and this time he did it with prejudice - meaning that any hopes of reviving it at the District Court level most likely are dead.
Nah, it's like Rasputin -- it will keep coming back one way or another.
Norgle based his decision partly on ``the long-standing'' doctrine that political issues should be resolved in the Congress or the executive branch, and noted that slavery reparations issues historically have been fought there rather than the courts.

Attorney Benjamin Obi Nwoye said he and other lawyers who have worked on the suit planned to appeal. ``We don't agree with his reasoning,'' he said. ``We are hopeful that we will get justices who are fair-minded so the descendants of slaves can be repaid for the work of their forefathers.'' Attorneys for the slave descendants say they want to use any damages to create a fund to feather their own nests help correct problems in the black community.
Posted by:Steve White

#9  Ummm, 1868?

I believe the Emancipation Proclamation was delivered in 1863.

There may have been some silly governmental bureaucracy thing that kept the ratification of the EM tied up legally until 1868, but the official emancipation of slaves in the south (and effectively everywhere else) was made in 1863.

Posted by: LC FOTSGreg   2005-07-07 19:21  

#8  bigjim-ky:
Hell no! You is a whitie and worthy of ACLU and NAACP scorn. You the man now!
Posted by: mmurray821   2005-07-07 10:11  

#7  Isn't there some sort of process that can stop stupid law suits like this one? I mean do these lawyers really think that they can prosecute a ompany for something that (while wrong) was legal and there are NO direct injured party? I like this judge and his ruling, maybe he is on the short list for SCOTUS.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-07-07 10:10  

#6  You know, I'm of Irish descent. My forefathers broke their backs building the transcontinental railroad, and I bet they did't make minimun wage! I wonder if the ACLU or People for the American Way would like to get me a settlement for their work? I'd give them 30% of any actual cash I put in my pocket. So do you think I have a case?
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2005-07-07 09:58  

#5  This will be tried again. They'll go court shoppin' in order to find a sympathetic judge. One question...why Chicago? That court would have to have jurisdiction in order to rule on it, right? Were most of the involved companies headquartered there?
Posted by: BA   2005-07-07 09:46  

#4  ``We are hopeful that we will get justices who are fair-minded so the descendants of slaves can be repaid for the work of their forefathers.''

...and hard working shysters lawyers can be compensated for their...presdidigitatin!
Posted by: tu3031   2005-07-07 09:42  

#3  Welcome to the blatant "federal case" losers circle counsellor Obi One Knotheadi! Read up on the statute of limitations, count your blessings, and get back to reality and the present.
Posted by: Tkat   2005-07-07 09:36  

#2  Better chance in targeting the Democrats, their 'Copperhead' moonbat wing, and their longtime allies, the KKK, not only for slavery but conspiracy to deny civil rights. Maybe all those records of highly regarded Democratic filibusters on lynching and civil rights laws can be introduced. Oh, that would mean you'd be sueing yourselves. Have at it.
Posted by: Hupavising Slomosing7791   2005-07-07 09:28  

#1  Thanks, Norgle. Takes guts to buck the PC Swindle Game - especially in Illinois, Land of Lincoln Machine Lunacy.
Posted by: .com   2005-07-07 01:23  

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