Thursday, June 19, 2014

Legal Documents Are Public Info


Often we're not sure whether to reply individually to comments on this blog and Facebook or to reply in a separate blog. Today we're going to reply to at least one comment using this platform.

Are "legal papers" private? We have one reader who thinks so. Sorry, anything that's adjudicated via the municipal, circuit, state, or federal courts is public unless sealed by a judge. The Shoals Insider used to publish some of these local documents when it was an actual news source. The TimesDaily and various semi-local television stations often publish these documents as well.

Of course, if you want copies, you will probably have to pay. Sorry about that, but take it up with the issuing body.

So no illegal copies of any court cases involving a local candidate were sent to us. We advise those who are aware of these problems with the candidate to contact the Alabama State Ethics Commission.

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Speaking of legal documents...when Lauderdale County is lucky enough to acquire a new sheriff, we understand he'll find a drawer full of court summonses that have been labeled "undeliverable" by our current High Sheriff. One was even intended for the husband of a short-term office manager in the sheriff's department. Yes, poor thing...apparently just being able to "do spreadsheets" didn't cut it.

As a certain person of Shoals cyberspace fame has often said..."Things that make you go hummmm."

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Muscle Shoals flood control? Don't really care about Pizza Hut, do ya? What if it was your business or home that regularly flooded. While we didn't see the flooding mentioned in a recent blog, we have seen it just last year. Not only was the Pizza Hut parking lot flooded, so was the entire right lane of Woodward and most of the left. Yes, citizens of Muscle Shoals should be very upset with these continuing problems and their costs to taxpayers.



Shoalanda

5 comments:

  1. It is one thing to have court documents/proof, and another to simply say, "I heard this". If there are court documents, then it is credible. I was the public figure that was publicly attacked by a small group. When the attorneys were paid, with your tax dollars, to have those individuals provide evidence of such rumors, they did not.
    Surprisingly (or not), city officials actually bought into that, yet are offended when the public simply ask THEM questions or hold them accountable.

    Does that give me cause for action? Absolutely.

    Wild accusations are one thing, legal documents are yet another. The next Lauderdale County Sheriff does not need to find any surprises in desks drawers while repairing his reputation because of personal issues brought out during a campaign. Why are there Un-Delivered summons?

    And flooding in M.S.? As long as the sun rises in the east, there will be flooding until we have people that care to work on those serious issues and do what is best for all citizens.

    Chose in Leadership:
    The Pain of Discipline - or - The Pain of Regret.

    That's not "just wondering". That is my opinion, which I think is still legal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here is my question, if "papers" are served to any individual, you can not obtain those papers without a sopena unless you name is on that paper. FACT! I challenge any of you to go to the local Clerks office and/or Sheriffs office in any County and obtain a "paper" that does not have your name on it. Any Incident report to be includent in that attempt, in which you did not sign your name too. Believe it or not we still have rights to our privacy in this country, whom ever sent you those papers should be under fire here because unless there name was on them, they had no legal right to obatin them, and if they are a public servant are in violation for giving you any sort of information, if in fact there is any to give. FACT! Here is my thinking, who would have access, who would have seen or known that to have happened? If in fact it did?

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  2. Recently, I met a TN attorney that stands up against judicial corruption. The State Bar is going after that attorney's license is well documented by way of public available Court orders.

    When I met this particular attorney I told him I had read about him and the Court orders on the internet.

    He replied, "You can' believe everything you read on the internet."

    I responded, "And, you can't believe everything you read in court orders either."

    ReplyDelete
  3. Recently, I met a TN attorney that stands up against judicial corruption. The State Bar is going after that attorney's license is well documented by way of public available Court orders.

    When I met this particular attorney I told him I had read about him and the Court orders on the internet.

    He replied, "You can' believe everything you read on the internet."

    I responded, "And, you can't believe everything you read in court orders either."

    ReplyDelete