Denise Carey civil rights suits

Denise Carey filed two federal civil rights suits against the city and Leighton.

Denise Carey tried to place an 'initiative' on the ballot in 2004 sued the City of Wilkes-Barre and Mayor Thomas M. Leighton after her petition had been rejected. Carey claimed that the City retaliated against her for trying to exercise her rights as a citizen to petition the government in connection with her failed bid to overturn the 2004 decision to close East fire station (on East Northampton Street). She claimed that the Mayor's actions in seeking the fees and critical comments he made about Carey to the media violated her First Amendment right to free speech.

A federal judges' verdict was for $15,000 in compensatory damages for emotional distress, $2,000 for lost income and $50,000 in punitive damages against Leighton plus lawyer fees (a total of $222,821.33 back in Oct. 2009, so it's more now).

I've been trying to sort through the rumors and it is almost immpossible.
One rumor, from a VERY SOLID sourse, told me Denise had enough signatures, but at the last moment a gentleman removed all the sheets he had gathered. The reason, because his wifes non-union job was threatened if he did not.

Another rumor is that then judge Conahan found against Carey (this was over turned) in the initial case and was 'payed' by his Medic unit (Medic 8) got a no-bid contract to back up the cities medic units. I can't find proof but he did find against Denise and Medic 8 was given that NO-BID contract.

When Mayor Tom Leighton refused her offer to halt her efforts to reopen the station if the city dropped its claim for $11,056 in legal fees.
"He said, 'These are the mayor's words, not mine. She can go f--- herself,' " Attorney Jonathan Comitz said. He was even more stunned when city solicitor Bill Vinsko relayed the specific language Leighton used in rejecting her offer. Leighton said. "That language is not in my vocabulary. People who know me know that." Oddly enough, I've been told Leighton thinks my first name is 'F---ing'.
Leighton wrote a letter to the editor, alleging she deceived people and committed an "unlawful act."
"They already had a $11,056 judgment. Now it was more salt in the wound. He called me a fraud. He called me a liar. That was not just for my eyes to see, but all residents," Denise Carey said.

"I have a legal obligation to uphold the law." Dictator Leighton (Nov. 15 2008 Times Leader)He has the RESPONSIBILITY to uphold the CONSTITUTION!!! But he has been found guilty of violating it TWICE!!!!!! By U.S. District Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie and U.S. Magistrate Judge Malachy E. Mannion found the Hammonds’ constitutional rights were also violated in a seperate incident (The Old River Road Bakery).

1 Screwed up selling the Sterling hotel (costing us $325,000)
2 Bad faith moves
3 Back room deals
4 Tried to sell city property for 8 cents on the dollar to a campaign contributor
5 Lied to county officials to get tax forgiveness to a campaign contributor
6 Cut our safety to fund HIS pet projects
7 The whole Ice Rink, which was supposed to revitalize W-B HOW?
8 The largely worthless camera system
9 Raised taxes and fees to an all time high.
10 Racked up MASSIVE lawsuit debts
11 Violated a contract (Citywide Towing's contract) so he could give it to a campaign contributor (that cost us $225,000)
12 Trying to sell W-B property (Tax Free) to a campaign contributor (Known for not paying his own taxes)
13 Outright lies to us (The citizens of Wilkes-Barre)
14 Blaming anyone and everyone for his failures (remember the 'I believe' campaign, "I wouldn't say I oversold it. I think maybe the media did," Mayor Leighton said. (WNEP June 10, 2005) AKA It's not my fault, it's the medias)
15 Ignoring the Lloyds Study (which states the minimum FD manning per shift is 17) and cutting manning to 12 per shift
16 VIOLATED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, TWICE !!! (Denise Carey & the Hammonds). That's cost us over $275,000.


Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote