Forum Post: Why Is Occupy Not Suing Banks?
Posted 12 years ago on Dec. 7, 2011, 10:44 a.m. EST by nickm11
(27)
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We always depend on the government to protect our backs, but in this case, where banks arent following the law, would it be possible for Occupy to gather home owners who have and are being illegally evicted, into a class action lawsuit?
At the very least, it would give Occupy huge subpoena powers to gather real info. In some states, lawsuits on seniors get much earlier court dates.
I would hope one of the goals would be to use the subpoena power to get hidden papers and emails and make them public.
Nothing like sunlight to disinfect bad stuff!
It is a possibility. Direct action is simpler and usually more effective. Banks have been made to pay big fines, but still carry on with their malpractice, The best way is for the bank to lose its license. This has already happened, for example,
http://www.corporateconflicts.com/archives-citicorp.html
First amendment or not, the right to use the courts to address the rights of every American, is also part of our constitutional rights as Americans.
Occupy has branched out to new areas, perhaps it's time to use our laws to support our cause. Not just protest!
I suspect that OWS as a movement is not suing banks for the same reason that it chooses not to apply for parade permits when it demonstrates: that as a movement it simply does not recognize or respect the authority of the state. Now clearly many OWS activists (probably most--but not a consensus0 do not feel that way. When that is the case they are free to go ahead with law suits of any kind as individuals,
Some would argue that the refusal to get parade permits is not a rejection of the state per se but that the right to demonstrate is protected by the First Amendment and does not need any further permission.
But if you look at the recent actions of occupying foreclosed homes, theoretically it may be possible to sue to recover those resources, but what OWS is about is not suits, but building a social movement quite apart from the rules that currently exist in civil society.
I think another reason is that it's expensive to sue and there is not enough faith in the system to trust that investment will be rewarded with a positive outcome.
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I think I have heard that Massachusetts (maybe another state, not sure off hand) has recently put forth a motion to sue like five banks.
Bank are protected by the government. Why do you think in the past years the banks were bailed out by the government from going bankrupt!
I have some beans for sale. wait, they're MAGIC beans. how many would you like to buy?
also, what is the charge and who is the defendant? also, how is the weather in Fantasyland today?