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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2016
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    29

    Default How to Avoid Testifying if You're a Witness to Public Corruption

    My question involves civil rights in the State of: WA I cannot discuss the matter in detail. I was inadvertently witness to significant federal crime at the county level. It is a county that has a legendary history of corruption. I do not want to have anything to do with this. I cannot un-see what I saw and they know that I know. I do not want to pursue the matter in any way. This is very serious federal crime and certainly indictable for several officials. I have a right to file civil suit but I want to relinquish that right somehow. Can I waive the six year statute of limitations on my right to pursue this and they have to avoid prosecution? Can I have court documents sealed at my request? Would I have to give a reason in public record if I can move the court to do that? Would the most sensible action for me be to get it exposed anonymously into the public eye or media? Sorry for the cryptic and vague account. I wish I had never stumbled into this matter. Help!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
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    8,238

    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    You'll have to explain in a little more detail (no names of course) what kind of corruption you witnessed. Just witnessing an instance of corruption does not give you any lawsuit to pursue, so I have no idea what claim it is that you think you have in mind. If you are thinking of a qui tam lawsuit, there are wrinkles here that you may not be aware of that would significantly affect whether you might have a good claim to pursue. But without any details about the alleged corruption and what claim you think you have, it is not possible to give you much feedback on this. However, I will note this much. You say the corruption violated federal law but was corruption at the state/county level. What that means is that if it is a qui tam suit you are thinking of pursuing it would be a claim under whatever Washington law (if there is one) that allows for qui tam actions and would have to be pursued in state court, not federal court.

    A statute of limitations (SOL) sets a limit on when you must bring the lawsuit. While the SOL might be extended in some circumstances, a SOL cannot be extended simply by some request or filing of the plaintiff; i.e. there is no “waiver” a plaintiff can use to extend the SOL. It’s not clear what you mean by having that extension somehow result in preventing prosecution. You need to explain that one better. The government may certainly prosecute the crimes if it learns of them within the SOL for bringing the charges regardless of whether you pursue whatever lawsuit you may have on this.

    As for sealing of documents, that occurs only very rarely in cases outside of certain family, juvenile, and national security cases. What kind of records are they and what reason would you have to seek sealing of those records? Very likely you will find that they will not be sealed. Our courts are generally open to the public.

  3. #3
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    Nov 2015
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    47.606 N 122.332 W in body, still at 90 S in my mind.
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    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    If this act of corruption is a crime, as in someone will face criminal charges, then you having first hand knowledge of it and withholding it could make you indictable as well, depending on those darn details. By refusing to do anything about this you are a part of the corruption and a part of cheating the people of the United States of America. Yes, I'm painting with a broad brush, but I do so to make a point. To hide under a rock and concealing this knowledge not only perpetuates the noted corruption, it also make you no better than the person who witnesses a murder and says nothing. They're hiding under the same rock.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    Quote Quoting davidino
    View Post
    My question involves civil rights in the State of: WA I cannot discuss the matter in detail. I was inadvertently witness to significant federal crime at the county level. It is a county that has a legendary history of corruption. I do not want to have anything to do with this. I cannot un-see what I saw and they know that I know. I do not want to pursue the matter in any way. This is very serious federal crime and certainly indictable for several officials. I have a right to file civil suit but I want to relinquish that right somehow. Can I waive the six year statute of limitations on my right to pursue this and they have to avoid prosecution? Can I have court documents sealed at my request? Would I have to give a reason in public record if I can move the court to do that? Would the most sensible action for me be to get it exposed anonymously into the public eye or media? Sorry for the cryptic and vague account. I wish I had never stumbled into this matter. Help!
    Being a witness to a crime generally gives you no cause of action to sue. There is nothing you can do to alter the SOL involved.

    If you dont don't wish to say anything to anybody, then don't. If the officials are charged and you are issued a subpoena to testify, you will be obligated to testify.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Posts
    29

    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    Thank you both for your replies. I do not want to sue. I would do that only if it would indirectly reduce my vulnerability to reprisal. Their are powerful parties involved. There is a lot at stake for them. There would most likely be several indictments. I apologize that I can't tell you more than that. I would be foolish to do that. I might be out on a limb even with this account. OK, I demanded that the Sheriff's Office explain and justify something that happened. An internal investigation was conducted. Not surprisingly, their finding was an exoneration of wrongdoing. The problem is that within their response/denial they unwittingly provided proof of the wrongdoing and documented it. In fact it revealed a very clever predatory scheme and the precise mechanism by which it was being done. Once that mechanism is known it seems obvious and it would not take a rocket scientist or intraocular surgeon to figure it out; although maybe that helped. It was subsequent to gaining that knowledge that I then discovered the continuity of motive and level of involvement. I can only assume that since a huge scandal has not erupted that their are few others who also know too much, or if so, they are too close by association even though not complicit. In retrospect I realize that two local attorneys I spoke with early on may have given me hints. One is a former judge in an adjacent county. These subtle tips were meaningless to me at the time but about a year later I stumbled upon certain truths which made them very relevant. Once aware of the scope of the matter I did not want to possess any more information and I dropped the issue like a hot potato. A whistleblower role is the opposite of what I seek. What I am wondering is that if I filed a civil suit and asked for almost nothing, could an arbitrator be used to mediate it (the claim would not even be close to precluding that option), and through that process somehow have the case sealed. Would it also establish attorney client confidentiality for both sides? The defendants would be highly motivated to do that. I want all of the case records with my name and the exhibits out of public access. I want the other parties to know that I have no intention whatsoever to pursue it. I would want a ruling with prejudice so that they have assurance that I am not going to pursue the matter and legally could not. That is also why I was asking about the statute of limitations. Would it truncate those with a ruling? That would be an objective. I want to make it clear that I am relinquishing my right to participate as a plaintiff in any future legal process or class action suit that could arise. I certainly would not initiate one; I want no further involvement. I personally have no interaction or involvement with the legal community. I don't know those involved in this matter from Adam or Eve. I just want assurance that I am safe. Please don't ridicule me; it is no laughing matter.

  6. #6
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    Jul 2010
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    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    No, you cannot do what you are trying to do.

  7. #7
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    May 2016
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    29

    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    OK.
    Is there any way to accomplish what I need to do? I have the original of damning evidence. A copy was an exhibit. The exhibit was purged of the incriminating portion by a DP right in front of a SCJ who looked the other way. Ultimately this is about the PA in a huge way.
    I don't want to be fodder for an OIS Merit Badge.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    You still have posted nothing that would be a cause of action for you to file suit.

    Bottom line; don't talk about the incident. If any of the parties are charged and your knowledge becomes known to the prosecutor, they may subpoena you to testify. Your options at that point would be to testify or risk being charged for contempt of court. That's it.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    24,521

    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    It doesn't really sound as if anyone is interested in pursuing the matter. Keep your head down and your mouth shut and it all may go away. You keep stirring things up trying to protect yourself when there's really nothing going on to protect yourself from, you just may find yourself creating the situation you're trying to avoid.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Posts
    29

    Default Re: If One Witnessed Unequivocal Public Corruption Can They Legally Undo That Witness

    Intentionally ignoring school zone safety, in fact exploiting an unsafe situation led to this:
    http://www.king5.com/news/local/kits...lion/408650320
    Was the scam worth it?
    You should have budgeted for an increase in Liability/Torts expenditure to offset your surplus revenues generated by your brainchild Traffic Offense Program.
    Do the math.

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