Report suspicious activity and get sued?

Question

The posters on every subway train couldn't be more clear: "If you see something, say something."

No conditions, no fine print - and nothing about legal liability.

For good reason: No matter how useful the billions of dollars spent at all levels of government to prevent another terrorist attack, the nation's final line of defense is always the everyday vigilance of ordinary Americans.

But if Democratic leaders in Washington get their way, that defense will grow a lot weaker. They're trying their hardest - quietly, of course - to kill a measure that would protect vigilant citizens acting in good faith from being sued by people they report for acting suspiciously.

See link - http://www.nypost.com/seven/07232007/postopinion/editorials/say_something___get_sued_editorials_.htm

Question - What are your thoughts ?

Answer 1

I wholeheartedly agree with you that Americans should be shielded from liability if they report what they believe is suspicious activity in good faith. The rationale for this is clear, and you hit it on the head, we can spend much treasure on surveillance and prevention, but a vigilant America would be better than anything we could buy.

There is similar precedent for this. We have a state Good Samaritan law which states that good faith efforts to save the life of a person will be shielded from liability lawsuits. This was required since people who were being saved by innocent passersby were then turning around and suing for medical malpractice. I could just imagine, and so could trial lawyers I assume, a terrorist caught because of a citizen then turning that citizen's life into hell for breach of some right or another by suing him.

We need a John Doe law, and we need it now.

Answer 2

here is a situation.
One day someone informs airport authority about some suspicious activity and airport authority checked it out and it was a hoax.
Since a person cannot be help responsible for giving that kind of information he walked away.
then the authorities start seeing same kind of cases about 15 to 20 times a month.
Not that they will start ignoring the warning they will come up with a set of questions to ask and start letting people go because it is normal. And that is when real terrorists shows up. once they know what question they have to answer, it will make it much easier for them to get through airport security. I am pretty sure there are people in USA who would be just scared traveling in a airplane where there is an imam looking kind of person sitting. there is what you called a concern citizen and there is racial profiling. You have to have at least one good reason to suspect someone. And somebody looks like an imam or Muslim doesn't mean he is a threat. And i don't think they have a case in that imam casr against airline or against the informant, but they do have a genuin case against airport authority, unless the person who complained lied about something.

Answer 3

My thought is that this is to protect innocent people from false accusations and harassment and that people will continue to report real suspicious activity. People who act in good faith should have nothing to worry about. (see corygraph's answer)

With all the people on Y/A accusing democrats and liberals of being the same thing as terrorists, I can just imagine all you nut jobs reporting your law abiding neighbors because you don't like their poliical views.

Answer 4

The presidential candidates from the EXTREME left: Hillary, Barack, & John for staters, are Marxists and want total control so they can take all our assets to enable them to care for all of us incompetent U.S. citizens that can't figure out how to take a pill with out their help.
To do that, they MUST DEFEAT classic American independance.
If terrorism rears its ugly head again it will be becausse we don't have the guts to fight a war. The only exit stratigy is to DEFEAT terrorists and when they come begging us to stop kicking their butts, we may consider a settlement.
Those MARXISTS can't institute their agenda unless WE LOOSE.
They will stop at nothing to make it impossible for you to take care of yourself.

Answer 5

Islamic radicals hiding throughout the time of this us of a under the guise of CAIR doing their area to objective and supply up human beings from thwarting terrorist assaults. in case you spot one among them appearing suspicious call it in loud and sparkling so as that anybody can hear you alongside with CAIR.

Answer 6

Islamic radicals hiding in this nation beneath the guise of CAIR doing their section to check out and stop american citizens from thwarting terrorist attacks. In case you see one among them performing suspicious name it in loud and clear so that every body can hear you together with CAIR.

Answer 7

The American Trial Lawyers Association is the top political contribution group for the Democrats.
Enough said? Why do you think we still don't have tort reform?

Answer 8

Have you read the actual laws? Or the proposed bill?
Because the news article doesn't accurately state the law.

People are already protected for reporting suspicious activity if the people who are doing the reporting are acting in good faith, OR based on reasonable suspicion, OR if the person they report is actually found guilt. Already, under existing laws.

Which means the only people not protected already are those acting in bad faith AND based on unreasonable beliefs AND where the person reported is found innocent.

So, why is everyone so eager to protect people whose sole motivation is harassment or who are committing illegal prejudice?

The John Doe bill is bad law, because it's redundant. It doesn't grant anything that the law doesn't already grant -- because anyone who is acting in good faith is already protected.

Answer 9

lets blame the democrats for everythign right.

is theyre anythign the democrats arent responsible for???

Oh wait,...yeah this failure in IRAQ.
30,000 casualites
a weakened nation
billions sqauanderred
tragic foreign policy, that has no resolve.
while our enemies only grow stronger

Lets not even talk about that, and when questions or criticisms come up lets blame the democrats for voicing their opinion.

P.S.
Why dont repubs focus on sole responsiblity for failure of IRAQ will be on their hands alone.
all Dems have done is criticized it, and have tried to pressure the president to stop it.
But implementation has been all on the repubs

Answer 10

Sounds like your worried that deliberately accusing innocent people will finaly get YOU in trouble.