WASHINGTON - June 12, 2020 - Victims of the recent riots are beginning to sue those whose criminal conduct caused injury, with one law suit already filed, one by a civilian broadcaster being weighed, and several more promised, says public interest law professor John Banzhaf.

Banzhaf, a staunch defender of the First Amendment, has long advocated civil law suits against those who go beyond lawful protest and engage in criminal conduct, and especially those who deliberately harm completely innocent third parties as a way of deterring such conduct, especially in situations where police, threats of arrest and possible prosecution, and widespread condemnation of looting and arson simply have not worked.

A New York City police detective has filed a civil tort suit seeking monetary damages against an alleged rioter for physical injuries he allegedly sustained on June 1st during widespread looting.

A broadcaster discussed on his TV program his hopes of suing the criminals who damaged his studio during the New York City rioting.

The president of the New York City Detectives' Endowment Association, which represents some 19,000 current and former detectives, has vowed to sue any protestor, rioter or looter who attacked its members.

And a civil law suit inspired by Banzhaf against those who unlawfully blocked a bridge, effectively imprisoning thousands in their cars, and allegedly leading to death when an ambulance was delayed, is ongoing.

Those who suffered personal injury and/or property damage as a result of riots have a novel weapon which some are using or considering using, since even massive law enforcement presence, arrests or threats of arrests, curfews, or leaders urging peace were not able to deter rioters, says Banzhaf

One journalist has now brought a civil law suit, and another has publicly discussed bringing such an action, says Banzhaf, who has been urging adding civil law suits, and especially class actions, to the weapons against those who engage in criminal conduct to make a point.

Journalist Andy Ngo has just filed a law suit against rioters and others who physically beat him while he was covering a protest which turned into a riot. The law suit includes claims of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and Oregon's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.

More recently, journalist John Tabacco discussed, on his program "Liquid Lunch," how he is considering bringing a law suit for damages his TV studio suffered as a result of the riots. Banzhaf, who was his on-air guest on the program, explained the advantages of a civil law suit, and how Tabacco might go about bringing it.

http://banzhaf.net/ (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__banzh...) jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com @profbanzhaf

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