Scheidlers House is Released, But Judgment Not Entered

Posted by League Staff (June 8, 2006 at 3:01 pm)

The Scheidlers’ home on Chicago’s northwest side was returned to them at the June 8, 2006 hearing [Photo by Ann Scheidler]

Joe Scheidler went to Federal Court the morning of June 8 expecting to watch Judge David Coar sign a judgment in his favor as directed by the United States Supreme Court in their Opinion handed down February 28, 2006—thus ending the landmark NOW v. Scheidler lawsuit one day before the twentieth anniversary of its original 1986 filing. But once again NOW’s attorney Fay Clayton pulled off another delay.

Claiming she had had no time to consider the simple Judgment that would put an end to the twenty-year-old lawsuit, Clayton said she had objections to some of the elements of the Judgment. She said she wanted to make sure that the Settlement Injunction NOW had secured against Randall Terry would continue in effect in spite of the Supreme Court’s finding that there had never been a RICO violation.

Judge Coar Bows to Clayton’s Delay

Although Judge Coar said he was ready to sign the Judgment drafted by Tom Brejcha, Scheidler’s attorney, and although Brejcha urged him to do so, Coar bowed to Clayton’s wishes and continued the case for two weeks, until June 22. It remains to be seen what further shenanigans Clayton may try to pull on that date.

However, Clayton could find no plausible reason to object to releasing the remainder of the bond, which consisted of the Scheidler home. Judge Coar signed the release document, returning ownership and control of the north side Chicago home to the Scheidlers.

And so the twenty-year-old case slides into its twenty-first year.

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