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Jerry Harmison Jr. |
Here is the scary part: Deputy Scott Harrison apparently works evictions on a regular basis, but his testimony in Carol's case shows he has no clue about tenant-landlord law that governs such cases. Even scarier, Associate Circuit Judge Jerry A. Harmison Jr. apparently is just as ignorant as Harrison about the relevant law in Carol's case. Let's consider these words from page 1 of Harmison's judgment: (The full judgment is embedded at the end of this post.)
Scott Harrison of the Greene County Sheriff's Office, Civil Division, testified on behalf of the state. He served a summons by posting on August 11, 2015, at Carol and Roger Shuler's residence of 4070 South Fort, Springfield, MO. On August 27, 2015, an interlocutory judgment for possession was entered against the Shulers, with a future trial date established on the issue of damages. Deputy Harrison testified he posted an eviction notice on September 1, 2015, which indicated tenants must vacate the premises by September 9, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. The court file indicates the Shulers subsequently filed a Motion to Quash Execution and a Notice of Appeal on September 8, 2015.
The docket in our rent-and-possession case (1531-AC04535 -- TRENT COWHERD V ROGER SHULER ET AL) shows in two places that the judgment was interlocutory (non-final), partial, or both. The docket also showed that a hearing was set for Oct. 1, 2015 -- "ISSUE AS TO DAMAGES SET ON 10/1/15 AT 9:00 AM IN DIVISION 25 ON BOTH PETITION AND COUNTER PETITION." In other words, Harrison's assertion that the future hearing was only about the landlord's damages was false; it also was about our counterclaim for breach of contract and any damages that might have accrued from that.
Let's go back to the section highlighted in yellow above. Harrison claims he posted an eviction notice on Sept. 1, 2015. But his own words show this could not have been a court-approved notice because the judgment was interlocutory. This guy just isn't very bright, but he has been assigned to help throw people out of their homes -- even when there is no court order giving him such authority.
Missouri law is clear that there can be no execution on any judgment that is not final. That certainly applies to evictions, where a court ruling regarding possession pretty much means nothing. A landlord can only move forward with a writ of execution, signed and authorized by a judge. And such authorization can come only on a final judgment.
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Scott Harrison |
Even Scott Harrison admits the judgment in our underlying rent-and-possession was interlocutory. A semi-trained lowland gorilla would have known an eviction could not move forward on a non-final judgment. But Harrison did not know that, and Judge Harmison either was too ignorant to know it or too lazy to look it up.
Harrison's cluelessness does not end there. On page 2 of the Harmison judgment, we find this:
Deputy Harrison confirmed the judgment for possession had not been set aside. He went to the residence with Captain Lynn. Lieutenant Wade, Lieutenant Conrad, and Sheriff Arnott. Lynn and Conrad were in full uniform and approached the front door. . . .
Harrison -- and apparently none of the other goons -- could figure out that the judgment for possession had not been set aside because it wasn't final. Under Missouri law, such a judgment -- even if it is final -- does not authorize an eviction. The landlord must obtain a writ of execution, signed by a judge, to move forward with eviction -- and that cannot happen unless the judgment is final.
Harrison, by the way, is the deputy who burst into our home -- with no lawful grounds for doing so -- and pointed an assault rifle at my head. He and several of his buddies appeared to be dressed in full SWAT regalia that day, including bullet-proof vests. At trial, Harrison reportedly claimed he did not have an assault weapon that day, and he was wearing a blue short-sleeve shirt, as if he was about to go out for a round of golf. Yeah, right!
What does all of this mean?
(1) The guilty verdict against Carol is due to be set aside or vacated, replaced with a judgment of acquittal.
(2) That the underlying rent-and-possession judgment was non-final means the trial judge in that matter could not possibly have signed an eviction order. Landlord Trent Cowherd, Attorney Craig Lowther, and the deputies (Under Sheriff Jim Arnott) all moved forward with an unlawful "self eviction," one conducted without the authority of a court.
(3) That means their civil liability, in light of Carol's broken arm and the theft of almost all our possessions, is substantial.
(4) The cop witnesses are liars of monstrous proportions, even under oath, on a witness stand.
(To be continued)
16 comments:
These clowns are worse than the keystone cops.
Word hasn't gotten around to the coppers that lying under oath, on a matter that is material to the case, is a crime.
If you are going to beat up a woman and break her arm, at least be man enough to stand up and admit what you did. What pusses!
Classic example of why it's best to tell the truth. It's hard to keep your lies straight, and you wind up looking like a fool.
So we have one cop admitting he initiated contact with Carol, meaning she could not be guilty, under the wording of the Missouri statute, and now another cop admits the whole bunch had no grounds to even be on the property. Sweet!
These guys, plus the judge, make the Three Stooges look like rocket scientists.
I hear those jail doors closin', closin' round the bend, and I ain't seen no freedom in I don't know when . . .
Was this judge on crystal meth during this trial? SW Missouri is big meth country, isn't it?
@12:27 --
Yes, this is big meth country. The book and movie "Winter's Bone" were set in West Plains, which is 80-100 miles from here. I suspect Harmison's problem is a general lack of integrity, rather than anything having to do with meth.
Harrison must be dumb as a stump.
It seems neither the deputies nor the judge have any idea what the word "interlocutory" means.
I've checked the docket and can see the rent-and-possession judgment listed twice as "interlocutory" and "partial." These cops can't see that? They admit to having checked the docket, but that doesn't do much good if you don't know what you are looking at.
Call me a sicko, but I find comfort in knowing the law means as little in Missouri as it does in Alabama.
Curious that this ruling comes from a Greitens appointee, and many of the crooked rulings you've reported on came under Alabama GOP governors Riley and Bentley.
Kind of makes me think corrupt GOP governors interfere with courts
This case was cooked before Carol ever sat down to defend herself. Not a thing she could have done to change the result. It's sad to see our democracy fall to such depths, and I'm not sure we'll ever recover, especially with people like Trump and Sessions in high places.
It should be particularly disgusting for anyone who has fought at war, or who had a loved one fight at war, to defend our Constitution. It now looks like the efforts of all such folks were in vain.
My late father landed on Normandy Beach three days after the D-Day invasion. One can only imagine the danger he was in and the horrible sights he saw. If he had taken one step in the wrong direction, onto a mine, I wouldn't be here today. If one German sniper had still been around to pick my father off, I wouldn't be here today. My whole live has been gravy because I really shouldn't be here.
So yes, it hits close to home for me, and I take it personally, when a shallow piece of garbage like Harmison tramples the documents that my father put his life on the line (and my life on the line) to protect.
I missed the Vietnam era (barely), but I remember signing up for selective service. When you've had that experience, and you know what your father went through at war, you tend to treat our rule of law with a bit of respect.
Harmison and these cops are sorry pieces of horse excrement for taking a giant dump on it.
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