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Can DA Wamp dispossess weak, poor without due process?

Charles Burkhalter, a 100 percent disabled veteran, is among the roughly 800 people evicted from Budgetel in East Ridge, Tenn., without due process. With help of his sister, he is moving a second time after being thrown out, having spent three days at a nearby hotel. (Photo David Tulis)
This notice outside Budgetel Inn for the poor shows Hamilton County district attorney Coty Wamp getting credit for moving against the entire business as a public nuisance and getting it shuttered, dispossessing hundreds of men, women and children innocent of wrong or crime. (Photo David Tulis)

EAST RIDGE, Tenn. Dec. 2, 2022 — On Dec. 1 the court requested that the persons who have requested intervention inform the court what specific relief the parties expect to receive from intervention.

By Charles Wright

The 149 persons who have requested intervention through the undersigned attorney essentially are in a defensive posture. Intervention is allowed for defensive purposes under the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure.

[This document by attorney Charles Wright is filed Friday in Hamilton County criminal court explaining to Judge Boyd Patterson why 149 people have standing to demand equity after being effectively evicted without due process from their rooms at Budgetel Inn in East Ridge by Judge Patterson at behest of district attorney Coty Wamp. — DJT]

The constitutional and statutory rights of 149 people have been violated by Coty Wamp, who is opposing intervention. The very fact she is opposing intervention, is one of the very reasons intervention should be allowed. My clients have no right to sue for damages because of immunity.

Coty Wamp is Hamilton County district attorney

They have essentially been called criminals that create a nuisance which should be abated. If they are not allowed to intervene Coty Wamp can continue to treat them like criminals with impunity. Because there was no attempt to separate persons at Budgetel who were responsible for crime from these who were not criminals, that needs to be done at this juncture. Coty Wamp may not be friends with my clients, but they have friends and acquaintances with whom they would like to preserve a reputation.

Coty Wamp should not be allowed to lump together the innocent and the guilty.

Coty Wamp has made 149 people de facto parties to the case without formalizing that relationship by actually making them parties. It is impossible to plead to something that has not been previously presented to the court. Mislabeled, collaterally damaged persons have a dog in the fight. My clients should not continue to be treated as criminals as this case proceeds through court. Without representation they will continue to be so treated.

One of my clients has had his car taken from him by Coty Wamp and he needs to be able to get it returned. Other of my clients likely have property in the possession of Coty Wamp that needs to be returned.

Anyone who will knowingly punish innocent parties who have not been arrested for crimes at Budgetel, is capable of anything.

These 149 people need to be able to take action without having to ask for intervention after the fact.

2 Comments

  1. chris

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