TRESPASSING

by blondie 12 Replies latest jw friends

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  blondie

  Woman Wins Trespassing Judgment Against Jehovah's Witness

  Miscellaneous News
  Source: Foxnews
  Published: Thursday, May 03, 2001
  Posted on 05/03/2001 14:15:10 PDT by Buffalo Bob

  CLEONA, Pa. — A woman who said she repeatedly told Jehovah's Witnesses to stay off her property won a $632 judgment against one of them who showed up at her door and woke her up anyway.

  Jennie Basiago was awarded the money by a local district justice after filing a civil trespassing complaint against Bernadine DiStefano, a member of the Palmyra Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  Basiago said followers of the religion came to her home every few months for 12 years and she called two Kingdom Halls in October and threatened legal action if the visits continued.

  But two Jehovah's Witnesses awakened the late-shift worker in February after driving down a 300-foot lane past eight no-trespassing signs and three dog-warning signs, Basiago said.

  "I just reached my limit," Basiago said.

  DiStefano said the visit was an accident. Basiago was on a list of homeowners who had requested no visits, but officials in East Hanover Township assigned new addresses in the area and the list was not updated.

  The defendant told District Justice Michael Smith she was driving and did not see the no-trespassing signs until Basiago pointed them out. She said Basiago was "enraged" at her and a woman accompanying her, and cursed at them.

  DiStefano said she and other Jehovah's Witnesses go door-to-door to discuss the Bible with people and "give them hope for the future."

  "That is our purpose -- not to harass her," DiStefano said.

  Basiago had sought $8,000 in damages, but Smith awarded her $40 for each of the two days she spent researching DiStefano's identity and a day for lost sleep, then added that to the $395 penalty for trespass under criminal statutes, plus court costs. DiStefano said she had not decided if she would appeal.
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  troubled mind

  Don't mess with a day sleeper !
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  AdaMakawee

  Yea I lived with a day sleeper for quite awhile and it was hell to keep neighborhood kids from screaming in front of the house and people from knocking at the door. Put up a sign at eye level and no one sees it.
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  Finally-Free

  The defendant told District Justice Michael Smith she was driving and did not see the no-trespassing signs until Basiago pointed them out.

  Reading and understanding signs is an important part of driving. If she can't do both maybe she should have her license revoked.

  Of course, it's possible many JWs think "No tresspassing" signs don't apply to them just as they've convinced themselves that "no soliciting" and "no peddling" signs don't apply to them.

  W
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  BluesBrother

  I guess we have all done it.....Mistakenly knocked at a "Do not Call", I mean.. I feel a bit sorry for the individual dub who was only doing what she was told..We were always advised by the congregation that "No trespassing" did not apply since we were only walking to the door like a postman would do.

  It seems that information was wrong.. I hope the congregation pay the $632.

  Having said that, I feel also empathy for the householder, she had obviously had enough of it. I bet she will not get called on again...

  I just wonder why the Legal Dept. did not represent her. (evidently from the way that the report reads) When a Canadian town called Blainville wanted to insist that all doorstep callers had to get a permit..the Legal Dept were there and won a victory - [Awake 2004 7/8 ]
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  straightshooter

  My wife told me that a letter was read in the U.S. congregations, like last month, about avoiding homes that have posted "No tresspassing" signs. The WTS stated that if a publisher ignores a "No tresspassing" sign, then the publisher is individually liable for any fines or jail time. The WTS advised to not ignore such signs.
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  creativhoney

  we were told to call on the do not calls and ask if they still felt the same. and to ignore the no trespassers or hawkers or canvassers because we were bringing the good news.
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  sacolton

  Time to buy a pitbull to sleep on the porch.
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  Deputy Dog

  Basiago said followers of the religion came to her home every few months for 12 years and she called two Kingdom Halls in October and threatened legal action if the visits continued.

  But two Jehovah's Witnesses awakened the late-shift worker in February after driving down a 300-foot lane past eight no-trespassing signs and three dog-warning signs, Basiago said.

  In New Jersey this would come very close to meeting the requirement for Criminal Defiant Trespass. Could have landed them in jail.
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  sacolton

  My wife told me that a letter was read in the U.S. congregations, like last month, about avoiding homes that have posted "No tresspassing" signs. The WTS stated that if a publisher ignores a "No tresspassing" sign, then the publisher is individually liable for any fines or jail time. The WTS advised to not ignore such signs.

  I remember this letter being read before my exit. Yeah, it puts the blame entirely on the publisher. Seriously, this is common sense ... if someone has a "NO TRESPASSING" sign - I'm going to respect their wishes. I guess some Brothers just have too much zeal.