Arkansas city denies claims in lawsuit over hot check court
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A central Arkansas city and judge are denying a lawsuit's claims that they're effectively operating a debtors' prison with a court that has imposed hefty fines and jail time on thousands of people whose checks bounce.
Attorneys for Sherwood and District Court Judge Milas "Butch" Hale III on Wednesday denied the claims in the lawsuit accusing them of violating the constitutional rights of thousands of residents through the prosecution of hot check cases. The lawsuit was filed in federal court last month by The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on behalf of four people who were jailed and a Sherwood resident who is challenging the practice as a misuse of taxpayer funds.
"Separate Defendants specifically deny that they had anything to do with the creation or maintenance of any 'debtor's prison' and any other wrongdoing plaintiffs imply separate defendants partook in," attorneys for Hale and the city said in Wednesday's filing.
The groups' lawsuit claimed that the hot check court issues an arrest warrant each time a person fails to make a payment, regardless of their ability to pay, and uses each warrant as an opportunity to assess more fines and fees against the individual.
Read more: http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/27266882/article-Arkansas-city-denies-claims-in-lawsuit-over-hot-check-court?