Chalk-protest arrest proves costly for Orlando taxpayers

[proud2BlibKansan]

Cost of a 15-pack of Crayola sidewalk chalk: $4. Cost to Orlando taxpayers for arresting chalk protester: $196,363.

After losing a federal lawsuit filed by a man wrongly jailed for chalking protest messages in front of City Hall, Orlando has now settled all its legal bills and damages.

Chalk protester Timothy Osmar, who sued the city after his arrest, was paid $6,000 in damages, and the three First Amendment attorneys who took his case split $35,000.

But the biggest expense was the two high-powered law firms hired by City Hall: Akerman Senterfitt was paid $83,293, and King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth was paid $72,070.

more . . . http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-07/news/os-chalk-protester-legal-bills-20120607_1_chalk-akerman-senterfitt-city-hall

[Downwinder]

1. Now kids can draw their hop Scotch patterns on the sidewalk.