We have periodically discussed the infamous case of Tawana Brawley and Al Sharpton, now a MSNBC host. In 1987, Brawley, a black teenager, falsely accused a prosecutor, a New York police officer and a state trooper of a racist attack and rape. The racial animus was fueled actively by Al Sharpton who sued the case to propelled himself into national fame or infamy. She later recanted and a court ordered damages to be paid by both Brawley and Sharpton — neither of whom paid. Now the falsely accused former Dutchess County prosecutor Steven Pagones has tracked down Brawley living in Virginia and working as a nurse. It is 25 years after the sordid affair was in the national spotlight. He is seeking $190,000 in damages against Brawley, now 40. She is now beginning to pay back the amount due to Pagones.
Brawley delivered 10 checks totaling $3,764.61 as the first payments under a court order. The court ordered the money garnisheed from six months of Brawley’s wages as a nurse there. That is more than Sharpton paid.
In 1987, Sharpton made himself a national figure when he organized protests after Brawley was found inside a plastic bag behind an apartment house in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. She was covered with feces and racial epithets smeared on her body and accused various white men, including Steven A. Pagones, a former Dutchess County assistant district attorney. Sharpton attacked Pagones and the other men with Ms. Brawley’s lawyers, Alton H. Maddox Jr. and C. Vernon Mason.
A grand jury eventually found that the account was a hoax and Pagones successfully sued Sharpton, Maddox, Mason and Brawley. Sharpton has never apologized for his role and failed to pay the damages until various businessmen came forward to pay the damages for him in 2001. As opposed to Brawley, he is not hard to find. He is a host on MSNBC every night. Sharpton’s $66,000 damages were paid by friends, including the late O.J. Simpson lawyer Johnnie Cochran. Yet, an apology is still not forthcoming from Sharpton.
Brawley has now been hit with a demand for payment in Virginia. However, she will now have to pay interest at 9 percent, so the amount is $431,492. It is the height of irony. Sharpton fuels the hoax and stands next to Brawley throughout her lies as these men are destroyed publicly. He then becomes a close adviser to a president, a television host, and media favorite without paying a dime. She however is now looking at half a million dollars in damages.
Brawley is living under a different name: Tawana Vacenia Thompson Gutierrez in Hopewell, Va. and working as a licensed nurse at The Laurels of Bon Air nursing home. Those wages could now be garnished.
Notably, Pagones is saying that he might waive interest — a huge amount of money — if Brawley “fesses up.” That could be embarrassing for Sharpton and MSNBC.
I must confess that I have little sympathy for Brawley or the others. I feel sorry for 28-year-old Fishkill Police Officer Harry Crist Jr., who committed suicide a week after the false charges were made against him, as well as the rest of these men who were demonized in the relentless press conferences and marches by Sharpton and others.
According to some reports, Brawley refused to appear in the Virginia court with a July filing that stated that the court “inferentially sympathizes with the Confederate States of America, would be contrary to the U.S. Constitution and would amount to a ‘badge of slavery.'” The media reports that Maddox is also back and sharing his extreme views on Facebook. The article says that Maddox wrote that “[t]he common law applies to whites . . . The slave code still applies to blacks.”
Source: NY Post
tellthetruth:
“Thank God that this destructive, lying woman is going to have be accountable. She destroyed the lives of people and one man committed suicide because of her. … Reverse racism is the norm now and no one can stand up to it without being called a racist. Enough!”
***********************
I say again, another thunderous “Thank God” for visiting his wrath on a person you don’t like even if that “privileged” African-American teenager didn’t really cause the cop’s suicide according to his very own last note. (It was missing out on a state trooper’s job, but no matter, I say!! His vengeance must be served even if the facts don’t support it.)
Tellthetruth, YOU are a role model for our stern, merciless times. You probably don’t realize it, butt it really is hard to find a blameless person.
Amen.
P.S. Your typing skills through that white hood are likewise commendable. Not one drop of venom on the page.
Mespo,
At last the rattle snakes have a chance to level the playing field….
Thank God that this destructive, lying woman is going to have be accountable. She destroyed the lives of people and one man committed suicide because of her. Being 15 years old at the time isn’t an excuse. Al Sharpton should have been destroyed for doing this but he has prospered in the race baiting life he makes a good living at. Look at what a similar liar did to the Duke lacrosse men. I hope this man who found her makes her pay the interest and does not relent. If one is black there is black skin privilege. Reverse racism is the norm now and no one can stand up to it without being called a racist. Enough!
In New York State, a judgment is presumed to have been paid within twenty years after it has been entered into the records of the appropriate county clerk. CPLR 211(b).
Although Brawley (an infant at the time) was properly served with the summons and complaint, she did not appear in the civil action. After she attained her majority, a default judgment on liability only was entered against her in 1991. Due to the obstructive machinations of Sharpton, Maddox and Mason, the final judgment against all parties (including Brawley) was not entered until 1998.
Since it has been less than fifteen years since entry, the judgment against Brawley, Maddox and Mason is still valid. No payments have been made.
As has been noted above, the judgment against Sharpton was paid in full by Johnny Cochran (and others?).
Maddox was suspended from the practice of law in 1990. Mason was disbarred in 1995.
Many thanks for reminding us what a scum bag Al Sharpton is. Black agitators today are more refined looking , better educated,well spoken and many have achieved great wealth & notoriety by helping poor black folks.
I wonder where the statute of limitations rest in this crap….
I think we have some regular left leaning commenters missing….. Lol…
Sharpten is not likely to be well regarded by those who don’t understand the on-going racism in this country. Rev. Sharpten sees it and doesn’t mince words in condemning it. He expects to be condemned for speaking out. The tone of his voice is sharp, not soothing. His pronunciation is more inner city than suburban. His verbal content is disturbing to those who don’t want to believe what he has to say.
The Amsterdam News did an updated feature story on Tawana a number of years ago. I think I still have a copy and will try to find it next week.
If I was Tawana, I would have changed that first name while I was changing the rest of it. Maybe shorten it to Taiwan. Or simply Nurse. Oh, Nurse!
The judgment holder needs a better collection lawyer.
I would not sharply criticize anyone here. If the judgment still stands againt big Al then by all means garnish his wages from MSNBC and each time payment comes through put the copy of the check on utube.
Perhaps none of you remember what the young falsely accussed prosecutor went through. It was cruel and brutal. Should Sharpton have to personally answer for his actions of course but Ms. Brawley has a judgment against her that she has done everything to evade. She should have taken steps to clear this up years ago but she chose not too. If she was victimized it was by Sharpton not Mr. Pagones.
Thanks, SM. Tough sometimes to go against the tide but pile ons aren’t nice.
bettykath, Thanks for the information.
The Grand Jury got it wrong. The suspects were extremely well connected, including connections in Albany. Tawana moved to Florida and refused to continue with the case b/c of how badly she was treated during the investigation. Sharpton was still willing but as long as she wanted out, he dropped it. She just wanted to get on with her life and not endure any more abuse.
It’s my understanding that liens are good for some number of years (7?, 10?) and are then dropped unless they are renewed. Over the years, Pagones apparently kept the lien alive.
fwiw, I respect Sharpton. He’s been in the front line of the continuing fight for civil rights for Blacks.
“I also don’t understand how Obama can be fooled by the likes of those two.”? For 20 years Obama sat in the church of the “Reverend” wrong. He knows exactly what he’s doing. In fact, I’m sure he saw how the Good “Reverend” dullton made such a big name for himself and he followed suite.
Can the news media please report more on how Obama is killing innocent people with his drone attacks in foreign countries without an Act of War?
Carol, Jackson and Sharpton are afforded protected status because if you attack them you’re racist. Didn’t you get the memo?
There is one other consideration here. What is happening in Pagones’ life that he needs to raise the issue now? If he could track down Crawley now he most certainly could have kept track of her then. Plus Sharpton has not hidden, and he has the deep pockets. I believe he is going for the big payday with Sharpton and will pass on trying to collect from Crawley when the dust settles.
“That MSNBC gives him a show demonstrates what kind of “values” MSMBC has. If you can find any, let me know.”
I would say it has somewhat better values than does FOX News, who has none.
Al Sharpless is a sham and a disgrace, and it’s a shame that he still gets such media coverage. That MSNBC gives him a show demonstrates what kind of “values” MSMBC has. If you can find any, let me know.
In my view Al Sharpton is a charlatan but his damages were paid even if by others.