Do I understand this story correctly? Williamsport City Councilman Hall is seen leaving a local establishment by Harry Rogers, who believes Hall may be intoxicated. He reports his belief to city police and Mr. Hall is subsequently stopped on suspicion of D.U.I..
Hall demands a breathalyzer and records a 0 percent B.A.C. in the presence of six officers. By strange coincidence, Hall and Rogers are supporting opposing candidates for a state senate seat at the time.
Days later, Mr. Hall says that he thinks politics may have been involved. This causes Rogers such severe emotional distress that he files suit against Hall and two others for, among other things, anxiety, depression, mental anguish and embarrassment. Isn't this precisely what he caused Mr. Hall with his bogus accusation?
Four years later, Mr. Rogers finds his case appropriately thrown out by courts at both the local and state level. Like a gentleman with class, Mr. Hall seeks no retaliation and states that he "hopes it's over". Mr. Rogers, on the other hand, is undeterred and claims he will appeal to the state Supreme Court.
This is quite a show of determination. How unfortunate he could not have exhibited just a fraction of that determination by simply waiting until Mr. Hall left that evening and asking the bartender what he had been drinking.
This would have avoided the complete waste of law enforcement resources, court time, taxpayer dollars, and the public humiliation of an innocent man. I see this as a perfect example of what discourages many decent and capable individuals from serving their communities through public office.
Now Mr. Rogers would like to be our state representative in Harrisburg. Unbelievable! As a life-long Republican, I find him to be a disgrace to my party.
I would hope that I never see him representing taxpayers in any capacity.
Bill Ruffing
Montoursville
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom
