Since I was illegally detained by the TSA at FLL, I have repeatedly told Broward County that I have no interest in suing them, but they have repeatedly, and despite good-faith efforts to work with them, shown that they are not interested in assisting passengers facing TSA abuse. In March, I filed suit against them for unlawfully performing a warrant check on me for the TSA, as well as lying to me about the existence of security cameras (not to be confused with my original lawsuit against the body scanners, a suit which seeks no monetary damages and is headed to the US Supreme Court).
Today, after Broward’s motion to dismiss was denied by the Court, I offered to discuss settlement options with the County, indicating that I would accept an agreement from them to protect passengers from TSA abuse (that is, to not assist the TSA in harassing a passenger without evidence that the passenger is committing a crime, and to agree to release security footage promptly when requested) instead of a large monetary settlement or judgment. The County has responded by telling me that they will not even engage in discussions regarding settlement.
As a traveler, this upsets me. But if I were a Broward County taxpayer, I would be furious. My lawsuit seeks $1.5 million in damages against the County, and if the County has an opportunity to avoid a judgment of even a fraction of that amount in exchange for an agreement to protect its citizens from abuse, it absolutely should do so. It is clear that Broward has taken a side, and it’s not the passengers. I urge any Broward residents to contact the county commissioners about this, and I urge all others to avoid flying to FLL airport until this issue is resolved and the County agrees to respect your rights.
Professional Troublemaker ® 
Broward County can go b a n k r u p t. Their Sherrifs have a punitive mindset and major attitude problems. Always bring a video camera with you when you’re visiting Broward.
Keep it up, Jon. We’re pulling for you!
I’ve had problems with Broward County Sheriff’s Deputies at West Palm Beach airport. They are as rude and inconsiderate as the TSA.
west palm airport is not seviced by broward sheriff’s it is in plam beach county!
I know… I meant to say FLL. I fly periodically to both airports and simply said PBI in error.
I’m sorry, I meant FLL. I fly into both airports periodically… it was FLL where I had issues.
Reblogged this on and commented:
Jonathan Corbett is the man who single-handedly demonstrated how the TSA body scanners can be beat … putting the flying public at extreme risk. It’s worth clicking over to his blog to read about this man’s crusade.
I suspect it’s not Broward County calling the shots here which is why no talk of settlement even if it’s the prudent thing to do. Good luck Jon, we’re behind you.
Sort of. Broward County might be listening to the TSA as to whether they will release the checkpoint videos, but Broward isn’t represented by the government in this case, and is on the line on their own if they lose, so it would definitely be in their interest to negotiate.
The Broward Commissioners should be voted out of office in November and prosecuted for this blatant betrayal of the public trust.
TSA is a corrupt and abusive agency and we are all behind your efforts to defeat them and their inavsion and violation of our rights.
YOu are in good company with a growing number of Congressional members who a re mounting a offensive on TSA and its abuse of passengers and violation of our rights.
Sock it to ’em Jon.
i dont get why the locals lockstep with these jackbooted thugs.
and i dont get why the county backs this shit against a lawsuit.
Jon’s lawsuit needs some publicity, like in the Miami Herald. I don’t know what would be the fiscal impact to Broward County losing $1.5 million in a lawsuit, does anybody know?
Part of the problem is that people continue to travel DESPITE the negative things that happen. Until they personally have a close negative encounter of this type, everybody keeps thinking it is somebody else’s problem – that is, if they choose to think about it all. They don’t want to admit there is a problem because that means they have to put down that slice of cheese pizza and the remote control and get up off the couch and DO something about it. It’s much easier to just deny the problem exists.
Each time an airline ticket is purchased and people submit to the scanning or groping, even complaining about it, the bottom line is that the airline industry can continue getting away with remaining silent on this issue because they got your money after all. ( The industry is complicit as far as I’m concerned, because it has not spoken out and defended their crews going through the same scope and grope procedures.) You (meaning, the collective “you”) may have complained about getting groped but you still consented to getting groped in order to get on that plane and that means TSA believes it’s okay to continue groping because you consented. Listening to complaints is part of the TSA job description and they just blow them off.
Americans do not know or understand the art of boycott well at all. They are too self-centered. They are hellbent to take the train to the sports arena or to get to Disney World and see Mickey Mouse, they don’t want to stop and think about what they surrendered to get there. It is a tragedy, because if a critical mass of people who fly voluntarily made a commitment to not fly any more and find something else to do for say a month, this idiocy would stop very quickly.
Part of the issue is that the average person does not fly very often so the issue just isn’t visible. Compare this to the backlashes against SOPA and CISPA, which impacts far more people who use the Internet and electronic communications every day.
you are a hero! play hard ball!
p.s.
please help this lady
http://tsanewsblog.com/2726/news/another-passenger-charged-after-being-assaulted-by-tsa/
question is this case filed in broward county court?
Nope, US District Court.
how come you did not file against the broward sheriffs in state court?
Because federal claims (Civil Rights Act violations, constitutional violations, etc.) belong in federal court.
–Jon
I was scanned about 2 years ago when they first came out at LAX and was never told what it was or that they would see my shape without my consent. Can’t I sue? Seriously? I want to sue because of the violation of my own personal privacy I feel. Is this possible? Any lawyers out there?
Congressman Gus Bilirakis rep.(Fla), is a stand up guy also Chair for Homeland Security Sub Committee, have you bounced any of this off of him yet?
Alex
Johnathan,
Broward County recently elected a new Sheriff, after the last loser FINALLY got voted out, and the new Sheriff sacked a bunch of guys associated with the last guy.
The new Sheriff is Scott Israel, and maybe he’ll make some change to our corrupt county.
A letter to him might be worthwhile.
That’s actually not a bad idea — I may do that.