Godwin Legal Services, PLC

Godwin Legal Services, PLC Constitutional and Civil Rights Litigation (Plaintiff); Criminal (Defense) Shaun P. Godwin, Attorney at Law. Michigan State Courts. Federal Courts (U.S.

District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals)

08/18/2021
03/14/2019

Another victim of Wayne County's vehicle seizure scheme. “Fortunately, because I won my case I did not have to pay the $900 fine or storage fees, but I still had to pay the towing cost to get my car home and it was clearly dam-aged,” Knoelk said. “It was not in the same condition when they took it and it was devalued because it sat for so long.” Knoelk, who is disabled, is bitter about his experience and said being without his car for nearly two years also denied him the ability to earn extra income because he had no meaningful transportation and had to rely on public transportation to get to appointments.
https://michiganchronicle.com/2019/02/27/supreme-court-makes-it-harder-for-state-to-confiscate-property/

We have filed an appeal to the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
02/14/2019

We have filed an appeal to the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Legislators considering changes to state asset forfeiture law

Hoping the legislature puts an end to Civil Asset Forfeiture in the New Year! Yesterday, we filed a notice of appeal to ...
01/10/2019

Hoping the legislature puts an end to Civil Asset Forfeiture in the New Year! Yesterday, we filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in our proposed class action lawsuit. We are arguing that Wayne County's practice of seizing vehicles and then holding these vehicles for months without providing a hearing violates the due process clause. No one should lose access to their vehicle for months or even years based solely on an officer's on the street determination that probable cause exists to seize the vehicle for possible civil forfeiture. The lack of any procedure to get the car back until the government decides to file a civil case against the vehicle violates due process.

The fact police can sometimes seize property from suspects who are not charged or convicted has long been a controversial issue in Michigan.

“Losing that vehicle is a major setback in a region where public transportation is not fully developed and does not go e...
10/30/2018

“Losing that vehicle is a major setback in a region where public transportation is not fully developed and does not go everywhere people need to go,” Godwin said.

Nearly 400 people in Wayne County who were never charged with a crime still lost property to law enforcement agencies last year through a legal procedure called civil asset forfeiture,

12/26/2017

We have filed a proposed class action lawsuit in federal court against the City of Detroit, which has alleged, that between the summer of 2014 and the present, parking fines were assessed for fine amounts in excess of the fine rates authorized by City ordinance.

The Court will determine at a later date whether to grant class action status and whether any person who received a citation during the applicable time period is entitled to any compensation.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/lawsuit-alleges-unconstitutional-parking-fines-in-detroit

12/12/2017
City of Detroit > Government > Departments and Agencies > Detroit Health Department > Information on Hepatitis A Outbreak

Dangerous HEP A OUTBREAK in Detroit Metro Area.

FREE VACCINATION IS AVAILABLE.

The Detroit Health Department offers free Hepatitis A vaccines at both of its Immunization Clinics Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8am to 5pm and Wednesday 9am to 6pm. The clinics are located at:
- The Samaritan Center (5555 Conner Street Detroit, MI 48213)
- The Family Place (8726 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202)

http://www.detroitmi.gov/Government/Departments-and-Agencies/Detroit-Health-Department/Information-on-Hepatitis-A-Outbreak

Since the outbreak began, the Detroit Health Department has facilitated dozens of community outreach clinics, provided over 2,600 vaccinations to those who could have been exposed, and is proactively educating medical clinics, hospitals and food establishments about the status of the current Hepatit...

12/01/2017
Detroit ID | Find | How Do I | City of Detroit

Detroit ID cards for a refuced fee of $10.00 from 5:30 to 7:45 PM on December 6th at Southwest Detroit Community School 4001 29th St. Detroit, MI 48210. List of documents needed to qualify at link below.

The Detroit ID is for ALL Detroit residents 14 years and older. The card can streamline access to city services and connect residents to local business and cultural opportunities. The Detroit ID Card provides cardholders with an official City government-issued ID with a photo and address, among othe...

12/01/2017
Detroit Eviction Defense

Detroit Eviction Defense

Spread the word: December 12th Deadline: For Poverty Tax Exemption

Low-income homeowners in Detroit may have their property taxes reduced or waived. The City of Detroit offers a “Poverty Tax Exemption” on an annual basis but you must apply for it.
Applications for this year must be submitted before December 12, 2017.

The Poverty Tax Exemption is not retroactive, but it should be.

Applications are available online at: http://www.detroitmi.gov/How-Do-I/Appeal/Property-Assessment-Forms

or from:
Detroit Citizens Board of Review
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue
Room 824
Detroit, MI 48226

10/08/2017
Meekhof pushes private police forces under new plan

The Michigan legislature is considering a bill to allow any company or entity to create a private police force. This is a completely unnecessary and dangerous proposal. We already have public police forces and a limited number of licensed private security police agencies operating at schools, hospitals and certain other corporations who are required to meet same training requirements of public police and are restricted to the property of their employing institution. Additionally, security guards / shopkeepers can already detain persons when a crime has been attempted or has already occurred.

Sen. Arlan Meekhof's bills would authorize a new class of private and for-profit police agencies with full arrest powers in Michigan

09/30/2017
A Law Professor Explains Why You Should Never Talk to Police

Never talk to the police. Name, address, and date of birth are all that you are required to provide. You're response to all other questions, regardless of the question or whether you have done anything wrong or not, should be "I am exercising my 5th Amendment right to remain silent, I want a lawyer." Read this article to find out why.

James Duane says you shouldn't say anything to a cop for any reason, you shouldn't plead the Fifth, and you shouldn't stay silent. So what should you do?

09/21/2017
Taser Wants to Build an Army of Smartphone Informants

"Judging from prior uses of body camera footage, Buttar is not hopeful that citizens uploading videos to the Public Evidence Product’s platform will lead to more accountability. Reports have shown that police break, lose, switch off, or fail to activate the cameras; departments have tampered with or withheld their footage. “When police have evidence of law enforcement abuses, they have a history of not acting on it,” he said, adding that defense attorneys already have difficulty gaining access to exculpatory footage. “To the extent that members of a community are concerned about crime, they are often concerned about those with badges [committing it]. It’s those videos that need to find their ways into independent repositories controlled by civil rights groups — and not law enforcement agencies — if it’s ever going to see the light of day.”"
https://theintercept.com/2017/09/21/taser-wants-to-build-an-army-of-smartphone-informants/

Axon, formerly known as Taser, will allow private individuals to upload video evidence of “a crime, suspicious activity, or event" to its cloud platform.

09/13/2017
Even those with felony records can get hired at UAW job fair on Saturday

Saturday in Detroit. UAW Local 22 hosts an event “Expungements, Pardons and Jobs.” 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at UAW Local 22, 4300 Michigan Ave. Expungement is a relatively simple process that allows for certain felony or misdemeanor convictions to be removed from your record by the judge that sentenced you. The basics: 1) applicant must wait 5 years after being released from supervision after their last offense, 2) must have no more than one felony and no more than two misdemeanors (including any convictions that were kept off your public record pursuant to any type of first offender program ). Certain felonies are ineligible to be set aside.

03/06/2017

UAW Ford Department

FREE WELDING PROGRAM

If you are interested in this three-week accelerated training program through the American Welding Society, email [email protected].

See flyer for more details and requirements!

02/14/2017
Operating Engineers 324

Operating Engineers 324

THIS FRIDAY IS THE DAY! is accepting applications for Apprenticeships for Stationary Engineers and HVAC Technicians!

Click on the link below to see the details and requirements, and come to the OE324 Stationary Training School this Friday, between the Hours of 9:00AM – 1:00PM and 3:00PM – 7:00PM

And click herehttps://www.oe324.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017-Applications-Available-Notice.pdf to see more info about being a Stationary Engineer with OE324!

02/13/2017
Verner vs Southgate

Belated announcement: Summary Judgment for the Plaintiff (we won on the legal argument prior to trial) against a Southgate police officer on our client's federal claim for unreasonable search & seizure. Black retired veteran driving a brand new Audi Quatro with Florida plates was not probable cause for a traffic stop. Additionally, an hour long detention to await the arrival of canine was unreasonable. Godwin Legal Services, PLC (Shaun Godwin ), as co-counsel (and as primary brief writer) with Constitutional Litigation Associates, PC as lead counsel ( Cynthia Heenan, Hugh Buck Davis, John Philo, Scott Mackela). https://www.scribd.com/document/334138147/Verner-vs-Southgate

Verner vs Southgate Opinion

12/07/2016

City of Detroit identification cards are now available.

1st One in the city to get a Detroit ID ❤️! After two years of hard work, I'm incredibly proud of our city & honored to have led this initiative on City Council! The Detroit ID shows our commitment to removing barriers that prevent residents from accessing valuable services and offers lots of additional benefits. We are a diverse, inclusive, global city & this initiative highlights our commitment to be welcoming to all!

Thank you so much to the Immigration Taskforce, the coalition of community leaders that helped create the program, Mayor Mike Duggan & everyone else that made this day possible! Visit the website to get more info, make an appointment and get your Detroit ID card today: www.detroitmi.gov

12/06/2016

City of Detroit's 36th District Court has a "Christmas" promotion on overdue balances and fines, which runs through December 29, 2016.

08/17/2016
City plans to sue banks, companies for unpaid taxes

Interesting collections tactic by the City of Detroit. Companies and LLCs are required to hire a private attorney in order to defend against a case brought in the District Court.

The city plans to file nearly 600 lawsuits to recoup more than $12M in unpaid property taxes between 2010-12

08/13/2016
DEA regularly mines Americans' travel records to seize millions in cash

Carrying cash in the US isn't a crime. But, don't tell that to the DEA who operates out of Detroit Metro Airport and are looking to steal your cash. Never answer any questions beyond your identifying who you are, birthdate and address. If they find that you have cash on you they will seize it and you will have the opportunity to pay a cash bond and hire a lawyer to prove in Federal Court that your cash hasn't committed a crime. A canine hit for narcotics on the cash (all cash is contaminated with narcotics) and traveling to a source or destination city for narcotics (literally any where) are their frequently used pretexts for taking your money.

The DEA has enlisted a network of travel industry informants to help agents profile people who might be ferrying cash for drug traffickers. The government has seized millions but made few arrests.

07/08/2016
ACLU Apps to Record Police Conduct

Install this app on your phone today. All other methods of recording can be easily destroyed by law enforcement. Live streaming to facebook is a bad idea... facebook can delete your content and facebook will not comply with even a court order to produce that content. https://www.aclu.org/feature/aclu-apps-record-police-conduct

Mobile Justice %3Ciframe%20thumb%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aclu.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fvideo_thumbnail_1030x580%2Fpublic%2Fmedia-youtube%2FdKtH82BLrl8.jpg%3Fitok%3D_JV04IC3%22%20class%3D%22media-youtube-player%22%20width%3D%22576%22%20height%3D%22324%22%20title%3D%22Mobile%20Justice%2...

03/01/2016
When it comes to police encounters, silence is golden | Delta Collegiate

Press is nice. However, none of us claimed that poor people shouldn't be entitled to have a lawyer when facing criminal charges!

By Lindsey Schibelhut, Senior Reporter. When traveling down the street, no one wants to hear that infamous siren wail and see those flashing red and blue

01/22/2016
Detroit will accept tax filings online

If you live or work in the City of Detroit, you are required to pay City income taxes. With the State of Michigan now handling collections, it is highly likely there will be an increase in enforcement. File and pay your taxes on time to avoid late fees, fines and possible criminal prosecution.

State will handle city’s tax collection, moving filing deadline to April 18 this year. Also: no more paying with cash

06/24/2015
Detroit Cops Beat Students for Recording; Deleting Footage While Calling Them “Faggot Tree...

Detroit police attacked two journalism students for video recording,
placing one student in a headlock, slamming to the ground and handcuffing him before taking the student's phone and smashing it against a tree, calling them both a "couple of fa**ot tree huggers that take the whole rights thing too seriously," according to a new lawsuit.

  On June 23, 2014, Mekkel Richards and Adam Malinowski were leaving a fireworks show in...

06/22/2015
Google Translate

Interesting Spanish newspaper article "From Motown eviction: The story of a foreclosed home in Detroit runs the youth of Wilson Pickett, the Funk Brothers and disaster housing" on Kenneth Brinkley and his Detroit and Motown roots.

We are currently defending Brinkley and Detroit Eviction Defense, on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild Detroit & Michigan Chapter, in a civil lawsuit filed against them by the latest group to purchase his family home out of the tax foreclosure auction.

(translated via google)
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lavanguardia.com%2Fmusica%2F20150523%2F54431829270%2Fdesde-motown-al-desahucio.html&edit-text=

02/24/2015
Wrinkles in Detroit’s Bankruptcy Filing

A mention in the Metro Times by Curt Guyette.

Wrinkles in Detroit’s Bankruptcy Filing In this week’s Metro Times you will find articles examining what those on the outside of the Detroit fishbowl are...

08/02/2012
DEARBORN: S*x offender suing HFCC for kicking him out

DEARBORN: S*x offender suing HFCC for kicking him out

The News-Herald is your source for all Downriver region 24-hour breaking news, local news, sports, entertainment and more. View weather updates, watch videos and photos. Keep up with News and local Sports. Find restaurants, entertainment, cars, homes and jobs at thenewsherald.com.

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