Pubdate: Wed, 05 Jan 2005
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2005 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Henry K. Lee
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

CITY TO PAY $15,000 IN MEDICAL POT CASE

will pay $15,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a couple who claimed police 
illegally confiscated their medical marijuana while investigating a burglar 
alarm.

Officers Kwang Lee and Alexander Conroy wrongfully seized an unspecified 
amount of medical cannabis May 27, 2000, while investigating a burglar 
alarm at what was then the Shafter Avenue home of Daniel Hagen and Lynda 
O'Neil, the couple said.

Hagen and O'Neil weren't home, but a neighbor watching the residence let 
the officers in and told them that Hagen was permitted to use medical 
marijuana, according to the couple's suit in Alameda County Superior Court.

Nevertheless, "defendants Lee and Conroy dismantled and destroyed plaintiff 
Hagen's cannabis cultivation," said the suit. Criminal charges against the 
couple were later dropped.

The city admitted no wrongdoing and settled the lawsuit "due to the risk of 
an adverse jury verdict," Assistant City Attorney Randolph Hall wrote in 
papers submitted Tuesday to the City Council.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom