[wingspan33]

Rick,

These are all good questions! I have a feeling that the answer to most of them is, "none" (or responses along those lines).

This is where I would suggest that a petition be put forth describing the actions of the Air California Adventure personnel (who are USHPA members) as criminal, and seriously in violation of the USHPA's "of good character" membership requirement. Get lots of signatures on such a petition and submit it to the USHPA Executive Committee with copies going to every USHPA RD.

A similarly timed civil suit against Air California Adventure personnel would emphasize the defamation as well as emotional stress Bob has suffered. If the USHPA fails to act, punitively, against the involved Air California Adventure personnel, then they too should be brought into such a legal action.

The USHPA and their representatives have long sided on the Air California Adventure side of the fence. The result? Air California Adventure Air California personnel have evolved (downwards) into mere thugs. Into USHPA member thugs who've been convinced they could get away with anything, with no negative ramifications whatsoever. When USHPA members act in criminal ways toward another USHPA member (in direct connection with flight related activity) and with no reasonable justification, then it is (beyond!) time to take action.

Rick's below questions not only needed to be asked, but also need to be answered!

Bob, now that you've had a chance to catch your breath, I would like you to report on the actions of the U$hPA during your trial.

What offers of support did you receive as a member of the U$hPA?
What statements did the U$hPA make on your behalf?
How often did U$hPA representatives discuss your case with you, a U$hPA member?
How did the U$hPA representatives present themselves during the trial?
When did the U$hPA advise the other party to drop the case against you?
How much money did the U$hPA spend in your defense?
How much in membership funds was spent by the U$hPA during your trial?
What statement was issued on your behalf by the U$hPA upon recognition by the court that you had done no wrong?
What admonishment was given by the U$hPA to the other party for interfering with a U$hPA member's rights?

[Bob Kuczewski]

Scott, we must have been composing our posts at the same time because I answered Rick's questions in a post just before yours.

The fun part is seeing how accurate your prediction actually was:

I have a feeling that the answer to most of them is, "none" (or responses along those lines).

Were you reading my mind??   

[Bob Kuczewski]

I have to say Bob, I'm trying to wrap my head around the first piece of good news I've had in this winter-from-hell. Congratulations. It feels like the ice is breaking up...

Thanks Merlin!!

For some reason the images of your "winter-from-hell" and "the ice is breaking up" combined with my current joy of freedom brings to mind the Beatles tune: "Here comes the sun". There's a short write-up on Wikipedia that starts out with this:

"Here Comes the Sun" is one of Harrison's best-known Beatles contributions alongside "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." The year 1969 was difficult for Harrison: he had quit the band temporarily, he was arrested for marijuana possession, and he had his tonsils removed.

Harrison stated in his autobiography, I, Me, Mine:

"Here Comes the Sun" was written at the time when Apple was getting like school, where we had to go and be businessmen: 'Sign this' and 'sign that.' Anyway, it seems as if winter in England goes on forever, by the time spring comes you really deserve it. So one day I decided I was going to sag off Apple and I went over to Eric Clapton's house. The relief of not having to go see all those dopey accountants was wonderful, and I walked around the garden with one of Eric's acoustic guitars and wrote "Here Comes the Sun."

Here comes the sun!!!!!   

[Bob Kuczewski]

More quotes from my email box ...

ata' boy!
Peace!
Congratulations, BobK.
Rest.

Yee Haw!

Hey, if you get the chance .... hope you can make it up here for some flying one of these days/weeks/months/years. It'd be fun to return some flying favors. I currently have 2 U2-160s. You're welcome to fly one if ya make it up here.

Bob;

Aloha and congratulations from the Big Island, glad to see this finally behind you. I for one had no misgivings that once all the facts were out that you would come out the Victor in all of this, I do Not believe how ever that this will diminish the stupidity that has and will continue to rule the Torrey Pines Center or the city council but I do admire your decision to stand up and fight. I hope that sooner or later the right environment shows it's self at that flight park but I will not hold my breath waiting for it.

                 Your Friend

Good to hear, perhaps this verdict will discourage them from being a$$holes in the future. I have my doubts.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Best regards,

Congratulations Bob! Much respect for you for standing your ground and pursuing the legal nightmare required to make HG flying there less intimidating for all involved. Thank you!

Hey Bob,

Good on you. Say, I’ve an old spy cam watch a client asked me to buy. If I can find it, I’ll dig it out, test it, and give it to you.

Thanks to everyone!!

Now on the advice of some good friends, I'm going out to purchase ... a GoPro camera!!

[Rick Masters]

This is where I would suggest that a petition be put forth describing the actions of the Air California Adventure personnel (who are USHPA members) as criminal, and seriously in violation of the USHPA's "of good character" membership requirement. Get lots of signatures on such a petition and submit it to the USHPA Executive Committee with copies going to every USHPA RD.

A similarly timed civil suit against Air California Adventure personnel would emphasize the defamation as well as emotional stress Bob has suffered. If the USHPA fails to act, punitively, against the involved Air California Adventure personnel, then they too should be brought into such a legal action.

The USHPA and their representatives have long sided on the Air California Adventure side of the fence. The result? Air California Adventure Air California personnel have evolved (downwards) into mere thugs. Into USHPA member thugs who've been convinced they could get away with anything, with no negative ramifications whatsoever. When USHPA members act in criminal ways toward another USHPA member (in direct connection with flight related activity) and with no reasonable justification, then it is (beyond!) time to take action.

I completely disagree. Yes, Bob should receive compensation. He was, after all, deprived of his freedom and civil rights. That is a big deal.

But what hang glider pilots need to understand is that they have lost the USHGA. The U$hPA has taken sides. The U$hPA is a paragliding organization that takes money from hang glider pilots, gives them little but lip service, and laughs all the way to the bank. Why are they laughing? Because the majority of hang glider pilots are too stupid to realize they not only have no representation, but they are financing a cynical outfit that is working against them. Hang glider pilots need their own organization. They need to start over.

They need to realize that the U$hPA is irrelevant. The U$hPA cannot be repaired, but it can be forgotten.

[Bill Cummings]

Imagine the person at the podium is the U$hPA.

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[Bill Cummings]

Two close pilots that started their love of flight began as paragliding pilots.
I’m sure that they would not in be in favor of a business hiding behind a 401c (non profit organization) work to the detriment of my sport of hang gliding. I’m not fighting paragliding but for sure I’m not in support of an organization that infiltrated the USHGA for its insurance and now sees my sport of hang gliding as something in the way of profit income. I would like to see both sports get along with each other. I don’t see that happening in the USHPA.
Bob K. won his case in a San Diego court and as a member of the USHPA he was entitled to backing by the USHPA. It wasn’t there.
USHPA totally dropped the ball. I want to see a parallel organization to the USHPA and I’m hoping it will be the US Hawks Hang Gliding Association.
PS
The judge's ruling in your favor has restored some of my faith in the legal/(justice) system.
I suggest that you shake that ruling in the face of the Torrey Pines concessionaire.
Go after all that they have cost you in your defense and then claim punitive damages.
Add a restraining order for them approaching you!
What that concessionaire needs is to move on and go mismanage some place else.

[Bob Kuczewski]

I'd just like to observe that we're all here (Scott, Bill, myself, Rick, and many others) because we are dissatisfied with what we've seen at USHPA.

We - all of us - are also the best hope on the horizon for starting anew. I don't fault Scott for still wanting to try to fix USHPA. Heck, I run for Regional Director every year in the hopes that I might still be able to exert a positive influence on them. But the reason we're all here is that we all really know - deep down in our guts - that USHGA is lost.

PS
The judge's ruling in your favor has restored some of my faith in the legal/(justice) system.

Bill, the judge's ruling also restored some of my faltering faith in our judicial system. It was long overdue!!   

[Free]

The judge's ruling in your favor has restored some of my faith in the legal/(justice) system.

Bill, the judge's ruling also restored some of my faltering faith in our judicial system. It was long overdue!!   

I expect you've just seen the opening salvos of the true 'justice' system. So far you've spent a lot of money just holding off a he said-she said, lawyers feast and the only reason you've prevailed at this point was that the whole incident was recorded.

The system is set up in favor of money/power prevailing and one small battle is not the end of the war.

It is good that you have people that stood up for you but now they may be the next target in this money/power struggle of dominance.
The judge in your case ruled in her best interest, given the power of youtube videos. Judges don't like taking heat from the proletariat.
Without the video you probably would not have prevailed. Facts be damned when words of the connected conflict with those of the little people.

If you plan on seeking restitution, another costly affair with a dubious chance of success in a he said-she said complaint, you might as well get the video out. Your lawyer may want you to hold it back? I would question the motive as a pre sell out and a way to stretch out the procedure and the billing hours. The only power you had in this whole episode has been the video and now is the time to play that card.
If the conspiracy to subvert justice shows to be as powerful as the transcript, then it is possible that new management of the Torrey Pines, national treasure will evolve.

Seeking monetary restitution is a hard row to hoe, but I'm sure your lawyer will be glad to pursue it. On your dime.
Severing the sweetheart inside deal that Jebb has carved out from his connections is a better bargain, through the power of the internet.
Tim Herr, was there on the conspirators' side? This is a big red herring for the 'non profit' (yeah right) corporation he runs.
I'll leave that for others to discuss while we wait for the video upload.
All cards on the table.

[eagle]

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