ENCORE POST: Sermon from the Foothills of the Beer Summit.

Posted By Cliff Tuttle | February 23, 2010

As we celebrate our new look at PLBT, here is a post written at the time of the “Beer Summit”.  The President invited Professor Gates and his arresting officer to the White House for a beer. That’s fine if you are a celeb. But for the rest of us, don’t do anything to provoke the police, unless you love pain, jail and legal fees.

Perhaps this has been stated elsewhere. But I haven’t seen it in anything I’ve read, so I’m saying it now.

“Skip” Gates, a Harvard professor who is on a first name basis with the President of the United States and has a world class academic reputation couldn’t do it. Neither can you.

No matter what the situation, hold your temper when in the presence of a police officer. Speak politely and quietly. Do not become indignant, even if the officer’s conduct is outrageous. Do not attempt to take control of the situation in any way.

Otherwise, please carry a lawyer’s card in your wallet and call him or her from jail.

End of Sermon.

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CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

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