Pitch In And Help

[knothead]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

There's an anchorage there, with a good number of derelict boats. The city of St. Petersburg has been cracking down on it, and I don't think moving his boat there will solve anything. He could end up with two municipalities on his case.

Raku, I believe that he has given up on taking the boat to Bay Pines. Check the other thread you started. I responded to this earlier.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by knothead

Raku, I believe that he has given up on taking the boat to Bay Pines. Check the other thread you started. I responded to this earlier.

Personally I think he should stay where he is until everything is settled. This is a man at a difficult point in his life and he seems to have some loyal friends in the area. Especially if he has to move back to land, he's going to need those friends. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a car, so how would he hunt for some place to live?

I have been out of town and I don't know precisely where his boat is right now, but if he moved his boat to the east end of the bay he would then be under St. Petersburg jurisdiction, and as far as I know St. Petersburg has no beef with him. I don't know how this will all work out but I'd like it to be as compassionate as possible.

[malbert73]

How did he do with the hurricane? Did he stay put?

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by malbert73

How did he do with the hurricane? Did he stay put?

I've been out of town and then down with a nasty bug. I'm going to try to find out today, although with new tackle including (heard here) chain, he was probably all right. There seems to be some kind of weather umbrella over this area and we never get the worst of anything. Isaac was far worse in the Miami/Fort Laud/Palm Beach area than here. They were perpetually in a line of squalls and we were perpetually in the slot of dry air separating that line of squalls from the rest of the storm. This happens here over and over. Isaac was predicted to track right over us for some time, but he turned west. Charley was predicted to steam right up Tampa Bay, a real disaster in the making, and at the last moment he turned south and slammed into the Punta Gorda area, causing devastation.

[denverd0n]

Just read the October "Southwinds" magazine. It has an article on The Promise, Burki, the efforts that got the boat off the beach, and some of the follow-up.

Anyway, the part that surprised me is that the reporter says Burki told him that his boat was "fine" until Steve Smith started to "work on it." He says that Smith damaged his boat and "set [him] back."

Gratitude for ya, eh?

[Ishmael]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Just read the October "Southwinds" magazine. It has an article on The Promise, Burki, the efforts that got the boat off the beach, and some of the follow-up.

Anyway, the part that surprised me is that the reporter says Burki told him that his boat was "fine" until Steve Smith started to "work on it." He says that Smith damaged his boat and "set [him] back."

Gratitude for ya, eh?

No good deed goes unpunished.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by denverd0n
Just read the October "Southwinds" magazine. It has an article on The Promise, Burki, the efforts that got the boat off the beach, and some of the follow-up.

Anyway, the part that surprised me is that the reporter says Burki told him that his boat was "fine" until Steve Smith started to "work on it." He says that Smith damaged his boat and "set [him] back."

Gratitude for ya, eh?

No good deed goes unpunished.


That guy is a real piece of work, but I would still rather be someone who tries to help, and I bet Steve feels the same way.

[Coops]

I'm betting that he is,quite rightly, a little cheesed off as well.

Coops.

[lannen]

I will be surprised if he has not already talked to a lawyer about suing Mr. Smith and naming the work party as co-defendants.

It's the way some folks do things these days, and I'm sure some lawyers are already circling for their cut of the take.

Mr. Smith has a business, and I hope he has taken legal remedy to insure his business is not liable in any of this.

After all, (for you international readers) in America the lawyers are the only winners. Respect and admiration for good deeds don't pay the bills.

[Coops]

Perhaps the fact that it is all on record HERE may help a little. Hope so for his sake.

Coops.

[Rocketman]

As one of the volunteers that helped get this boat off the beach, I am not surprised that Jay is blamming someone else for his problems. I think this has been his SOP for his entire life. Once a laywer or anyone else meet's Jay, it is easy to see what kind of person he is, and I believe any lawyer would be a fool to take his case. No one received any money to help Jay, as a matter of fact we all spent quite a lot of money to help get this boat off the beach. Our intended goal was to help the citizens of the community by removing the boat from the public beach, and we did that. The only damage that was done to the boat was done because it was grounded, the rudder post was bent a little because it was grounded. The rudder post may have been bent prior to grounding, no one knows. The boat it self was in better shape after we removed it because Knotthead had to re-enforce the rigging so it would not fail while pulling on it. This guy "Jay" is a real piece of work. If his lips are moving, you can bet he is destorting the truth or out and out lying.

[Sailor g]

This is rediculous as I am sure Jay's boat was made safer by the group's actions. I would however, get a lawyer to protect my assets if I were Mr. Smith. (Any lawyers here that are nearby to do pro bono?) if they see it won't be a slam dunk to get $ they may drop it.

[CapnBrown]

I would ask anyone who helped getting the boat off the beach to please draft a letter to the editor of Southwinds to describe what they witnessed to set the record straight. Please do not make this an opportunity to slam "Captain Jay" and comments suggesting he has been this way his whole life and it's just who he is are just that. I've known the guy for a long time and have trusted him and always found him to follow through with his word. This is the first I've seen of him lashing out against someone like this and he should be ashamed. But making it look like some kind of fight about us against them/him does not reflect well on either party. It makes me angry to hear him distort the truth too but having the witnesses that were there explain to the public what "did" happen in an objective way is what is called for. I would also like to note here that this was someone's assumption that a law suit is brewing. Let's set the record straight and make some reaction if he does make an attempt at a suit. Mr. Smith was well aware that a suit could be possible and that he was taking a chance along with the rest of us. He simply believes that being frightened of a lawsuit and using it as a basis for ignoring his humanity (for lack of a better word) is wrong. He has taken legal steps to protect his business as he sees fit and don't think for a minute he's naive about this. Maybe you wouldn't agree with his choice but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand. He does.

[foolishsailor]

That is a shame. As an American expat for a decade I feel some shame when looking back on certain aspects of my country, one is the litigation culture the other is the media. There are so many beautiful things and the States and the People, but lawyers and media are part of that.

I wish Steve, "Mr. smith", was protected by Samaritan laws but alas I doubt it.

I hope that the fact that the entire process was documented by numerous witnesses here on CF and in the paper will protect him however based on my numerous involvements with the legal system as part of my work I doubt it.

Shame.

[denverd0n]

Let's not get carried away here, folks. There is absolutely no evidence at all--not one single shred--that Burki has any intent, or even any interest, in trying to sue anyone. And frankly, if he did, I doubt it would ever go anywhere.

First off, one conversation with the guy and most lawyers would realize that it is going to be a complete loser if it ever gets to court. Those who have met him--imagine a judge or juries reaction to his testimony. Can you say "no credibility"? And probably more important, he was asked; he gave explicit permission to those involved to do what they did.

I was just a bit surprised by the fact that he is now blaming his problems on those who helped him. I am certain that a lawsuit is the last thing on his mind (although, I'd be a little frightened of trying to figure out just what is on his mind!).