Jerk in Seattle trying to sue deployed military guy

[masraum]

What a jackwad.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008231428_reservist06m.html

KENNEWICK — Burke Jensen moved to Kennewick about a year ago, bought a nice house in the country south of the city and began to settle into a new job at Energy Northwest.

Then came the call five months ago to serve his country in Kuwait.

So Jensen, who says he is an involuntarily mobilized reservist, headed off, leaving behind a pregnant wife, a young son and a 2.5-acre lot with not a spot of landscaping.

Now, Lt. Jensen is being told to get an irrigation system and landscaping on his property as soon as possible or face legal action from the Oak Hill Country Estates Homeowners' Association.

"I really don't give a [expletive] where he is or what his problem is," said Chick Edwards, owner and developer of the 47-lot subdivision at the south end of Oak Street in Kennewick.

"It doesn't matter to me," said Edwards, who insists Jensen has violated terms of the homeowners-association covenants requiring that landscaping be completed within one year after an occupancy permit is issued for a home.

"[Jensen] doesn't have the right to walk away from his obligation," said Edwards, who as the developer is the only member of the homeowners association. "I have most of the property still, so I am the homeowners association," he said.

Jensen's situation is complicated by the fact his wife chose to return with her son to stay with family on the East Coast for the duration of her pregnancy, leaving the home unoccupied.

Jensen's attorney, Tony DeAlicante of Redmond, Ore., said Jensen had paid a landscaper thousands of dollars to design and install an irrigation system and hydroseed the large lot this summer.

But DeAlicante said it appears the landscaper may have abandoned the job with the irrigation system only partially completed and no seeding done.

DeAlicante said Jensen also would like to find a renter for his home, but Edwards said that would be a commercial use not allowed by the homeowners association.

"He's not going to rent it," said Edwards. He said an attorney who has reviewed the covenants agrees.

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An e-mail on Friday from Jensen to DeAlicante, which was provided to the Herald, says several of Jensen's fellow employees at Energy Northwest are helping to clear the property of weeds and blow out sprinkler lines, if necessary, to make sure they will not freeze during the winter. It also says a neighbor used a tractor to mow weeds.

Rick Miller, whose home is in sight of Jensen's, said he's sympathetic to Jensen's situation. "Given the circumstances, it doesn't bother me," he said. "He can't control the circumstances."

DeAlicante said he has written Edwards to tell him the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act prevents any civil legal action from being taken against someone on active military duty overseas. He also maintains Edwards cannot legally prevent Jensen from renting his property.

But Edwards said he isn't backing down.

"This is a contract. I don't like the way his property looks. This clown gets to do what he wants, and I'm as mad as hell," he said.

I'm sure the yard looked like azz, but the approach that the guy is taking seems pretty obnoxious and extreme. I suppose the military guy was initially a jerk.

[Rot 911]

He's a dik, but under the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act he won't be able to sue him while he is deployed.

[Jeff Higgins]

Kennewick is actually about 200 miles from Seattle, on the east side of the state, in the middle of rural farm land. Which makes this all the more remarkable; if it were in Seattle, it wouldn't surprise me in the least. I'm thinking Edwards is a former Seattle-ite, or at least a "coastie" or "206'er" as they disparingly refer to us. (Washington used to have only two area codes - 206 west of the Cascades and 509 east of them.)

[stomachmonkey]

Makes me want to drive over to the airport, get on a plane, fly to WA, find this prick and give him a good old fashioned ass beatin.

I am utterly disgusted.

[crustychief]

What an a$$. Last year I was deployed and the neighbor called SDPD on my "abandoned" 944 in my DRIVEWAY, cover on car, couple of spider webs and a flat tire my wife didn't notice. My wife called the policeman that left the noticeand he came out off duty and put air in the tire, jump started the car and turned it around for her then let all the other guys in the station know about the situation. I am glad the LT's co-workers pulled together to help the man out.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

A good neighbor would have helped with the yard. Not even a tiny fraction of the service Jenson is doing, but it would have been something.

[Tobra]

Walk away from his obligation? Ridiculous. He does not have a leg to stand on an is bitter because he has a development with a bunch of empty houses because of the market. I bet this soldier does not have any neighbors, aside from the plaintiff. I hope the developer gets foreclosed on everything and loses his shirt.

Do we have an PNW members who can go "talk" to this guy, maybe use a pipe to illustrate key points.

[gt350mike]

If WA is the same as AL, if a soldier has an issue with their employer (that is related to a deployment), the military has a "support group" of retired military (a few retired JAG officers in the mix) that will visit with the employer to educate them on the Uniformed Services Employment and Re employment Rights Act (USERRA). I'm not 100% sure if the same group also handles SSCRA related issues, but I'm sure someone from the military will more than likely pay the guy a visit and tell him (in a nice, legal, non-threatening manner) to go *&%# himself. At a minimum, someone should continue to fan the flames with the media so that the SOB gets the recognition he deserves.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

A good neighbor would have helped with the yard. Not even a tiny fraction of the service Jenson is doing, but it would have been something.

+1

The easiest, most sane solution would be to go over with some topsoil, grass seed and a few neighbors to help. WTF is wrong with people?

[Rikao4]

he's lucky he is where he is...
I would love to pass his place on my way..
would leave some grass seeds and help out..
I would then leave something for Edwards to think about...
these roads lead OUT of Texas....
we strongly suggest you leave ...before you lose something..

Rika

[VINMAN]

Typical "have-no-life of my own" loser homeowner association member. What a
*****! He could use a nice boot in his a$$.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Walk away from his obligation? Ridiculous. He does not have a leg to stand on an is bitter because he has a development with a bunch of empty houses because of the market. I bet this soldier does not have any neighbors, aside from the plaintiff. I hope the developer gets foreclosed on everything and loses his shirt.

+1. What an absolute tool.

[Hard-Deck]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

He's a dik, but under the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act he won't be able to sue him while he is deployed.

'Nuff said.

[HardDrive]

What a complete *********. I think local folks need to give him the 'proper motivation' to change his views.

Just astounding.

btw, as Jeff pointed out, Kennewick is no where near Seattle. Frankly I think Seattle folks would be a lot more empathetic. But there are jerks everywhere.....

[sammyg2]

If it was around here I'd get a bunch of buddies together and we'd go plant grass and water it for him, and kick that jerkwad in the jewels.
Do we have any contact information for this arse?

[Matt Meyer]

First time poster, long time lurker.

I live in Kennewick, OK Richland actually but my next door neighbor lives in Kennewick.

While Washington may be a very liberial state, you will find that Eastern Washington (location of Kennewick) is one of the most conservative places you could be. Richland-Pasco-Kennewick pretty much exist because of the Mahattan Project so lots of ex-military.

So to update you. From what I have heard on the radio the compliantant is practically in hiding. It was a morning talk show so who knows.

In order to grow a yard here requires underground irrigation which is not cheap. According to the paper supplies have been donated, a work party is scheduled Sat./ Sun. and his yard should be landscaped by Monday.

But we appricaite your concern.

[Seahawk]

I'm surprised the military folks around Seattle haven't helped more (Whidby, Keyport, etc.).

There is a deployed guy a few miles from me and his wife went to her families home during the deployment (not unusual, btw). My son mows his lawn and other young men manage the landscaping. As usual, they are all sons of military families, active duty and retired.

My bet is once this gets more notice that the local military folks will pitch in. There has got to be a local news outlet that would be willing to spread the word...helping the troops is more than just lip service, folks.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Matt Meyer

First time poster, long time lurker.

I live in Kennewick, OK Richland actually but my next door neighbor lives in Kennewick.

While Washington may be a very liberial state, you will find that Eastern Washington (location of Kennewick) is one of the most conservative places you could be. Richland-Pasco-Kennewick pretty much exist because of the Mahattan Project so lots of ex-military.

So to update you. From what I have heard on the radio the compliantant is practically in hiding. It was a morning talk show so who knows.

In order to grow a yard here requires underground irrigation which is not cheap. According to the paper supplies have been donated, a work party is scheduled Sat./ Sun. and his yard should be landscaped by Monday.

But we appricaite your concern.

Please ignore my last post...well done.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Please ignore my last post...

Just your last one, Paul?








BTW, great local response, Matt!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Just your last one, Paul?


BTW, great local response, Matt!

I'd retort, but you're at the top of my ignore list...