City sues Robin Hood group over parking meter payments | T...

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City sues Robin Hood group over parking meter

By Mike Krumboltz | The Sideshow 3 hrs ago

The city of Keene, New Hampshire, is suing a group of do-gooders for allegedly topping off parking meters of strangers. The group, which calls itself "Robin Hood and his Merry Men," likes to leave notes on the windshields of cars that are in danger of getting a ticket due to an expired meter, according to the Union Leader. A note reads, "Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the kings tariffs, Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Please consider paying it forward. The note then lists an address where people can send donations if they wish.
File photo of an expired parking meter (Thinkstock)

According to the Union Leader, the city claims Robin Hood and his Merry Men have "intentional

harassed and intimidated" the city's three parking enforcement officers. The suit also alleges that

parking enforcement officers around the city and uses video and radio equipment to coordinate t

All told, six citizens are named in the city's lawsuit. One of the defendants, James Cleaveland, spo to establish a safety zone of fifty feet."
1 of 2 5/14/13 10:19 PM

about it. "They say video recording or talking to them is harassing them, but I don't agree with th

City sues Robin Hood group over parking meter payments | T...

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The lawsuit, according to the Union Leader, lists a bit of trash-talking on the part of the Robin Ho

In the filing, parking enforcement officer Linda Desruisseaux said, "Besides following me,

making video recordings of my activities, and placing coins in expired meters to prevent m

these individuals repeatedly taunt and harass me, asking why I am stealing peoples' mone

another job ... In particular, Graham Colson likes to taunt me by saying, 'Linda, guess wha one-up each other at my expense.

today - write tickets.' ... The taunting and harassment tends to get worse when there is a gr

Another parking enforcement officer claims that he suffers from heart palpitations, stress and an to this activity."

The city is concerned that the parking enforcement officers will quit, according to the Union Lead financial hardship, because the city would have to hire and train new officers, the suit claims. Members of the group were issued the lawsuit last week and have 30 days to respond.

Copyright 2013 The Sideshow Copyright 2013 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. | Yahoo! - ABC News Network | /

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http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130...

Keene sues six parking meter 'Robin Hoods' who put money in expired meters
The city has led a lawsuit against six citizens, part of a group dubbed Robin Hood of Keene that patrols downtown armed with video cameras and pockets full of change to ll expired parking meters. Members of the group place cards under windshield wipers that read, "Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the king's tariffs, Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Please consider paying it forward," and includes an address where donations can be sent.

By MEGHAN PIERCE Union Leader Correspondent KEENE - The city has led a lawsuit against six citizens, part of a group dubbed Robin Hood of Keene that patrols downtown armed with video cameras and pockets full of change to ll expired parking meters. Also known as Robin Hooders, the six are associated with the Free Keene group. "They say video recording or talking to them is harassing them, but I don't agree with that," "Robin Hooder" James Cleaveland said of parking enforcement ofcers. "So they want to establish a safety zone of fty feet." Members of the group place cards under windshield wipers that read, "Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the king's tariffs, Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Please consider paying it forward," and includes an address where donations can be sent. The group says the suit was led because the city is losing revenue from parking tickets. The city says the activists are harassing its employees. In the case led May 2, the city asks the court to prohibit residents Kate Ager, Ian Bernard aka Ian Freeman, James Cleaveland, Graham Colson, Garrett Ean and Peter Eyre from coming within 50 feet of the city's three parking enforcement ofcers "during the performance of their employment duties for the city." According to the suit, the residents "regularly, repeatedly and intentionally taunted, interfered with, harassed, and intimidated" the ofcers starting last December, "surrounding, touching or nearly touching, and otherwise taunting and harassing" the ofcers. Cleaveland said the group has prevented the ofcers from issuing about 4,000 tickets. In the ling, parking enforcement ofcer Linda Desruisseaux said, "Besides following me, crowding around me, making video recordings of my activities, and placing coins in expired meters to prevent me from writing tickets, these individuals repeatedly taunt and harass me, asking why I am stealing peoples' money and telling me to get another job ... In particular, Graham Colson likes to taunt me by saying, 'Linda, guess what you're not going to do today - write tickets.' ... The taunting and harassment tends to get worse when there is a group, as they try to one-up each other at my expense." The lawsuit does not deny group members' right to videotape and takes no issue with them lling expired parking meters, but said there is a concern that the three parking enforcement ofcers will quit. The suit states the city would suffer nancially from having to hire and train new employees, and might have difculty lling the positions. According to parking enforcement ofcer Alan E. Givetz in the suit, the "constant harassment" has made him "feel very stressed and anxious." "In addition, I have begun to suffer physical effects due to the stress, including coming home from work with a red face, feeling heart palpitations, and having dreams related to this activity."

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http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130...

Cleaveland and Garrett said they were served with the suit Thursday and have 30 days to answer the complaint. "I basically feel like it's slander. I did not harass or intimidate anyone," Garrett said. Cleaveland said he speaks to the ofcers less than 90 percent of the time, and when he does, he is not harassing or intimidating. He said the Robin Hooders try to be about 20 feet ahead of the ofcer, but the ofcers cross the street, zigzag, or hide behind buildings if they see a Robin Hooder. "If they see us in front of them, they will try to alter their path," Cleaveland said. The two said the video recordings of their "Robin Hooding" will vindicate them in court. mpierce@newstote.com

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A New Hampshire city sues a group of "Robin Hood" parking ...

http://www.examiner.com/article/a-new-hampshire-city-sues-a-...

Examiner.com A New Hampshire city sues a group of "Robin Hood" parking meter feeders (Video)
WEIRD NEWS MAY 14, 2013 BY: MARC HOOVER

The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) reported today that Keene, New Hampshire is suing a group of Robin Hooders who feed expired parking meters (http://www.examiner.com/topic/parkingmeters) . The group of meter feeders call themselves Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
RELATED TOPICS Weird News
/topic/weird-news)

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/topic/strange-news)

The group claims to have saved at least 4,000 cars from receiving parking tickets. After Robin Hood members nd an expired meter, they feed coins into the meter and slide a card under the windshield wiper. The card lets the driver know that he or she was saved from the kings tariffs. The card also provides an address for donations. Keene city ofcials dont nd this behavior

(http://www.examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com

Parking meters
(http://www.examiner.com /topic/parking-meters)

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/ADSENSE/SUPPORT /BIN/REQUEST.PY%3FCONTACT%3DABG_AFC%26URL %3DHTTP://WWW.EXAMINER.COM/ARTICLE/A-NEWHAMPSHIRE-CITY-SUES-A-GROUP-OF-ROBINHOOD-PARKING-METERFEEDERS%26GL%3DUS%26HL%3DEN%26CLIENT%3DC APUB-7479725245717969%26AI0%3DC1WR8AVKSUDZ3C YBA0AGQUYDABNQW6P4E8VLPVKNAJBCBEAEGRYH OA1CX_E7B______8BYMMO2IQWPOWPOAH_6JMA8GBAAGDAAOEQQFP0LTBNLY6QCVK60OF8H0M DAISDZKWEPK9GSQPVFMICNDPGYWDXGLWLEUZY9O 5SYXIBIRUKHCERLL0NLCPJRMJWCQC3EGUHESQ3R8 KGEVOEAAY77HW3KE5Z4USWQQ1VUMAG3YPWAU31PBB4F 0MLV9ICUKQA06U7RNGYZCPCIPWQOIH7GWZY5A45XJAZNCRTDRZATFMFHD6H42FXJRGPXRS ODBYB0YZJ7IAYBGAFQ_9YZ& USG=AFQJCNHMWE1JPOGCCCYR4ZR9MUSRVDKFTA)

amusing. City ofcials say these individuals are harassing parking enforcement workers by following them with cameras and preventing the city from collecting revenue. Lately, parking meters and speed camera have become a sore point with American citizens. For instance, a court in Ohio recently ruled against an Ohio village for using speed cameras
(http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03 /08/speed-camera-ruling/1974369/) .

More information about this strange story can be found at the Washington Post website
(http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013 /may/14/new-hampshire-city-suing-robinhood-paying-parking/) .

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Feel free to share your comments or thoughts about this story or anything else. Send your email to augustlake@fuse.net
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RlIEJhYnkaCAj7o9O6LHOgIMS2zyAoATACSMS2zy BSEwjcgIaqh5e3AhUGLTQKHZAcAEg& channel_id=6727461905&google_page_url=http %3A%2F%2Fwww.examiner.com%2Farticle%2Fanew-hampshire-city-sues-a-group-of-robinhood-parking-meter-feeders)

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A city in New Hampshire has led a lawsuit to stop "Robin Hood" meter feeders. Photo credit: Getty Images

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Cruel NH city suing group that feeds strangers' parking meters

5 hrs ago

They say no good deed goes unpunished, but it takes something like this to have that axiom proven. Keene, N.H., is suing a group that goes around feeding strangers' expired parking meters. The group, dubbed Robin Hood and his Merry Men, go around paying people's expired meters and asking them to pay it forward. The city explains that their three parking enforcement officers are being harassed by the group. "They say video recording or talking to them is harassing them," James Cleaveland, a Merry Man, said. "So they want to establish a safety zone of fifty feet." Well, our hearts go out to those poor, poor parking enforcement officers. [Source] Trending topic: new hampshire robin hood | Click to see more on msnNOW.com
Read more: $600 Chevy Monte Carlo costs $105,761 to park
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Ever done a random act of kindness for strangers? What was it?
126 Comments
newest oldest best worst controversial

Frisky2133

5 hours ago

Random acts of kindness is a very sweet thing to do for a total stranger......:-) i try to help whenever i can...:-) If one of yall come through my town and break down, i will stop to help....cause it is the right thing to do... :-) 107 7 Replies (2)

SurrenderToThisWorld

5 hours ago

I guess...they can help all they want....as long the parking enforcement officer isn't already there writing a ticket. 70 3 Replies (3)

0311 for life parking enforcement are just drop out cops 72 16 Replies (5)

5 hours ago

Krusty Robinson

5 hours ago

One thing I done most recently was rescue two malnourished kittens from an abusive owner on craigslist. I took them in, bathed them and snuggled them in a towel. the bathwater was riddled with dried on urine, feces, cat litter, and cat food. They had worms so bad their bellies were swollen. Very sick. Took them to the humane society to get them the care they needed. 60 9 Replies (7)

Ed_an_American

5 hours ago

Yes I have done random acts of kindness,but if I say what they might not be random anymore.

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New Hampshire parking meter group pays strangers' meters, get...

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This is a kind group and should not be harassed. Parking enforcement can be a joke to deal with, I pulled a can that needed to have the transmission worked on on to the street so the two truck could get to it and parking gave me a ticket with in two minuets, no allowance for the fact that the tow truck was there or anything, they also ticketed me for parking next to my work on the asphalt but where there was no parking lines painted. 45 2 Replies (0)

pugnacious

5 hours ago

I have put money in a stranger's expired parking meter. I don't think it's that big of a deal. And I do random acts of kindness for trolls on msn Now all the time. :)) 48 10 Replies (2)

Aim 4 da bushes What we have here, is a failure to communicate! 37 5 Replies (11)

5 hours ago

Toni N Toby What they bitchin for? there getting there frikin money arn't they? 27 2 Replies (4)

5 hours ago

FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE I SALUTE YOU

5 hours ago

If i told you it wouldnt be as gratifying MSN. People who do real acts of kindness dont do so to gloat or for the recognition. Good day to all, until tomorrow when we meet again.... 26 8 Replies (3)

Someone Chicago - $6/hour to feed the meter. started after our dear politicians sold it for 75 years 21 3 Replies (4)

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New Hampshire city sues Robin Hood, Merry Men over feeding...

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New Hampshire city sues Robin Hood, Merry Men over feeding parking meters
Published May 14, 2013 | FoxNews.com

A city in New Hampshire is suing a group that signs letters "Robin Hood and his Merry Men" that make a point of searc expired parking meters and paying them before police can issue a ticket.

The group, comprised of six "Robin Hooders," search the town of Keene for delinquent drivers and leave a note behind

Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the king's tariffs." The note is signed, "Robin Hood and his Merry Me urges recipients to consider "paying it forward," The Washington Times reported.

The city, for its part, said the group "intentionally taunted, interfered with, harassed and intimidated" the city's three park enforcement officers, the report said. The suit identifies the "Robin Hood" members and was filed on May 2. One officer says he has been harassed by the group and another says he faced profanities and derogatory comments previous military service.

"They say video recording or talking to them is harassing them, but I don't agree with that," James Cleaveland, a memb group, told the Union Leader. The group says the city is suing because the city is losing revenue. Click for more from The Washington Times

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Parking meter 'Robin Hoods' sued by town ofcials for feeding ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324545/Parking-mete...

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Parking meter 'Robin Hoods' sued by town officials for feeding expired parking meters and 'harassing officers'
Robin Hood and his Merry Men appear alive and well in Keene, New Hampshire but city officials hope to put a stop to their rapscallion ways
By Joshua Gardner PUBLISHED: 15:34 EST, 14 May 2013 | UPDATED: 15:37 EST, 14 May 2013

A town has filed suit against a group that walks around refilled the parking meters of strangers in an activity they call Robin Hooding. Named for the classic do-gooder and their town of residence, Keene, New Hampsire, members of 'Robin Hood of Keene' are accused of harassing the citys parking enforcement officers in a civil suit filed May 2. The group denies this, however. They say the city is just mad because of lost revenue from parking tickets.

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Parking meter 'Robin Hoods' sued by town ofcials for feeding ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324545/Parking-mete...

Not too keen: The Robin Hoods of Keene New Hampshire are being sued by their town for feeding expired meters and harassing parking officers

When the group, which is also goes by Robin Hood and His Merry Men, finds an expired meter they refill it with change and then place a card notifying the cars own what has happened. Your meter expired, read the notes. However, we saved you from the kings tariffs, Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Please consider paying it forward. Also on the note is an address where those inclined can send money to the Robin Hooders. The city of Keenes lawsuit alleges the group has regularly, repeatedly, and intentionally taunted, interfered with, harassed, and intimidated the PEOs [parking enforcement officers] in the performance of their employment.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324545/Parking-mete...

Generous? The leaves a signature note telling drivers what has happened. 'Your meter expired,' it begins.

The suit names six members of the group and formally requests the court bar them from coming within 50 feet of the PEOs while they are on duty. Besides following me, writes PEO Linda Desruisseaux in the suit, crowding around me, making video recordings of my activities, and placing coins in expired meters to prevent me from writing tickets, these individuals repeatedly taunt and harass me.

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Parking meter 'Robin Hoods' sued by town ofcials for feeding ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324545/Parking-mete...

The Robin Hooders, of course, disagree.

Harassing? The Robin Hoods' videos show them following and interacting with parking officers as well as filling expired meters

Suit: The group stalks downtown Keene in one of its videos. The City of Keene is suing to keep the group's members at least 50 feet away from on-duty parking officers at all times

Robin Hooding is about saving people from getting parking tickets, writes member James Cleaveland

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Parking meter 'Robin Hoods' sued by town ofcials for feeding ...

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(aka James Robin Hood) on a website associated with the group called FreeKeene.com. The city has resorted to a civil case against me and others instead of a criminal one providing more evidence that no criminal actions were committed. Cleaveland claims the group has stopped the city from issuing 4,000 tickets. Youtube videos of the groups activities posted show members approaching and speaking to several parking officers. In most cases the officers try to avoid or ignore the Robin Hooders.

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Find this story at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324545/Parking-meter-Robin-Hoods-sued-town-officials-feedingexpired-parking-meters-harassing-officers.html Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

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Town sues 'Robin Hood' citizen group known for feeding parki...

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Government Law

Town sues Robin Hood citizen group known for feeding parking meters, says it harasses workers
Posted May 14, 2013 4:40 PM CDT By Martha Neil

Image from Shutterstock. A New Hampshire town has sued a group of half-a-dozen citizens known as the Robin Hooders, contending that their harassment of parking enforcement ofcers could force the workers to quit if a court doesn't grant relief. Although the group feeds parking meters on behalf of strangers, the Keene suit says the town isn't objecting to that activity but the group's videotaping and verbal taunting of its parking ofcers, the Union Leader reports. Filed earlier this month, the suit seeks injunctive relief in the form of a court order prohibiting the members of the group from approaching the workers while they are on the job. "They say video recording or talking to them is harassing them, but I don't agree with that," said Robin Hooders group member James Cleaveland of the parking ofcers. "So they want to establish a safety zone of 50 feet." Other defendants said they expect their videotapes of parking ofcers will help them defend themselves in court. A Free Keene website provides more information about the citizen group's activities. Hat tip: Daily Mail. Copyright 2013 American Bar Association. All rights reserved.

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City of Keene taking legal action against 'Robin Hooders' - Sent...

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City of Keene taking legal action against 'Robin Hooders'

By Kyle Jarvis Sentinel Staff | Posted: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 12:00 pm The city of Keene says its parking enforcement officers need protection against members of a local pro-liberty group, and has filed court action to do so. The petition, filed earlier this month in Cheshire County Superior Court, seeks to establish a 50-foot safety zone around the officers to alleviate what the city terms harrassing behavior. The Robin Hooders have regularly, repeatedly, and intentionally taunted, interfered with, harassed, and intimidated the officers by following, surrounding, touching or nearly touching, and otherwise taunting and harassing and video-recording the officers, according to the petition filed by City Attorney Thomas P. Mullins on May 2. The city seeks a court order for the Robin Hooders not to interfere, harass or intimidate the officers and keep a distance of at least 50 feet away from them. The Robin Hooders, many of whom are associated with a loosely organized pro-liberty group, have tried to prevent parking enforcement officers from doing their jobs, including feeding expiring parking meters before officers can write tickets, according to the petition. Mullins noted that the city doesnt contest the Robin Hooders right to do that, nor does the city seek an order to prevent (the Robin Hooders) from exercising their Constitutional rights to video record (the officers) from a comfortable remove or otherwise to express their opinion. The city names Graham Colson, James Cleaveland, Garrett Ean, Kate Ager, Ian Freeman and Peter Eyre as primary offenders in the petition. The filing also contains affidavits from the citys three parking enforcement officers, including Alan E. Givetz, who said that in addition to contemplating resigning, he has experienced physical and personal hardship as a result of the Robin Hooders activities. Besides following me, crowding around me, bumping into me, making video recordings of my activities, and placing coins in expired meters to prevent me from writing tickets, these individuals repeatedly taunt and harass me, asking why I am stealing peoples money and telling me to get another job, he said. Givetz said Colson, in particular, has directed numerous personal attacks at me, calling me a ... coward, racist and murderer of brown babies (as a result of my prior military service), and

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boy. As a result, Givetz said he often feels very stressed and anxious, and have considered quitting my job as a parking enforcement officer, which he said is exactly what (the Robin Hooders) want to have happen. Givetz said hes come home from work with a red face, feeling heart palpitations, and having dreams related to this activity. He also said the incidents have crept into his personal life, including one incident in which Colson allegedly confronted Givetz as he ran errands downtown on his day off, which escalated into a heated exchange, Givetz said. I no longer feel comfortable bringing my family to downtown Keene out of fear that I will once again be harassed on my personal time in front of my family and friends. Enforcement officer Jane E. McDermott said Robin Hooders have repeatedly taunted and harassed her, including calling her a thief and asking her how she sleeps at night. One day, McDermott said, Colson grabbed her by the arm in an attempt to stop me from removing their propaganda from a car windshield. Robin Hooders often leave a calling card on the windshields of vehicles theyve saved from parking tickets. McDermott said she now delays her lunch and bathroom breaks in order to avoid the group, and no longer takes lunch breaks downtown, instead traveling out of her way to the police station on Marlboro Street to avoid being confronted by the group. In reference to bathroom breaks, when I do take one, I often find these individuals waiting outside the door, she said. All of this is intimidating and makes it more difficult to do my job. Linda A. Desruisseaux said she has been harassed for several years by members of the group, but said it became a regular occurrence beginning in December 2012. The parking enforcement officer said Colson allegedly likes to taunt me by saying, Linda, guess what youre not going to do today write tickets. Desruisseaux said the behavior tends to get worse when there is a group, as they try to one-up each other at my expense, adding that she, too, now eats lunch at the police station to avoid being confronted by Robin Hooders. All three parking enforcement officers said theyve altered their routes and routines in an attempt to avoid the group, and that they have written significantly fewer tickets since the alleged

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City of Keene taking legal action against 'Robin Hooders' - Sent...

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harassment began. The parking enforcement officers also said theyve been told by Colson that he is being paid $5 an hour to prevent them from doing their jobs. The petition comes on the heels of an investigation into the alleged behavior by city officials earlier this year. Keenes human resources department hired former Keene police captain Peter S. Sturdy Thomas to determine whether harassing behavior was taking place, city officials said previously. Thomas spent 46.5 hours over roughly a 3!-week period beginning in mid-March videotaping the Robin Hooders, and was paid a total of $1,339.67 for his work. That money came out of the citys safety and security budget, city officials said. Once all parties have been served with copies of the petition, the Robin Hooders have 30 days to respond before the court schedules a hearing.

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