The Supreme Court made a rare exception in deciding to hear the case of a man who is suing Baltimore City for demolishing his house. Now, if only they could find him.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Bobby Chen filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court himself as he sought $2.5 million in damages after the City tore down his rowhouse in 2008. The nine justices agreed to take the case, which is virtually unprecedented, given that they only choose about 75 cases a year that are written in the most cutting-edge legalese around.
With his hearing coming up, however, Chen can’t be found. He has lawyers, and they don’t know where he is. Same goes for the Court’s clerks. Even the Wall Street Journal couldn’t help. When reporters asked his new neighbors in Quens where he was, one replied, “Subpeona me.”
Chen has to submit another brief on Dec. 22, or else his case might not be taken.
It’s easy to understand how only lawyers would want to face justices that ask a lot of questions and are known for spitting venom. But who wouldn’t root for a guy taking a case all the way to the highest court in the land on his own? It sounds like it’s out of a movie. Maybe he’s just waiting for the right moment to make a dramatic entrance.
