Breast cancer survivor handcuffed and thrown in jail over a mistaken $280 medical bill as 'debtor's

[phantom power]

A breast cancer survivor who was sent to prison over a mistaken $280 medical bill has highlighted the return of debtor's prisons in the U.S.

Illinois resident Lisa Lindsay had received the medical bill in error and was told she did not have to pay up.

However, the bill was turned over to a collection agency and state troopers arrived at her home and took her away in handcuffs.

The Illinois teaching assistant eventually had to pay more than $600 to escape prison, as legal fees were added to the bill.

'I paid it in full so they couldn't do it to me again,' said Lindsay whose plight has alerted law-makers in Illinois to the growing problem.

The case of Lindsay as well as others suggests that more people than ever before in the U.S are being thrown in 'debtor's prisons' for not being able to pay back loans.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2132973/Breast-cancer-survivor-handcuffed-thrown-jail-mistaken-280-medical-debtors-prisons-return-U-S.html

[Diclotican]

1. phantom power

phantom power


Someone should pay her back - with some interst on top for what she had to enure.. At least a couple of thousands to be sure..

Diclotican

[xchrom]

2. Du rec. Nt

[Mz Pip]

3. The GOP's vision of America

All this woman needed to do to remain debt free was borrow from her parents or start a business. It's her fault.

Private prisons will benefit from this kind of thing.

[valerief]

13. Badda bing! nt

[woo me with science]

4. DU Rec. nt

[Turbineguy]

5. The new America

Living in a republican paradise.

[Egalitarian Thug]

6. It can't happen here. K&R. n/t

[allan01]

7. re:Breast cancer survivor handcuffed and thrown in jail over a mistaken $280 medical bill as 'debtor

what good are they if they are thwon in jail and cant pay the debt off? meh

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. no 'meh'...repukes *love* personal freedom for themselves but stern punishment

for human beings they don't know, but who must certainly deserve it.

[magic59]

8. Fascism is alive and well in the USA

A corporate police state will exist as long as we have fascists in control.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

10. I notice it's UK reporting. US media would never publicize it.

[freshwest]

15. Many well-informed American comments, telling compelling stories to back up the article details...

People are aware of the injustices in this nation and I hope they will be able to vote this year:

My wife had breast cancer and due to Pre Exisitng Condiditons and an 8 month delay in getting Chemo she did'nt make it. Health care is a Human Right! We have a name for the US health care system here in Oklahoma. "Polite Genocide".
- Peter gatliff, Lawton Oklahoma United States, 22/4/2012 06:36

it happened to a friend in fl. by one of the biggest banks of america. but you cannot ignore the summons you have to take care of court notices show up and tell the court your broke.

the co that files the charges if they know and it is proven the person dosn't owe or cannot pay they should pay for the courts and sheriff fees.

beware people who have walked away from your houses the collectors have several years to go after assets
- jr23, cape coral fl USA, 22/4/2012 04:04

Prisons are being privatized and worker in prison is cheapest thing since slave labor. Think about it...
- Someone, Somewhere, 22/4/2012 00:26

D&C, PP; For decades it has been well known that the legally required notices are intentionally sent to wrong addresses so that it has become quite common for debtors to have no idea that they are failing to go to court. Then in counties like mine, the court system has been made easy for the "haves" - the prosecutors - they have made a huge complex - OUT OF TOWN. If you are disabled or financially challenged - even if you DO know about your day in court - actually getting there can be insurmountable. Wait till you get really really sick, for years on end, and see how many friends you have to take you there.
- sarum, pxaz, 21/4/2012 23:24

[SwissTony]

21. I've noticed that. I wondered why so many American stories seemed to first appear

in the British press. And the Daily Mail at that!

PS The DM does do some good work, but prints a lot of garbage.

[ronnie624]

11. I hope Illinois closes the loophles that enable defacto debtor imprisonment,

but that article reeks. What's up with all those pictures of prisons?

[girl gone mad]

19. Poverty and prison porn for the Euro market.

We look like a third world country to them. There's a healthy market in Europe for shocking images of American homelessness, blight, decay, violence, and all the rest of our dirty laundry.

[L0oniX]

12. Corporate owed police force ...and government.

[mn9driver]

14. It happens in Minnesota, too.

The Star Tribune did a very in-depth article on this last year. Needless to say, our GOP controlled legislature hasn't lifted a finger to stop it.

http://www.startribune.com/investigators/95692619.html

[bec]

16. I think it is time

for the people of IL and Minn to get their state law changed.

[n2doc]

17. These Judges are complicit in this

They need to be targeted and removed from their positions in the next election.

[Tsiyu]

18. America, land of the free, home of the brave

THIS is how CCA will get compliance from the states. Corrections Corp of America (Founded and run at a profit by Lucifer himself) is demanding 90% capacity when it buys prisons to privatize.

With all the medical debt in America right now, they'll have no problem keeping those prison cots warm.

Gotta love this country's elite! They think up ingenious ways to screw us 24/7.

[ck4829]

20. Horrifiying. This is one incident like this too many.