I would submit that we're not really not playing by "their rules" at all, but rather the "conventional wisdom" of their "perception" of the rules.
Here's an example that's driving me nuts simply because it is so damned wrong the way it turned out. Not just "wrong," but clearly in direct opposition to the stated law.
1) Court case (Virginia):<FONT face=Arial size=2>
Present: All the Justices
FIRST VIRGINIA BANK v. Record No. 950149
OPINION BY JUSTICE BARBARA MILANO KEENAN
March 1, 1996 FRANCIS X. O'LEARY, ETC., ET AL.
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ARLINGTON COUNTY
Paul F. Sheridan, Judge
[T]he Department, pursuant to Code 58.1-1804, issued a "notice of tax lien and demand for payment" to the Bank to satisfy unpaid taxes owed by two taxpayers....
In contrast, judicial action is not required for the issuance of a "Notice of Tax Lien and Demand for Payment" under Code 58.1-1804…These tax liens are administrative process issued by authority of the Tax Commissioner....
Me here: See that? This judge said "judicial action is NOT required" for this particular lien. Following is that statute:<FONT face=Tahoma size=2>
§ 58.1-1804. Collection out of estate in hands of or debts due by third party.
The Tax Commissioner may apply in writing to any person indebted to or having in his hands estate of a taxpayer for payment of any taxes assessed under § </FONT>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2>58.1-313</FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> or § </FONT>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2>58.1-631</FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>, or of any taxes more than thirty days delinquent,
out of such debt or estate. Payment by such person of such taxes, penalties and interest, either in whole or in part, shall entitle him to a credit against such debt or estate. The
taxes, penalties and interest shall constitute a lien on the debt or estate due the taxpayer from the time the application is received. For each application served, the person applied to shall be entitled to a fee of twenty dollars which shall constitute a charge or credit against the debt to or estate of the taxpayer.
The Tax Commissioner shall send a copy of the application to the taxpayer, with a notice informing him of the remedies provided in this chapter.
If the person applied to does not pay so much as ought to be recovered out of such debt or estate, the Tax Commissioner shall procure a summons directing such person to appear before the appropriate court, where the proper payment may be enforced. Any person so summoned shall have the same rights of removal and appeal as are applicable to disputes among individuals.
Me again: Now, y'all are like me. The FIRST thing you see is reference to OTHER statutes.& Trust me, research those and you go to the absolute requirement for judicial orders to effect a lien.
I.E., NONE of these statutes exist in a vacuum. Or:<FONT face=Tahoma size=2>
§ 1-17.1. Severability.
The provisions of statutes in this Code or the application thereof to any person or circumstances which are held invalid shall not affect the validity of other statutes, provisions or applications of this Code which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications. <U>The provisions of all statutes are severable unless</U> (i) the statute specifically provides that its provisions are not severable; or (ii) <U>it is apparent that two or more statutes or provisions must operate in accord with one another.</U>
Me again:
Now, what I keep asking myself is why did the lawyers in that case NOT point this out to this judge?& After all, he, the judge, can NOT just say, "Oh, by the way, you forgot this part...."
And he, the judge, has probably never, ever had anyone point this out, so day after day, he "enforces" THAT statute as if it's just standing there, all alone, no references to anything else.
Then WE come along?
No wonder "it" hits the fan.....
Randy</FONT></FONT></FONT>
&
&