Border Guards Picked on the Wrong Judge And His Husband
LOS ANGELES (CN) - An administrative law judge (ALJ) for the NLRB and his husband sued U.S. Customs and Border Protection for $3 million, claiming an officer asked to see their marriage certificate at the border, and assaulted them when they complained.
William Kocol and Timothy Gajewski sued Several Unnamed U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers in Federal Court, alleging assault and battery, unlawful detention, slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and constitutional violations.
Kocol, an administrative law judge (ALJ) for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and Gajewski, an architect, were legally married in Beverly Hills in 2008.
They claim that CBP officers singled them out in December 2012 at Los Angeles International airport after a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
After Kocol handed a Customs officer a Customs card "indicating that he was the 'head of household,' and was traveling with one family member," the plaintiffs say they were asked to explain their relationship.
"Plaintiff Gajewski said 'husband' and then plaintiff Kocol also said 'husband,'" the complaint states.
The officer "shook his head in disapproval and after a few seconds plaintiff Kocol said, 'Yes, this was California and we are legally married,'" according to the complaint.
The officer asked to see their marriage certificate, and refused to allow them to enter the United States, the couple says.
"At that point plaintiff Kocol asked to see his supervisor and plaintiff Gajewski said that he was sure that CBPO 'A' does not ask a straight married couple to produce a copy of their marriage certificate," the complaint states.
The plaintiffs say the officer motioned for the next man and woman in line to step forward. Kocol and Gajewski protested, and were soon surrounded by five armed CBP officers and separated.
Kocol claims that one of the officers "put his right hand against plaintiff Kocol's upper back, grabbed his left hand and began to forcefully push him into the room."
Inside the room, the officer "twisted him around and pushed him down into a row of chairs, to his great personal discomfort," the complaint states.
Gajewski told CBPO Officer D: "'This is bullshit; do you treat every married couple this way?' 'This is my government being homophobic.'"
When Gajewski walked toward the room where Kocol was detained, the CBP officer "grabbed his wrist and twisted it backwards behind his back," the complaint states.
The defendants returned Gajewski's and Kocol's passports after Kocol told them he was a federal judge, and that he intended to contact the Human Rights Campaign, and the Gay and Lesbian Center.
The plaintiffs say the officer who eventually processed their passports apologized, and told them: "'Some people can't seem to change with the times.'"
They seek more than $1 million in general damages, and more than $2 million in punitive damages.
They are represented by Scott McKee of West Hollywood.
The Honorable Judge William G Kocol passed away peacefully at 71 years
of age with his beloved husband of 30 years, Timothy Gajewski, by his
side on February 20, 2020, at their home in Los Angeles California.
With a law degree from University of Wisconsin, Bill was appointed a Federal Administrative Law judge in 1992. Within the National Relations Labor Board, he defended the legal rights of union labor and the protection of workers. With over 40 years of distinguished service to the federal government, he retired in 2013.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents William and Sophie and by his loving sisters and brothers; Mary Rogus (Julian), Irene Willard, Walter Kocol (Mary), and Stanley Kocol (Flora). Bill is survived by his sisters and brothers: Diane Limas (late Arnold), Sophie Bara Cander (Adolph), Lorraine Daniels (late James), Theresa Kipshull (Gunther), Charlotte Kocol, Billy Kocol, Eddie Kocol, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Information on the March 8 memorial in Chicago may be requested at WilliamGKocol@gmail.com. Donations in leu of flowers should be directed to the Freedom from Religion Foundation of which Bill was a member and advocate, https://ffrf.org/
With a law degree from University of Wisconsin, Bill was appointed a Federal Administrative Law judge in 1992. Within the National Relations Labor Board, he defended the legal rights of union labor and the protection of workers. With over 40 years of distinguished service to the federal government, he retired in 2013.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents William and Sophie and by his loving sisters and brothers; Mary Rogus (Julian), Irene Willard, Walter Kocol (Mary), and Stanley Kocol (Flora). Bill is survived by his sisters and brothers: Diane Limas (late Arnold), Sophie Bara Cander (Adolph), Lorraine Daniels (late James), Theresa Kipshull (Gunther), Charlotte Kocol, Billy Kocol, Eddie Kocol, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Information on the March 8 memorial in Chicago may be requested at WilliamGKocol@gmail.com. Donations in leu of flowers should be directed to the Freedom from Religion Foundation of which Bill was a member and advocate, https://ffrf.org/
3 comments:
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.(Psalms 110:1)(Matt 22:44)(Heb 1:13)(Heb 10:13)
“If you wait by the river long enough, you will see the bodies of your enemies float by.”(Sun Tzu,but not in The Art Of War.)
A lesson in patience;take comfort in the fact that all your enemies will eventually die, even if you do nothing.
It is Karma.
The Honorable Judge William G Kocol passed away peacefully at 71 years of age with his beloved husband of 30 years, Timothy Gajewski, by his side on February 20, 2020, at their home in Los Angeles California.
With a law degree from University of Wisconsin, Bill was appointed a Federal Administrative Law judge in 1992. Within the National Relations Labor Board, he defended the legal rights of union labor and the protection of workers. With over 40 years of distinguished service to the federal government, he retired in 2013.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents William and Sophie and by his loving sisters and brothers; Mary Rogus (Julian), Irene Willard, Walter Kocol (Mary), and Stanley Kocol (Flora). Bill is survived by his sisters and brothers: Diane Limas (late Arnold), Sophie Bara Cander (Adolph), Lorraine Daniels (late James), Theresa Kipshull (Gunther), Charlotte Kocol, Billy Kocol, Eddie Kocol, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Information on the March 8 memorial in Chicago may be requested at WilliamGKocol@gmail.com. Donations in leu of flowers should be directed to the Freedom from Religion Foundation of which Bill was a member and advocate, https://ffrf.org/
It is with a painful heavy heart that we announce the passing of my best friend, companion, husband of 30 years, and the love of my life. William (Bill) Kocol left this earth on Thursday February 20 at 1:25pm. All my memories in love, travel, friendship and family are with this man. It is impossible to fathom life without him.
Starting from humble beginnings, Bill was born on November 5, 1948, one of twelve siblings in Chicago. Excelling in studies at the prestigious Lane Technical College Preparatory High School, Bill later attended college and attained a law degree from University of Madison Wisconsin. He went on to be appointed as a Federal Administrative Law judge in 1992. Within the National Relations Labor Board, Bill defended the legal rights of union labor and the protection of workers. With over 40 years of distinguished service to the federal government, Bill retired in 2013.
Bill is survived by his husband Tim Gajewski where they made their home in Los Angeles California. He also survived by this family and friends throughout the country.
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