An expensive protester
The Dom Post reports:
Wellington City Council has spent more than $350,000 defending legal proceedings that protester Benjamin Easton has taken over road changes that saw a bus route put through Manners Mall.
The figure was revealed in council documents put before a High Court judge in the latest of the cases.
I almost wonder if Easton is secretly hired by the Council’s lawyers as a money making device for them, and they pay him a 10% commission 
The judge was told Mr Easton was homeless after his unemployment benefit was stopped and he was put out of his city council flat because he had not paid his rent.
His current legal action also relates to losing the flat.
He also has a claim against the attorney-general and the Social Development Ministry about his benefit being stopped.
Alternatively, he could go get a job.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:02 am
Easton is a well known bludger and parasite. His latest claim tof ame is his involvement with the unemployed, losers, no-hopers, and criminals gathered around Occupy Wellington.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:05 am
Leading candidate to replace blanket man.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:13 am
He claims to be a ‘Politician’ on his website….
http://www.politicalbusker.co.nz/content/about-me-benjamin-easton
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:35 am
I love the faster buss routes – means I can get to work quicker and leave later thus my productivity has increased (albeit slightly)
This prick does not speak for the residents of Wellington who probably like a shorter cummute each day.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:45 am
David Farrar says:- “Alternatively, he could go get a job.”
Sounds unemployable. Some people just are. Giving him the dole and forgeting about him is the cheapest option.
[DPF: Nonsense. He is educated enough to file in court and pleaed his case on numerous times. There are dozens of jobs he could do well if he wanted to]
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:45 am
How do they spend so much on lawyers defending the ravings of a mad man? There is a huge disconnect in the law when ratepayers’ money is spent so freely yet the screws are repeatedly turned on legal aid. $350k defending against vexatious (with a small “v” as he has not reached the legal threshold) but apparently defending a summary criminal charge or charges, where someone’s liberty is potentially in the balance, is worth all of $450.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:45 am
Surely the WCC could have this arse declared Vexatious Litigant
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:20 am
This mong used to comment here under the name The Political Busker, posting endless screeds of unreadably pompous drivel that always read like a ten-year-old’s idea of what important adults sound like. Its impossible to imagine him ever having anything useful to say.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:56 am
This guy claimed to be the”leader” of the Occupy Wellington site. He is an egomaniac and as Scott Chris said is unemployable. Yes he is literate and capable of pleading in court but his people skills are such that not even McDonalds would hire him. he deliberately presents himself in such a way that no reasonable company would employ him. His unemployment benefit was stopped because he admitted he had no intentions of looking for a job. He wants to be paid by us the taxpayers to be a full-time activist!! Delusional!
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:03 pm
cha says: “Surely the WCC could have this arse declared Vexatious Litigant…”
Agree 100%. In fact, there are many parallels between Easton and Penny Not-So – both are totally infatuated with seeing their name in print / both support totally lost causes and both have become boringly predictable with their antics and use of media.
They are simply publicity whores and the sooner they are steered in the opposite direction from any activity that impacts the ratepayer / taxpayer purse, the better it will be.
And Easton isn’t unemployable. Give him a rake and tell him to report daily to Moa Point.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:34 pm
David Farrar says:- “He is educated enough to file in court and pleaed his case on numerous times”
Offer him a job then. You’ll soon see what I mean. Probably has a personality disorder. Doesn’t mean he isn’t well educated.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I thought a party could ask the Judge for a bond for costs if he agrees that there is little chance of sucess? Sounds like the woman who parked her housebus outside the Law School for six months and ran up so much in parking fines she lost it. Council shouls stop pussy footing around and make it impossible to proceed.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
“Offer him a job then. You’ll soon see what I mean. Probably has a personality disorder. Doesn’t mean he isn’t well educated.”
While he is at it he could offer Slater a job as well.
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Offer them both a job and get the popcorn on
February 23rd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
[There are dozens of jobs he could do well if he wanted to]
Such as? If all those tens of thousands of jobless just got off their butts….
February 23rd, 2012 at 4:45 pm
He seems perfectly suited to be a union rep.
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:23 pm
“Alternatively, he could go get a job.”
He’d have to have a job offer. there’s not many of those around at the moment that are full time with a decent wage.
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:24 pm
“Alternatively, he could go get a job.”
He’d have to have a job offer. there’s not many of those around at the moment that are full time with a decent wage. htrat will employ someone who is unemployed.