The Incarceration of James Riffin

Trainlawyer · **Posted:** Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:33 am

Having run this past the moderator and cued our resident Baltimore journalist-

On Monday last attorneys for the Kansas City Southern filed a motion before the Surface Transportation Board which happened to mention in passing that James Riffin had been incarcerated on a contempt citation.
http://www.stb.dot.gov/filings/all.nsf/6084f194b67ca1c4852567d9005751dc/e3dd4e96b9e9cd448525746a00683c2c/$FILE/222617.PDF

By what was almost return E-mail the board released a decision in the same matter essentially denying everything Mr.Riffin wanted and finding him "financially unqualified" to make an Offer of Financial Assistance on the line.
http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/51d7c65c6f78e79385256541007f0580/251148a9c2d0dbe48525746a0064a456?OpenDocument

The Board also shot down Mr.Riffin's efforts to take over an isolated spur which will block expansion of the Los Angeles light rail system.
http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/51d7c65c6f78e79385256541007f0580/be6e39de6a65e2a58525746a0047fbf1?OpenDocument
http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/c55014d4e172f33f85257474004cdd7d/e3413086ee221c3d8525744200667ed4?OpenDocument

Of the 58 cases listed on the Maryland judiciary website under the name "Riffin", the vast majority are our friend. This is the one that was cited on Monday by KCS. I understand that there was cheering in law firms all over the country.

This is the original bulldozing the wetlands matter. I would imagine that the judge has had it with the "I'm a Railroad." argument and if I am reading the case properly if he cures the contempt it can be read as an admission that his person is not a railroad. The original incarceration was upheld on Thursday. It may be a while.

Quote:

Court System: Circuit Court for Baltimore County - Civil System
Case Number: 03C04008920
Title: Maryland Dept Of The Environment, et al vs Riffin, et al
Case Type: Other CivilFiling Date:08/25/2004
Case Status: Reopened/Active

[84 docket entries snipped]

Doc No./Seq No.: 85/0
File Date: 06/13/2008Close Date:Decision:
Document Name: Open Court Proceeding
June 13, 2008. Hon. Susan Souder. Hearing had in re: show cause (contempt). Motion to strike affadavit of Kevin Sharbonda- Motion to strike judgment- Motion to impose sanctions upon Kevin Sharbonda- Plaintiffs motion for sanctions-

Defendant found in contempt of Court Order. Defendant remanded to Baltimore Cunty Detention Center no bail. Plaintiff's Motion for Sanctions Granted in part. Doc No./Seq No.:

Doc No./Seq No.:86/0
File Date: 06/19/2008Close Date:06/19/2008Decision:Ruled
Document Name: Order def incarcerated until he complies with order to post bond *

GME

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:14 pm

Is this business, located on Saginaw Bay Southern Railway Co., just a coincidence? Was there a variant spelling of his name?

RIFKIN SCRAP IRON & METAL CO
1445 N NIAGARA ST
SAGINAW, MI 48602

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:36 pm

Most likely coincidence. I've never seen that "variation" of his name used by him in any of multiple contexts.

And FYI, the Baltimore City Paper reporter that did a story on him months ago is now back on the case, thanks to my tip. I've also been informed that the outfit on the Georges Creek RR in western Md. (which now has an Alco switcher running) now disavows any connection to Riffin.

Martyhuck · **Posted:** Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:52 pm

JimBoylan wrote:

Is this business, located on Saginaw Bay Southern Railway Co., just a coincidence?
RIFKIN SCRAP IRON & METAL CO
1445 N NIAGARA ST
SAGINAW, MI 48602

Rifkin Steel has been at this location for at least 15 years - I have done business with them that long.

Trainlawyer · **Posted:** Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:46 am

He was released yesterday after posting a $250,000 letter of credit.

Quote:

Doc No./Seq No.: 87/0
File Date: 06/25/2008Close Date:Decision:
Document Name: Letter of Credit (Republic Bank & Trust of Norman Oklahoma) posted in the amount
of $250,000.00. (Original Letter of Credit in Locker # 17 in the vault). James Riffin released from incarceration at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Probably no connection between Mr. Riffin and the steel company. An acquaintance of mine who has been both in Class 1 management and very active in preservation (and who lived in Baltimore for a time) kept confusing him with Cal Ripkin and Cal Ripkin, Jr.

Mr. Riffin's non-operating western Maryland operation is the Frostburg Southern which began life as Gerald Altizer's WMS. I do not believe there was ever any actual affiliation with the Georges Creek outfit except in the mind of of one of Mr. Riffin's associates.

For those of you in the Baltimore area - Mr. Riffin is due in court in Towson on July 2nd to answer several traffic violations. The docket indicates that he has already failed to appear to answer these charges. It would be interesting to know if he presents his "I'm a railroad" defense again.

GME

steamtown observer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:11 pm **Posts:** 371

Quote:

The Incarceration of James Riffin

Doesn't that sound like the title of a Country song? Or maybe Gordon Lightfoot could sing it.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:15 pm

As convoluted as the cases up to this point have been, you would need to compose one of those old English ballads that goes on for 50-75 verses......

(And, yes, I have books full of some of those old ballads, unfortunately....)

Dave · **Posted:** Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:31 pm

Steeleye Span, then?

Maybe an epic satyrical poem like The Night of the King's Castration......

dave

Trainlawyer · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:13 pm

Our friend has clearly made good use of his time while sponging off of the good people of Baltimore County. He filed no less than five documents yesterday in his attempt to take over an alley in Los Angeles.

Docket Number:
AB_409_5_X
Case Title:
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY--ABANDONMENT EXEMPTION--IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA

Perhaps he can find useful employment as the next mascot for a battery company.

GME

steaminfo · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:30 pm

Trainlawyer wrote:

Perhaps he can find useful employment as the next mascot for a battery company.

Yes, perhaps they could call him "The Energizer Bummer"

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:38 am

http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=15955

I showed this story to someone who professed to be familiar with the Baltimore City Circuit Court--and he mentioned that the justice in this particular case is well-known/widely regarded as an "a$$h*le".

So it appears that these matters are FAR from over, and any professed celebrations were decidedly premature.......