The Doll Forum

Just to keep everyone abreast of things.

My solicitor kept me working towords today as the case to look forwards to.
As it happens, was just the case to decide on the case date - what uselsess sack of 5h1t the UK establishment is, but it may be another 6-9 months before the final date.

Apologies for getting people thinking that today was the date.
I believe a common quote from English literature is to "Kill all the Lawyers!"
I am coming round to this point of view - how many years does it take to be correct?

*sigh*

Next Friday (18th Feb 2022) is the court hearing over the UK seizure of that doll.
I should have information for you all later that day.

Wow, justice in “real” time huh? Please do let us know Phil. Many thanks!

Best of luck - give 'em hell!

Great hope the out come is good push forward....

I may be American, but our rights are being thrown in the shitter at the same alarming rate as for our brothers across the pond.. I've admired you and your courage to rise against them since last year and wait on the edge of my seat hoping you prevail. Even though I have very little hope, it's still good that some people give enough of a shit to stand up anyway. Keep it up, viva la resistance

Give em merry hell Phill, solicitors n'all.

Fair play to Phil for having the courage to stand alone in the doll world and take this on in his own. There's more than one vendor in the UK ...

Best of luck sir.

Good luck Phil
Hunt the Shunt and harem are all rooting for you

Good luck

Ok,

Mixed news.

Met with the customer and barrister before heading into court.
It appears that BorderForce (BF) had given the seized doll to the local police to prosecute the customer.
Seem reasonable at this point?

The police went and destroyed the doll!

So we walk into the court finding out that the local (Keystone) cops had destroyed the doll, and we think the prosecution had just heard this prior to the court case, so no-one was impressed with this.
We press on.

We question the measurement of the Piper 150cm Akira as actually 140cm (143cm by the local police).
The prosecution accept that 150cm would constitute a much clearer adult case for the doll.

We argue that no-one can raise this in court as nothing can be verified, and we move for dismissal of the case as evidence has been destroyed prior to the court case (which should raise many red flags, and actually be illegal, but we carry on nonetheless).

The court accepts that the case cannot proceed without any evidence on the doll height so the court moves to adjourn until May.

This is frustrating, as I wanted this over today, but as said by the barrister - a HUGE self shot in the foot by the prosecution, and hugely embarrassing for them, so things look a lot better for the next case in early May.
Frustrating Yes, but we have a much better case now - coupled with the fact that the local police seem to be folding the case against the customer - so at least that looks like it is getting put to bed.

My barrister has approached the prosecution to say "You really need to give us some money here, to get any level of resolution here!, and he asked me, and I accepted - I will accept no reimbursement of costs, if BF sit down with me to discuss what dolls are allowed, and what dolls are not allowed, into the UK (the EU will follow).

It has been a big cost thus far - over £30K, but will be money well spent, if I can get BF to agree on a list of dolls or doll criteria that makes them legal.

So I am not out of deep water yet, but this hearing has given me buoyancy aids, and my case is now much stronger.
So no resolution yet, but no-one said bearing a cross would be easy (or inexpensive), but this is where we are.

The-Doll-House wrote:It has been a big cost thus far - over £30K, but will be money well spent, if I can get BF to agree on a list of dolls or doll criteria that makes them legal.

Good luck Phil. Hope you can finally get some clarity out of UK Border Force.

Good man Phil, no harm to show them up.

Hmm, I wonder, did the plod really destroy the doll, or have to they got her locked up someplace, ready for the police, Christmas party.
You know what they're like. You've only got to read the news of late.

Is there a way I/we can contribute to the cause Phil? A Go-fund-me or anything? If I can contribute anything that will help and gives me a better chance of being able to purchase a doll in the future I would be more than happy to.