I could pitch in.
If it's possible do you have any estimate to the associated cost of such legal action?
It's not really possible. I generally charge a fixed-fee for criminal defense, but this is civil and a plaintiff's case. It's safe to say that it's going to be at least six or eight thousand if the other side shows up and puts on any kind of defense at all, but could go to over twenty. It mainly depends on how hard the defendants want to fight about it. You've seen how I do defense; I make people work really hard to prove their case - the plaintiff has to win, the defendant has only to "not lose". There are people, especially those working for insurance companies, who have a similar, or if anything more aggressive approach. In addition, there are costs associated with a civil action that you don't have in criminal cases, such as discovery and depositions. Court reporter's fees alone can eat you alive. So part of the problem is that you really can't tell, going in on the case, what's going to happen or what it'll cost.
HGreen and his wife are both young professional people and not indigent. They have expressed a willingness to undertake this litigation, not just to be compensated for the harm done, but to help all of us live in a safer, more secure world by teaching those who would be petty tyrants to mind their manners. They're going to be on the hook for whatever it costs, and they are willing to pay for protecting the principle they believe in. I think they're admirable people and deserve all the help they can get. They're not indigent, and probably better off than a lot of folks. But I'm hoping to be able to accomplish what they want without making them indigent.
Besides, they came here from California in order to get away from this kind of thing. They were hoping that they were emigrating to the birthplace of American civilization. And, if I can add my view on it, in MY Virginia, things like this don't happen, because civilized people do not allow their public servants to behave this way. I see this as a deviation that requires correction. Petty tyrants who want to be able to exercise their feelings of self-importance at the expense of the citizenry should go to Newark or Chicago, but get out of Virginia.