2/3/2000
Written by Wiggz...also known as the AlienZoo prohibitor of dullness.
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) will have a court date at the U.S. District Court in Phoenix on February 7. The appearance will mark the first time in 17 years since the political action group has appeared in court.
In this suit, CAUS will argue that the Department of Defense has not adequately investigated the Phoenix Lights UFO sighting of March 13, 1997, which was viewed by perhaps more than 1,000 persons. The sighting was reported numerous times by international news organizations, and remains the subject of TV UFO documentaries.
CAUS lawsuits typically have been dismissed outright by judges, long before Attorney Peter Gersten, CAUS's Director, was due to defend his cases in court. In its last successful court case, CAUS liberated hundreds of pages of classified documents held by the CIA.
This appearance is a breakthrough opportunity for CAUS. Contending that the craft can be proven to exist, Gersten will ask the Department of Defense to reveal any and all documentation related to the supposedly advanced craft.
CAUS will present to Judge Stephen M. McNamee affidavits that were submitted to the Department of Defense by witnesses under the Freedom of Information Act. According to a CAUS statement, the triangular flying object, estimated to be as large as a football field (roughly 150 ft. by 300 ft.) flew at "tree-top level" in "virtually soundless" fashion over the city of Phoenix.
Last year, the Department of Defense urged for the dismissal of the case, arguing that it was not a "triable issue." The department claimed it conducted a "reasonable search" for the information CAUS requested.
In Greater Phoenix, officials of both Luke and Davis-Monthan Air Force bases stated that they had no information about the incident. It was later disclosed by the Arizona National Guard, that the Maryland National Guard, engaged in Operation Snowbird, conducted nighttime maneuvers on the evening of March 13, 1997, and dropped flares 50 miles southwest of Phoenix.
Gersten has asked the ufology community to show its support by attending the February 7 hearing, which will be held at 10 a.m. in the U.S. District Court building located at 230 First Avenue, in Phoenix. The case will be heard in Judge McNamee's 6th floor courtroom.
AlienZoo will provide in-depth coverage of CAUS's court date in the upcoming days.