Michigan jail inmate sues royal family

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By ERIC FREEDMAN
Capital News Service

LANSING – It may be the first lawsuit filed in the United States against members of the British royal family and Buckingham Palace since Charles III became king in September.

An Isabella County Jail inmate claims to be the victim of the royals’ use of “spy technology” or “satellite monitoring” to invade his privacy and manipulate him through death threats.

Garrett Mu Salif Sorezo’s handwritten four-page suit, filed Oct. 21, is pending in federal court.

In addition to Buckingham Palace, it names Prince William – described as “king of England” – Prince Harry – identified as “prince of England” – “Queen of England Kate” and “the White House (Joe Biden).” 

In reality, William is Prince of Wales, not the king, and his wife Kate is Catherine, Princess of Wales – not the queen. Biden’s address is mistakenly given as 1500 – rather than 1600 – Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington.

“The defendants know me because I been to Buckingham Palace in 1988 and they speak to my family and parents over the phone,” the suit says. “The defendants do violate my rights, and so close to treason.”

Sorezo is awaiting trial and has been an inmate at the jail in Mount Pleasant since Aug. 14, according to the Isabella County Jail website. 

In his court filing, Sorezo claims to be related to “the Founder of America” and to former Presidents George Washington, Zachary Taylor and James Madison, “all from Virginia,” as well as being a candidate for vice president or governor.

As for damages, the suit says, “I should be paid a pay load,” and a separate letter he sent to the court asks for $75,000 for a car and a house.

The case is unlikely to go anywhere, according to associate professor Karen McDonald Henning at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School.

Buckingham Palace, the royals and Biden are unlikely to answer the suit, said Henning, an expert on federal court procedure.

“I can’t imagine any of these people named as defendants responding,” she said.

If they don’t answer the complaint or ask to have it dismissed, a judge could let the case languish on the court docket and “be left to die,” she said.

Alternatively, Sorezo could ask for a default judgment based on their failure to respond.

“I think at that point, the court would look at the complaint and say you can’t have a default,” Hemming said.

Yet another alternative is for a judge to toss out the case if Sorezo failed to go through the mandatory administrative procedures before suing.

“This sounds like a great hypothetical for a final exam,” she added.

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