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Who is Jeffrey Frost?

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Rep. Daniel Itse has requested a 2017 bill to pay restitution to Jeffrey Frost for “inappropriate prosecution.”

Itse co-sponsored similar bills in 2015 and 2013.

So who is Jeffrey Frost?  In 2010 the New Hampshire Banking Department filed civil and criminal charges against Jeffrey Frost relating to two mortgages he worked on with two different LLCs.  The New Hampshire Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the Banking Department could not pursue a case against Frost, for various legal reasons. 

In 2012 Frost then approached the Redress of Grievances Committee and asked the state to pay his $176,448.50 attorney fees.

The Redress of Grievances Committee was convened in 2011 under House Speaker Bill O’Brien to hear complaints from citizens against the state government.  The Committee was controversial because it appeared to overlap with the duties of the court system.

In 2013 and 2015 the House of Representatives ultimately voted against Frost’s requests for attorney fees for that very reason. 

“The House is not equipped to offer findings of fact or rulings of law in a civil tort case,” Rep. Peter Sullivan wrote at the time. “Further, passing HJR 2 would set a dangerous precedent. A flood of aggrieved litigants seeking financial compensation through the legislative process would overwhelm the House staff and undermine the authority of the courts.” 

Supporters of the Redress of Grievances Committee generally argue that the courts are not adequate protection for citizens who have been wronged by state government.  The legislature can serve as a check on the judicial branch and hold judges accountable.

“Hopefully patterns of abuse will cease because those in power will know that they are the servants of the people and they are not able to abuse them with impunity,” Rep. Itse said when the Redress of Grievances Committee was under discussion in 2009

Do you think the state should pay attorney fees for Jeffrey Frost and similar petitioners?  Share your opinion in the comments.

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