not enough information
CoolHand I'd say there is not enough information in a story from 2002 that concerned an incident in 2000. Neither of us were present to see this ourselves. And the reporter is placing a lot of "Jackboot thug" action of the BATF "thieves" into the story. It would seem easy enough to find related stories regarding the incident if you wanted to illustrate the case being dropped by ATF.
BUT here is how I sum up the story:
some 30 plus BATF agents with other
local authorities confiscated the firearms in this guys store without a warrant. Then they intentionally damage the weapons involved. After which an agent showed up at a range with one of the confiscated firearms and lets everyone at the range know where it its from. You will also notice no specific list as to what BATF confiscated.
"They were throwing vintage collector's items in mint condition through the air and into a trashcan 10 feet away," said Jerry Michel, licensed gun dealer, after being assaulted and pillaged by the ATF. "I felt like I was going to throw up."
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=2346 A claim by Mitchel that I'd like to see supported by anyone else who was present at the time.
Just for grins I did a search for
Jerry's Guns & Ammo d.b.a. Specialty Firearms,. While the net is not the best way to determine everything I found only two references to the place. Federal cases usualy show up some place on the web. Both references I found were related to the OP. I find it diffcullt but not impossabale that this story/case does not show up on the web any place else.
I would not hesitate to award this guy damages for everything he can prove in court. But I would not give him anything but a roll of tinfoil for the published story