Melyssa Hubbard (known then by her birth name of Melyssa Donaghy), first garnered headlines several years ago for several matters. She helped organize what arguably was the precursor to the movement known by the rubric "Indiana tea party." She led demonstrations against then-Mayor Bart Peterson, who, shortly thereafter, lost re-election to Greg Ballard, the predecessor of the current mayor, Ryan Vaughn. Last, but not least, she was busted by the City of Indianapolis.

   The "bust" was meant to be carried out by the Indianapolis Police Department and result in a charge of prostitution. Melyssa was a dominatrix. Perhaps the police inferred from the nature of Melyssa's business as related, somewhat, to sexual topics, and people paid her for her services, the natural syllogistic leap was to pay her for her services inherently meant she could be busted for prostitution. In formal logic, if one's premises are flawed, one's conclusion usually will be flawed, too. In this instance, IPD's reasoning was off the charts.

   Melyssa tutored the vice officer who came to her house. She taught him that his payment of money to women for sex morally was wrong. She lectured him. When he left her house, he could not bust her for prostitution. 

   The best the City of Indianapolis could do was cite Melyssa for a zoning violation. The City alleged Melyssa's house was zoned residential, but she conducted commercial activities---dominatrix stuff---there. Melyssa learned of my name as a lawyer who might represent her. I filed my appearance, moved for summary judgment---in lay terms, judgment without trial because the facts were undisputed and the law was clear---and argued in court on her behalf. I deposed the vice cop who had sought to bust Melyssa. I asked him if, in twenty-some years of work as a vice cop, he ever had paid a hooker to tell him he should not have sex with hookers. He said, "No."

   The case was dismissed. The supervisor of the office the City Attorney at the time claimed, in the press, a victory. I hardly would say the City won. Melyssa paid no fine, she obtained other employment before the zoning violation was charged, the office of City Attorney spent hours to respond to and argue against my motion and in favor of their motion, and we all went on our way.

   Melyssa was a dominatrix for years. Her book, "Spanking City Hall," is an interesting read. We will discuss it on Saturday, streamed "live" but replayed during the week, from "All My Relations," in Avon.