If, as you have so well argued, the manner in which this "code enforcement" was conducted was a violation of just about every law and every constitutional amendment on the books and if, as you have pointed out, 99% of the people living there are decent citizens most with paying jobs, then why don't these people sue the county? If the case is so strong, I would think they would not have too much trouble finding a lawyer willing to take the case on the basis of its merits with payment to be taken from the judgement won against the county. Lawyers love lawsuits like this. A strong case, a chance to get their name in the papers, etc.