Plus an estimated $300,000 in legal fees and costs.
That's what it will cost the City of Chicago for a wrongful arrest of a man who stopped at a gas station to air up a low tire on his car.
In June 2009 the man was arrested on charges including aggravated assault of a police officer. The two cops didn't show up in court in July 2009, and a judge dropped the charges.
Hmmmm, why would cops not show up in court? Did they know they were on the losing end of the stick? Were their reports entirely truthful?
The arrested man then sued. And won. The jury must have been entertained for four days, because it took them only an hour to find in his favor.. The jury awarded him "...$30,000 in compensatory damages against the city and an additional $20,000 in punitive damages against the two officers." And then it added on 75¢ for the air the man had paid for at the gas station.
See the Chicago Tribune story for all the details.
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
3 comments:
I haven't read the newspaper story yet because I can't understand your post, and I don't think I should have to read the story to understand your post. You should write more clearly.
You say," it took them only a hour to find him not guilty. The jury awarded him ...$30.000..." Are you suggesting that a jury could find a person not guilty and award money damages? How did that happen? Was it a civil or criminal case? Do you see the problem? A civil jury doesn't find a person guilty or not guilty, and a criminal jury does not award money damages to a defendant.
Pretty sure you are (not right) on this post.
Ray you stated "I haven't read the newspaper story yet because I can't understand your post". I challenge you to read the newspaper, and then explain to us if it was a civil or criminal case. Better yet explain the whole case.
That would totally take the fun out of it, and be too much like work.
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