Since it's bad news for police, the headline writers must be rolling on the floor:
- Federal jury tacks 75 cents onto its $50,000 verdict
Extra charge is for the interrupted use of the gas station air pump in Chicago man's wrongful arrest case
Gee, that's hilarious. And the story is even funnier:
- A federal jury with a sense of humor found in favor of a Chicago man who alleged that two police officers wrongfully arrested him while he was filling his car tires with air, topping off his $50,000 verdict award with an extra 75 cents — the cost of his interrupted use of the gas station air pump.
Before reaching their verdict last week, jurors sent a note to the judge asking if they could order the two Chicago officers to do 100 hours of community service, the victim's lawyer said. The judge denied the request.
- After a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for about an hour late Thursday afternoon before awarding Ratliff $30,000 in compensatory damages against the city and an additional $20,000 in punitive damages against the two officers. They tacked the 75 cents onto the punitive damages, according to court records.
Not sure if it's $20,000 each of $20,000 per officer. The lawyer claims his bill will be around $300,000.
The story itself is a wreck, too, and the coppers don't end up looking blameless. We're thinking an appeal is likely.