Trucker Receives Damages for False Arrest

An Alabama trucker who was falsely imprisoned for 34 days as a result of a contract dispute with the company he drove for won a civil case in 2010. The trucker, who was an independent contractor who drove for Interstate Van Lines, turned in his resignation to the company, which was to go into effect three weeks later. Before that period ended, however, he was informed while on the road with the company's trailer to turn around and return the trailer, which was company property. He was using it to take home belongings and equipment after earlier informing the company of what he was doing. When he failed to return the trailer immediately, he was arrested by state troopers at gunpoint on felony charges. Incarcerated for 34 days in a Macon County jail, he lost time, money, and a good deal of weight due to county jail rations.

Prosecutors later dropped the charges against the trucker when it was discovered that the trucking company had misrepresented the situation. The trucker, however, took his case to civil court. There a jury ruled in his favor, awarding him $50,000 in malicious prosecution damages, $200,000 in false imprisonment damages, and $340,000 in punitive damages against the trucking company. After the incident occurred, the trucker had difficulty finding another job due to the felony charges on his record, despite the fact that they had been dropped.

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The above story illustrates an example of civil rights litigation for such issues as false arrest, false imprisonment, police brutality, malicious prosecution, and / or racial profiling. The personal injury law firm of Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, which serves clients throughout the greater New York City area, offers skilled legal counsel for those victimized by civil rights violations. The legal team is comprised of a group of attorneys with more than 75 years of combined experience who have also been named as Super Lawyers and members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a prestigious group of trial attorneys who have achieved exceptional settlements and verdicts for their clients.

The firm represents clients in all types of personal injury cases, from civil rights violations to car accidents and other injury situations. They offer a free case evaluation to prospective clients and you will pay nothing until they successfully resolve your case. Contact the firm to speak with an attorney today about your potential injury claim.