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A shoplifter who broke his ankle while getting arrested was awarded $510,000 by a jury this week for his injury.
Even more noteworthy: This is actually the third time the man, 50-year-old Kevin Jarman, has gotten a payout from New York City in a case against the New York Police Department. Two previous court cases were settled before trial for $15,000 and $20,000, according to The New York Post.
What earned Jarman his biggest payout yet, and how do you go about suing the police in court?
NYPD Officer 'Tripped' Plaintiff
Jarman's most recent case against the NYPD was for a broken ankle he suffered while being arrested for shopping lifting at a Queens market -- a charge to which Jarman later pleaded guilty.
According to his lawsuit, Jarman claimed the 5-foot-5 police sergeant who arrested him was intimidated by the 6-foot-2 Jarman, but roughed him up once Jarman was handcuffed.
Jarman claimed he broke his ankle when the officer "effectively tripped" Jarman by yanking on the handcuffs while standing on Jarman's foot. Jarman spent nine days in the hospital recovering from his injuries.
Lessons From the Injured Shoplifter's Lawsuit
Jarman and his attorneys have obviously become well-versed in the rules for filing claims against the government, set forth in government tort claims acts. To sue a government agency, such as the NYPD or any other police department, you typically need to do three things:
And yet another reason to hire a lawyer: to stand up for your rights upon appeal. After Jarman's $510,000 jury award, an attorney for New York City told the Post, "We're going to fight this verdict."
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