Brian Augenthaler Wins Defense Verdict

KBM’s Brian Augenthaler obtained a defense verdict following a two-day trial in federal court.

The plaintiff claimed he was chased by his knife-wielding landlord and knocked on the door of a nearby homeowner to summon police aid. However the evidence showed the plaintiff actually scared the homeowner by pounding on the door and representing himself as a police officer at 1:00 in the morning. The defendant police officers arrested the plaintiff for disorderly conduct. Following multiple rounds of motions practice, the issues were narrowed down to two claims against two police officers (wrongful arrest and First Amendment retaliation). The jury returned a verdict in favor of the police officers on all claims.