NY county agrees to pay $1 million for woman's false arrest

Published May 25, 2016

A New York woman who was arrested outside an Air National Guard base while taking pictures for a "Support Our Troops" website is due to get over $1 million after suing for false arrest.

Nancy Genovese claimed Suffolk County sheriff's deputies humiliated her in July 2009 while she photographed a decorative helicopter outside the base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island.

She was jailed four days before posting bail. A criminal trespass charge was later dismissed.

A federal jury initially awarded Genovese $1.12 million. A judge later cut the amount to $700,000 after ruling the jury award "grossly excessive."

Attorney Frederick Brewington says Suffolk County then settled for just over $1 million to avoid another trial where she could have sought punitive damages.

A legislative vote on the settlement is next week.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/ny-county-agrees-to-pay-1-million-for-womans-false-arrest