Thompson v. Clark
Docket: 14-CV-7349
Court: District Court, E.D. New York; February 11, 2019; Federal District Court
At 10 p.m. in Brooklyn, the plaintiff was confronted by four armed police officers at his home without a warrant, following a report of possible child abuse. The plaintiff, along with his wife and newborn, blocked their entry and allegedly pushed one officer, leading to his arrest and claims of police brutality. The report of abuse was unfounded, originating from a distraught relative. The jury ultimately found in favor of the defendants. The court addressed the assessment of fees and costs, clarifying that losing a case does not automatically justify such assessments. The plaintiff's claims were made in good faith and were not frivolous, which influenced the court's discretion regarding costs. No fees or costs were awarded against the plaintiff due to his financial limitations and the case's complexity. The court noted that costs could be denied based on public interest, the difficulty of the issues, and the losing party's financial resources. The defendants sought costs under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 68, arguing they were entitled to these costs since the plaintiff declined their offer of judgment. However, the court deemed the defendants’ offer unreasonable compared to the potential damages the jury could have awarded if they had ruled in the plaintiff's favor. Ultimately, the court denied all costs and fees.