Vermont Man Settles Lawsuit Against State Police After Alleged Middle Finger Incident

MONTPELIER, Vt. - Gregory Bombard, a Vermont man who was arrested in 2018 for allegedly flipping off a trooper, has reached a settlement in his lawsuit against the Vermont State Police. The incident stemmed from an encounter with Tpr. Jay Riggen, who had stopped Bombard for a traffic violation and accused him of giving the officer the middle finger.

Bombard vehemently denies the allegation, but a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) claims that during the detention and questioning, Bombard did curse and gesture with his finger toward the trooper. Riggen subsequently arrested Bombard on charges of disorderly conduct, a charge that was later dismissed after a year.

In the recently settled lawsuit, the ACLU, along with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argued that not only did the initial stop violate Bombard's rights to be free from unreasonable seizure and false arrest, but the act of raising his middle finger constituted protected free expression under the First Amendment.

As part of the settlement, Bombard will receive $100,000 in damages and $75,000 in legal fees. Expressing his relief, Bombard stated, "With this settlement, I hope the Vermont State Police will train its troopers to avoid silencing criticism or making baseless car stops. And at least now I can pay my criminal attorney for defending me from the bogus charges and take my 88-year-old mother out for a nice dinner."

This case highlights the importance of protecting citizens' rights and ensuring that law enforcement personnel act within the boundaries of the law. The Vermont State Police will now be expected to review and implement appropriate training measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.