Man Arrested For Giving Trooper Middle Finger Wins $175K Settlement For Violation of First Amendment

There are certain things in America that you just can't mess with. Some of those to be included are the amendments to the American Constitution.

This situation took place in Vermont in 2018. Gregory Bombard was stopped by Trooper Jay Riggen in St. Albans, Vermont, on Feb. 9, 2018, because he believed Bombard had shown him the middle finger, according to the lawsuit.

Bombard denied that but says he did curse and display the middle finger once the initial stop was concluded.

Here is where it gets a little sticky. Bombard was charged with disorderly conduct and his car was towed.

After being loaded into the back of a cop car, a la Keith Urban, he was jailed for over an hour and cited to criminal court. The charge was eventually dismissed. But Bombard's frustrations with the situation certainly were not.

Bombard then went and filed a lawsuit against the state of Vermont for violation of his First Amendment rights.

The two parties agreed to settle their lawsuit out of court. Per the settlement, Vermont has agreed to pay $175,000. $100,000 to Bombard and $75,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union, for the legal fees incurred in fighting this charge on Bombard's behalf.

"While our client is pleased with this outcome, this incident should never have happened in the first place," said Hillary Rich, staff attorney for the ACLU of Vermont. "Police need to respect everyone's First Amendment rights — even for things they consider offensive or insulting."

It's important to note that in the settlement, Vermont has not admitted any wrongdoing.

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. He plays the best new country music and interviews today's top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!