Gregory Bombard flipped off a State Trooper in 2018, was arrested, and claims to have suffered from retaliation since. VSP declines to confirm or deny.
by Timothy Page
Vermont has agreed to a $175,000 settlement in a lawsuit involving a man charged for giving a state trooper the middle finger in 2018, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Vermont.
The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by the ACLU on behalf of Gregory Bombard of St. Albans, claimed that Bombard’s First Amendment rights were violated during an unnecessary traffic stop and subsequent retaliatory arrest.
The incident occurred on February 9, 2018, when Trooper Jay Riggen stopped Bombard’s vehicle in St. Albans, suspecting that Bombard had made an obscene gesture towards him. Bombard denied the initial accusation but admitted to cursing and displaying the middle finger after the stop concluded.
Following this, Bombard was stopped again, arrested on a disorderly conduct charge, and his car was towed. He was detained for over an hour and cited to criminal court, though the charge was later dismissed.
As part of the settlement reached this month, the state agreed to pay Bombard $100,000 and an additional $75,000 to cover legal fees for the ACLU of Vermont and the Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression.
Hillary Rich, staff attorney for the ACLU of Vermont, emphasized that the incident should never have occurred, stating, “Police need to respect everyone’s First Amendment rights — even for things they consider offensive or insulting.”
The Vermont State Police did not comment on the settlement. Bombard expressed hope that the settlement would prompt the Vermont State Police to train troopers to avoid silencing criticism or making unwarranted traffic stops.
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Categories: Court, Law Enforcement
If I were the police, think I’d take a paid vacation forever how long it takes for this state to regain it’s senses. Raise taxes to pay the scum and the ACLU. Is this why they want to raise property taxes 15%. I’m sure a vacation has been thought of. Let the lawyers and politicians patrol the state, give them the finger and get an income. Wonder how much of that settlement goes to the IRS.
“Wonder how much of that settlement goes to the IRS.”
Indeed. I wonder how much rolls back to VT?
To Tyler Austin. Financial settlements by the Courts is considered income by the IRS. Depends on an individual’s income is sent to the IRS using Form 1040. I personally know of a couple that adopted a youngster and later found out the kids had mental problems. They won a settlement in Court, but had to send a portion to the IRS being income. The IRS got money that the family would more appreciate to take care of the kid. This was in Burlington. I don’t know of any amount the State also demanded.
Justice in Vermont takes way too long and costs far too much money. Sane people would have gotten this taken care of years ago for a reasonable sum of money.
Once again, it’s the taxpayers who lose, this individual and the rest of us having to foot the bill. Hopefully he has a nice steak dinner, though he won’t be able to leave a generous tip with this settlement due to inflation.
if you are not happy with the vermont governor, house members, or senators, just give them the finger//// remember, now they have been giving you the finger during the last session////
Has the kidnapper been released from prison yet? Did the judge set conditions of release, disarm him in the middle of the night, and shoot his dog? Why isn’t he paying the settlement? Maybe the taxpayers need to file a class action to retrieve the funds.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the First Amendment guarantees our right to free speech, and flipping off a cop is, in fact, an act of free speech. Do I agree with what this guy did? No. Was he well withing his rights to do so? Yes. Would I do it? Well, it’s easy to say no, but I would never say never. You just can’t fully understand the circumstances unless you’re a part of them.
Are there cops out there who are jerks? Yep. Are there cops out there who are on a power trip? Yep. Or how about the LEO several years back who was driving under the influence on I-89, fell asleep, and parked his car in the middle of the highway? Did he hurt anyone? Thankfully, no. Should he have been fired the minute he sobered up? Well, how did that turn out?
Yes, there are bad cops. Don’t pretend that there aren’t. There are bad doctors, bad accountants, bad teachers, and bad lawyers too. And they should all be told to find employment elsewhere. But 95% of all of those groups are fine and competent people, so the bad apples stick out.
And unfortunately, they are the ones who force the State of Vermont into court to defend them and who the state ends up having to pay.
So rather than complain about how the state is constantly spending money because of a few bad apples, wouldn’t we all be better off if there were a better and more comprehensive hiring process? Or if the responsible agencies, state and local, intervened earlier? Of course we would.
Like most everything else, we should be more concerned with the cause rather than the effect.
Firstly, I find it odd that the ACLU took such a case, as Mr. Bombard appears to be a white male – I assume he’s not a member of the alphabet acronym group – so there’s that oddity as well.
Secondly, $175,000 to Mr. Bombard and $75K to the ACLU and Foundation of Individual Right of Expression? I assume both are designated non-profit organizations? I assume all “legal” expenses are documented and accounted for appropriately – i.e. entered as “legal expense” or “operating expense” for a total $75K? Billable hours, confidential closed door agreements among the State, the court, and friends of the court – sure it’s all legit and ethical.
Being this case was filed in 2021, at the height of COVID censorship, DEI installations, BLM and inverted rainbows awashed across the State, was there not the assertion that speaking against those things were “hate speech” and “disinformation?” Were there not threats of legal action, criminal charges, and investigations brought upon anyone daring to challenge such entities and their suspicious conduct?
American Civil Liberty and Individual Rights of Expression my hindend. Collusion and conspiracy to commit fraud is more like it.
Does seem like a rather large bill no? Have to feather the nest now and then. The title should really say….Vermont Taxpayers paid $175,000……..it wasn’t the state of Vermont, that is for sure.
They probably knew the optics would look bad if the attorneys made more than the plantiff…..
The award to ACLU and Individual Rights of Expression is excessive.
If you have the title “State Trooper” you should be big enough to ignore someone flipping you off and get on with your work.
I realize this won’t sit well with many on here, but I concur with the settlement.
Either Americans enjoy free speech, or we do NOT. Back in the ’60’s or ’70’s the late, great Janice Joplin once flipped a cop the bird and was promptly arrested. The next day, a judge released her without delay rightly deciding that her crude gesture was nonetheless a form of freedom of speech.
How many TIMES do we needs to “relearn” this and under how many different circumstances?
I don’t disagree with the premise of the case. I disagree with the fact that if I flipped the bird at an alphabet acronym person, told them to take their flag and shove it where the sun don’t shine, I’d be arrested. Case in point, the person who laid rubber doing a burnout on an inverted rainbow painted on the street is hunted down for a hate crime. The ACLU and the State colluded to wash the award and “pretend” they stand for “free speech.” It’s a scam. The plaintiff was awarded $100K and the State and Feds will take 1/3 of it anyway. He may be able to buy a couple bags of groceries and pay his rent for a few months. No win for him, no win for taxpayers, demoralized the State Police, and they greased their own wheels for selective justice. Shameful.