In a landmark ruling, High Court judge Frank Seepersad ordered the State to compensate Lorenzo Mendez-Stewart, a cannabis activist and club owner, with over $200,000 for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. Mendez-Stewart’s 2018 arrest outside his club was seen as suspicious as he was allegedly found with marijuana following a police encounter. However, CCTV footage shown during the civil trial contradicted police claims, leading to his case’s dismissal. The judge awarded Mendez-Stewart $25,000 for false imprisonment, $100,000 for malicious prosecution, $50,000 in exemplary damages, and approximately $20,000 for legal fees. The judge emphasized the importance of video evidence and criticized the police’s conduct.
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