Bertha Keylon secures $60,000 verdict in wrongful arrest claim
In a case tried at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico over two days in January of this year, Bertha Keylon -- who persevered for four years to get justice from the City of Albuquerque -- secured a $60,000 verdict stemming from a 2003 wrongful arrest charge.
Ms. Keylon was wrongfully arrested on September 28, 2003 in Albuquerque and charged with resisting arrest and concealing her identity. At the initial trial, the Court ruled against the Kennedy Law Firm's argument that Ms. Keylon should win her case as matter of law. At the initial trial, the jury returned a verdict for the defense.
The Kennedy Law Firm appealed and won. The Tenth Circuit appeals court found error with the District Court decision to deny Ms. Keylon her motion for judgment as a matter of law and with jury instructions given at the first trial. At the second trial, Ms. Keylon was the lone witness and testified that the arrest diminished her enjoyment of life. The arrest made her reluctant to travel from her home out of fear of rogue police officers. The $60,000 verdict included a sum of $20,000 for punitive damages.
