Georgia County Pays Woman $100K to Settle Free Speech Lawsuit Against Police

Barnes said she was riding her bike on Austell Road to get butter for her family Easter Sunday when she saw the two officers. She said she cursed at them and flipped them off, and they came after her.

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December 16, 2014

Georgia County Pays Woman $100K to Settle Free Speech Lawsuit Against Police — Amy Barnes was arrested after yelling an expletive at officers and flipping them off. Last week she was awarded $100,000 to settle a First Amendment lawsuit. (Photo: WSB TV)

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Cobb County, Ga., will have to pay a woman $100,000 after police arrested her for swearing.

Amy Barnes sued after she faced charges in 2012 for cursing and flipping off two officers.

"They came after me like it was some action movie,” Barnes told WSB TV.

Barnes is hearing impaired and said that's the reason police gave her for putting her in solitary confinement for 23 hours on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. She called it torture.

Barnes’ lawyer said police officers violated her first amendment rights.

A judge dismissed all the charges against Barnes in April 2013.

Topics:the south Lawsuits First Amendment Georgia agencies Point of Law Patrol

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