Jury awards former trooper $1.5M in damages

Former trooper says superiors falsely imprisoned him

A former New Hampshire state trooper who claimed he was held against his will by one of his supervisors has been awarded $1.5 million in damages.
A jury ruled Friday that James Conrad was falsely imprisoned by superior officers after a physical altercation in the hallway of the Department of Safety in November 2007.
Conrad won't receive the entire judgment amount because the state caps tort damages at $475,000.
"I'm very, very happy, and it is a chapter in my life I can put to a close now," Conrad said.
Police said Conrad got into a scuffle with colleagues at the Department of Safety building after his estranged wife complained to state police that he violated a divorce order barring him from her home.
Conrad said superior officers wouldn't let him leave the building or speak to a lawyer. State police said he was a danger to himself, and they held him until he could be transported to the state psychiatric hospital.
State police filed criminal charges over the incident, but Conrad was acquitted. He then sued for damages, claiming the state's actions ruined his reputation and violated his rights.
Now that a jury has ruled in his favor, Conrad said he's feeling vindicated and relieved.
"To be able to treat people how I was treated is just wrong for anybody, whether you are a plumber, a lawyer or a cop," he said.
Assistant Attorney General Lynmarie Cusack told News 9: "We appreciate the jury's service to the state. We still believe on the afternoon of Nov. 28, 2007, that state police kept public safety first and foremost in mind."