Tom Johnson's civil case against 2 minneapolis police offiicers (Viking: university, casino)

[TheGrandViking]

Vikings' Tom Johnson moves to offense in civil suit against Minneapolis police officers

The criminal case was dismissed by a jury but cost him 50k. Only a relatively small percentage of people would have taken this to court instead of just going along with the relatively low fine. It would be interesting to know how many innocents plead guilty?

I think he has a good chance of winning the civil case. The jury believed Tom's version of events over the police with the help of the video.


A bit disturbing when the cops act like thugs but keep their jobs.

[Ghengis]

why does the MPD continues to protect their employed thugs from prosecution? oh wait I know, because they can

[Glenfield]

And the lesson is wear a coat in the winter.

[TheGrandViking]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

And the lesson is wear a coat in the winter.

and do not have rock hard triceps and wear timberline boots.

[Mason3000]

Most minor charges get thrown out if they go to court. Not surprising he was acquitted. I suspect he'll have a hard time winning the civil case.

It all could have been avoided if Johnson had just followed the rules like everyone else. There's not a person here who would tell security "No" when they told us to leave the bar after closing time. It happens in every bar, every night, in every town in the country. The bar closes, security starts making people head for the doors. The idea that Tom Johnson of the Minnesota Vikings, who started name dropping that he knows the owner of 7 Steakhouse, didn't have to wait outside like everyone else, is incredibly entitled. When asked to leave, instead of just leaving instigated an argument demanding to know why he was being "singled out" (because you're the only inside, duh). When the police put their hands on him to usher him towards the door, instead of complying he started telling them to get their hands off of him, etc. Then when he did get to the doorway he got tangled up or something and they couldn't get him out, as the situation was escalating. Was mace necessary? I don't know, I wasn't there. I do know mace is there specifically for cases like this, so that things don't escalate into having to use the billy club or firearm. At the end of the day he's no worse off for it. Outside, instead of just waiting for his car to go home, he continued to escalate the situation by filming the cops. That's not illegal, but it's also not the actions of a man who just wants to go home. Was he wrongly arrested and tased, could be, maybe, who knows? I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for an entitled millionaire who refuses to follow the rules that everyone else was following. If I was the judge, I'd have thrown out the charges against Johnson and the suit against the police and told them all to move on.

[TheGrandViking]

Originally Posted by Mason3000

Most minor charges get thrown out if they go to court. Not surprising he was acquitted. I suspect he'll have a hard time winning the civil case.

Not when the defendant demands a jury trial. This was a 5 day trial that took 15 minutes for the jury to find him not guilty. The jury believed Tom's version vs. the 2 police. That is fairly amazing because usually in that scenario the cops are believed over the defendant 90% of the time. I'm liking his chances in the civil case with the lower bar or burden of proof. A jury trial needs all 12 whereas a civil case needs only 9 out of the 12.

It all could have been avoided if Johnson had just followed the rules like everyone else. There's not a person here who would tell security "No" when they told us to leave the bar after closing time. It happens in every bar, every night, in every town in the country. The bar closes, security starts making people head for the doors.

Back in my university days before my professional life, I worked as campus security, a blackjack dealer/ pit boss at a casino, and a bar tender (not at the same time but at various stages of my academic life). All of the jobs involved alcohol at various levels. If you think people orderly leave a bar at the end of the night, you have obviously had limited or no experience at one. Of course every night doesn't mean you have fireworks going off but you do have deal with the recalcitrant patron 1 out of 3 nights from my experience. Every night, you had to call a cab (probably uber now) for the inebriated.

The idea that Tom Johnson of the Minnesota Vikings, who started name dropping that he knows the owner of 7 Steakhouse, didn't have to wait outside like everyone else, is incredibly entitled.

I would have said the same thing if it were true. He was "name dropping" because he wore the same boots while being with the owner of the establishment. A fairly pertinent point for the dress code.

When asked to leave, instead of just leaving instigated an argument demanding to know why he was being "singled out" (because you're the only inside, duh).

He asked it because others were not asked to leave in the same situation. That is the very definition of being "singled out".

When the police put their hands on him to usher him towards the door, instead of complying he started telling them to get their hands off of him, etc. Then when he did get to the doorway he got tangled up or something and they couldn't get him out, as the situation was escalating. Was mace necessary? I don't know, I wasn't there. I do know mace is there specifically for cases like this, so that things don't escalate into having to use the billy club or firearm.

They are clearly confused as their roll as security vs. being a cop. Regardless, the cops escalated a situation that was unnecessary. The subsequent jury trial, other eye witnesses, security cameras seem to indicate Tom was not in the wrong.

At the end of the day he's no worse off for it.

Wrong again. It affected his contract because matters where not clear when he was a free agent. His market value was affected because there was a potential for suspension from the NFL if the account by the police held up. It didn't. But it was too late because the damage was done because of the signing period for FAs in the nfl. I think you could easily say he lost at least a million and probably more.

Outside, instead of just waiting for his car to go home, he continued to escalate the situation by filming the cops. That's not illegal, but it's also not the actions of a man who just wants to go home.

It was the actions a man wronged and not sure what these power tripping security guards would do. I think it was a prudent and logical reaction to overreaction by these 2 "cops". Good for Tom.

Was he wrongly arrested and tased, could be, maybe, who knows?

Yes.

I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for an entitled millionaire who refuses to follow the rules that everyone else was following.

You clearly do not know the Tom Johnson story. He is not an entitled millionaire. His path to the NFL is an amazing story that is unlikely as being struck by lightning. Most people would have given up on the NFL dream long before he made it. Google it.

If I was the judge, I'd have thrown out the charges against Johnson and the suit against the police and told them all to move on.

If I were a judge, I'd have wonder why the cops were not being charged with assault. Then scolded them for being a embarrassment to the badge.

I think Tom Johnson will win a civil suit. Tom is their worst nightmare because he is not going to settle. He is taking it the distance and it could end up being a very significant amount. The city is in a tight spot because they can't discipline the two "cops" because that would admit wrong doing. The question becomes do these two represent a systemic issue or just episodic.

[Glenfield]

The issues in the criminal case are completely different than the issues at question in the civil suit. Not guilty does not mean innocent, nor does it necessarily mean that the police did anything wrong.

[Mason3000]

Originally Posted by TheGrandViking

Not when the defendant demands a jury trial. This was a 5 day trial that took 15 minutes for the jury to find him not guilty. The jury believed Tom's version vs. the 2 police. That is fairly amazing because usually in that scenario the cops are believed over the defendant 90% of the time. I'm liking his chances in the civil case with the lower bar or burden of proof. A jury trial needs all 12 whereas a civil case needs only 9 out of the 12.



Back in my university days before my professional life, I worked as campus security, a blackjack dealer/ pit boss at a casino, and a bar tender (not at the same time but at various stages of my academic life). All of the jobs involved alcohol at various levels. If you think people orderly leave a bar at the end of the night, you have obviously had limited or no experience at one. Of course every night doesn't mean you have fireworks going off but you do have deal with the recalcitrant patron 1 out of 3 nights from my experience. Every night, you had to call a cab (probably uber now) for the inebriated.



I would have said the same thing if it were true. He was "name dropping" because he wore the same boots while being with the owner of the establishment. A fairly pertinent point for the dress code.



He asked it because others were not asked to leave in the same situation. That is the very definition of being "singled out".



They are clearly confused as their roll as security vs. being a cop. Regardless, the cops escalated a situation that was unnecessary. The subsequent jury trial, other eye witnesses, security cameras seem to indicate Tom was not in the wrong.



Wrong again. It affected his contract because matters where not clear when he was a free agent. His market value was affected because there was a potential for suspension from the NFL if the account by the police held up. It didn't. But it was too late because the damage was done because of the signing period for FAs in the nfl. I think you could easily say he lost at least a million and probably more.



It was the actions a man wronged and not sure what these power tripping security guards would do. I think it was a prudent and logical reaction to overreaction by these 2 "cops". Good for Tom.



Yes.



You clearly do not know the Tom Johnson story. He is not an entitled millionaire. His path to the NFL is an amazing story that is unlikely as being struck by lightning. Most people would have given up on the NFL dream long before he made it. Google it.



If I were a judge, I'd have wonder why the cops were not being charged with assault. Then scolded them for being a embarrassment to the badge.

I think Tom Johnson will win a civil suit. Tom is their worst nightmare because he is not going to settle. He is taking it the distance and it could end up being a very significant amount. The city is in a tight spot because they can't discipline the two "cops" because that would admit wrong doing. The question becomes do these two represent a systemic issue or just episodic.

All he had to do was leave, just like everyone else. I can't imagine any scenario where I'm at 7 Steakhouse at closing time, everyone's being ushered out, everyone's outside waiting for the valet and I decide I'm so special that I'll wait inside whether they like it or not.