Jury Awards Damages In Hispanic Traffic Stop

BRENTWOOD, TN -- A federal jury in Jackson, Tennessee has awarded $75,000 to a Hispanic woman and her ten year old son after an unreasonable search and seizure at a traffic stop. The  jury found that Ricky Wade, a drug task force officer, violated Ms. Perez' s fundamental fourth amendment rights under the Constitution.  "We are pleased for our client.  Carmina has been through a lot," said Perry Craft of Craft and Sheppard, PLC, Attorneys at Law in Brentwood, Tennessee.  "Our constitutional freedoms must be protected at all cost."

On July 22, 2008, Carmina Perez and her son were traveling west on I-40 in Decatur County, Tennessee when she was pulled over by Sheriff Wade for allegedly following a semi too closely.  A search of her vehicle revealed that she was carrying $14,870, money, she explained, was earned by her and for upcoming surgery and expenses for relatives in Texas and Mexico.  Testimony was heard at trial that the Sheriff berated Ms. Perez and called her a liar.  The Sheriff then took the money, requiring Craft and Sheppard to file an action for recovery of the money, which was successful.

The court also ordered the defendants to pay Craft and Sheppard's attorney fees.