Man Mistaken For Heat Hat Wearing Robber Wants Damages
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) - A case involving bank robbery, millions of dollars and a Miami Heat hat has landed before the state's highest court.
On Tuesday, the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Rodolfo Valladares who was roughed up by police by mistake.
According to court documents, Rodolfo Valladares walked up to a teller while wearing a Miami Heat hat to cash a check for one hundred dollars. Even he had the check and his license in hand, the teller panicked and hit the silent alarm, thinking he was a bank robber who had been seen wearing a Miami Heat hat.
Valladares says that within minutes, police subdued him and kicked him in the head, leaving him permanently injured. He sued Bank of America, and a jury awarded him $3.3 million.
But an appeals court overturned the verdict, saying state laws protect people who simply report suspected crimes.
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