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Article: D.C. Loses Disorderly Conduct Suit; $201,500 Awarded To Virginia Woman
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- June 18, 1993
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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A federal court jury said yesterday that the District government
must pay $201,500 to a Portsmouth, Va., woman who was jailed after
she repeatedly asked a D.C. police officer for an explanation of why
she was stopped for speeding.
The case was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf
of Shirley P. Langevine, a registered nurse who lived in Springfield
when she was arrested in 1990. Langevine's lawyer, James C. Duda,
said the episode illustrated "a pattern of neglect" among District
officials who have long known that each year, thousands of people are
charged with disorderly conduct when their only crime is failing to
show deference to police.
The jury found that Langevine's ...