Someone I knew was held for a long period of time as a material witness. Initially in a jail cell, but eventually released with restrictions to his wife (restrictions involving travel outside of state, etc). Because of this, he lost his job. Because of that, he lost his wife.
Their reasoning: He was a flight risk. But he wasn't. They had never attempted to contact him to ask him to testify. And he had cooperated with them in the past. They just picked him up, and threw him in jail.
More than a year later, they had the trial. He was never called to the stand.
So all this pain because they wanted him to testify, and he was never called to testify.
He sued. His case went to the Supreme Court eventually. Unfortunately, he lost the case. But he did win some minor cases and got damages in the six figures.
Not enough in my opinion...
Their reasoning: He was a flight risk. But he wasn't. They had never attempted to contact him to ask him to testify. And he had cooperated with them in the past. They just picked him up, and threw him in jail.
More than a year later, they had the trial. He was never called to the stand.
So all this pain because they wanted him to testify, and he was never called to testify.
He sued. His case went to the Supreme Court eventually. Unfortunately, he lost the case. But he did win some minor cases and got damages in the six figures.
Not enough in my opinion...