A jury awarded slightly more than $19.6 million to a man who lost a leg after being struck by a police car. The award included $3 million in punitive damages against Nassau County police officer Karl Snelders, who, it was alleged, intentionally drove onto a sidewalk and bowled over a fleeing suspect: Thomas Hartmann, the suit's plaintiff. Hartmann, who was being pursued on a harassment charge, claimed that Snelders didn't stop after striking him, continuing forward so that one of the vehicle's rear wheels also struck him. Snelders contended that Hartmann had motioned as though he had a weapon and threatened to shoot an officer, but the jury found Snelders' actions excessive.
