Two TBI agents and District Attorney W. Ray Crouch have paid $125,000.00 to Joshua Garton to settle his claims for malicious prosecution, false arrest, and violations of his First Amendment rights. The settlement payment comes almost three years after Tennessee’s top law enforcement agency and District Attorney Crouch illegally charged and then unsuccessfully prosecuted Mr. Garton for posting a crudely photoshopped meme that offended Dickson County police. Mr. Garton was later released after spending twelve days in jail.
“First Amendment retaliation is illegal, and law enforcement officials who arrest people for offending them will pay heavy consequences,” said Horwitz Law, PLLC attorney Daniel A. Horwitz, Mr. Garton’s lead counsel. “Misbehaving government officials apologize with money, and Mr. Garton considers more than $10,000.00 per day that he was illegally incarcerated to be an acceptable apology.”
A copy of Mr. Garton’s complaint—which includes internal correspondence from law enforcement agents stating that Mr. Garton “has a right to post. That doesn’t mean there are no consequences[,]” as well as a text message from TBI Director David Rausch comparing people who criticize law enforcement to January 6th insurrectionists—is accessible at: https://horwitz.law/wp-
Mr. Garton was represented by Horwitz Law, PLLC attorneys Daniel A. Horwitz, Lindsay Smith, and Melissa Dix.
A copy of Mr. Garton’s settlement agreement is accessible at: https://horwitz.law/wp-
A copy of Mr. Garton’s October 30, 2023 Stipulation of Dismissal With Prejudice As to Defendants Joseph Craig, W. Ray. Crouch, and Andrew Vallee is accessible here: https://horwitz.law/wp-
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