Michigan jury awards nearly $60M to man who said his rights were violated by prosecutor

DETROIT(AP)—Ajuryawardednearly$60millionTuesdaytoamanwhoaccusedadisgracedMichiganprosecutorandapoliceofficerofviolatinghisrightsinfilingsexualabusechargesinacasethatwasultimatelydismissedbythestateattorneygeneral. Itisextremelyrareforaprosecutortobesuccessfullysuedforhisorheractionsbecauseofbroadimmunityprotectionsinlaw. BrianKolodziejandstatepoliceLt.DavidBusaccaacted“intentionally,deliberatelyorwithrecklessdisregardforthetruth”inpursuingchargesagainstSeanMacMaster,thejurysaid. Thejuryawarded$33millioninlostwages,painandsufferinganddamagetoMacMaster’sreputation,inadditionto$25millioninpunitivedamagesforconductdonewith“maliceorinrecklessdisregard”ofhisrights. “Thetruthhascomeout,andthejurysawthepainandsufferingthathewasputthroughatthehandsofpeoplewithimmensepower,”MacMaster’sattorney,JoshBlanchard,toldTheAssociatedPress. KolodziejwasaMichiganassistantattorneygeneralwhosecareercrash