But it's a false police report case; why would the cost of the investigation be allowed in a civil case but not as a civil penalty in the criminal case?
Otherwise, how is this not a slippery slope? Why only charge for the cost of an investigation in this case? Why not for any old case?
The civil case IS the costs of the investigation; they said "Okay, we didn't prosecute you, but you are a famous rich dude claiming innocence very publicly, and shit talking the city in the process, and we all know you fucking did it, so we're issuing you a bill for the costs of our time, and you have seven days to pay it, or else we're suing for non-payment".
They shouldn't be pulling this shit. If they wanted to start trying to pull this shit regularly, they raise very valid fucking questions about "what
exactly are my taxes fucking paying for then?".
I don't think they
should be doing this shit, because its bypassing the concept of statutory fines.
But I don't think they're doing this because they want to start playing stupid fucking "well
actually its not
technically double jeopardy" bullshit in future cases.
I think they're doing this because Jussie Smollett is too stupid / egotistical to take the win, but tried to play stupid PR games in the press instead, and make City Hall look like assholes and expect them to just go "oh well, guess we look like assholes then".
Like... I don't think this is a thing average citizens should be afraid will happen to them.
