Filing A False Police Report

[jenks60]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: PA
I have been accused of stealing and totally removing computer code from a former employer. The code was for an ecommerce site that cost them over $50,000 to develop. I did not do this. I know the programmer that worked on the site and she will testify to that fact. The police have never even spoken to this programmer to verify the allegations. I was arrested yesterday for this infraction, processed and fingerprinted. I am also sure this will appear in the local newspaper.

My question is, when I am cleared of these charges, do I have any options to sue the Police or my former employers, for my legal costs, defamation of character or anything else?

[cdwjava]

An arrest is based on probable cause, not absolute certainty. Unless you can show that allegations were made with the full knowledge they were false, and an arrest was made without probable cause, neither party will likely be susceptible to a lawsuit.

However, you can consult an attorney on the matter, and in the USA you can pay an attorney to sue most anyone for any reason. But, you will have a high burden to show that either party acted with intentional or malicious recklessness.

In the meantime, consult local counsel for the criminal matter.

- Carl