DETROIT — In a significant ruling, a jury awarded nearly $60 million to Sean MacMaster, who claimed that a former Michigan prosecutor and a police officer violated his rights in an alleged sexual abuse case that was ultimately dismissed. The jury found that Brian Kolodziej and state police Lt. David Busacca acted with “intentional disregard for the truth” as they pursued charges against MacMaster.
The jury’s award included $33 million to address lost wages, emotional distress, and damage to MacMaster’s reputation, along with an additional $25 million in punitive damages due to the “malicious” nature of their conduct. MacMaster’s attorney, Josh Blanchard, expressed relief at the ruling, stating that it validated the suffering his client endured at the hands of those in positions of power.
Kolodziej, a former assistant attorney general, saw his career unravel in 2019 when it came to light that he had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a woman associated with a sexual assault case he was overseeing. He faced legal repercussions for this conduct, including a no-contest plea to charges of willful neglect of duty and the loss of his law license. The case against MacMaster arose in a separate yet intertwined context, as Kolodziej allegedly sought to impress the woman by pursuing charges against MacMaster.
At the time of the charges, MacMaster was a high-ranking police officer in Duval County, Florida. He was accused of sexually abusing a child, allegations he has consistently denied. Prior investigations by authorities in Oakland County concluded that the accusations lacked merit, yet Kolodziej and Busacca moved forward with the case. MacMaster spent months in solitary confinement before Attorney General Dana Nessel dismissed the charges, citing egregious violations of prosecutorial ethics.
In the wake of the jury’s decision, MacMaster shared the emotional impact of the case with friends outside the federal courtroom. He lamented the toll that the damaging allegations took on his family, relationships, and mental health. “This has been devastating. I no longer have a relationship with my daughter because of it. I’ve lost friends,” he said. He also noted that the jury’s ruling helped to partially restore his tarnished reputation.
During the trial, Kolodziej represented himself, admitting to the jurors that his previous actions were embarrassing but contending that they were unrelated to the case at hand. Busacca’s defense counsel argued that his actions were guided by superiors and that he was just a road patrol trooper at the time, emphasizing that there was no impropriety in their work.
Following the verdict, both Kolodziej and Busacca refrained from commenting. The jury’s decision serves as a rare example of a successful civil suit against a prosecutor, underscoring the challenges and complexities surrounding legal immunity in prosecutorial misconduct cases.
This outcome highlights the critical need for accountability within the judicial system, particularly when the rights of individuals are at stake.
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