 The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the ACLU of Vermont on behalf of Gregory Bombard, arguing his First Amendment rights were violated after a traffic stop in 2018 they called unnecessary and an arrest. Trooper Jay Riggins stopped Bombard in St. Albans because he believed Bombard had given him the finger, which Bombard denied, but did admit to cursing and making the gesture after the initial stop was over. He was stopped a second time and charged with disorderly conduct.