On Jan. 13, 2016, plaintiff Stephan Shay, a 29-year-old self-employed man, was in Huntington Beach, training for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, when he saw his brother, plaintiff Nathan Shay, 35, a banker, being detained by Huntington Beach police officers Brandon Rockett and Daniel Subia. The officers had pulled Nathan Shay over under suspicion of drunken driving. Stephan Shay allegedly began recording the interaction before the officers told him to get off the sidewalk and stop filming. Stephan and Nathan Shay were both arrested. Nathan Shay was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, but he was later released with a speeding citation after taking two breath tests that showed he had not consumed any alcohol. Stephan Shay was taken to jail and charged with resisting, delaying and/or obstructing a peace officer, but the charge was ultimately dropped by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in exchange for his fulfillment of certain educational requirements. Stephan Shay claimed he suffered physical as a result of the incident, while Nathan Shay claimed he suffers psychological harm. Stephan and Nathan Shay sued Rockett; Subia; and the officers’ employer, the city of Huntington Beach. The Shays alleged that the officers’ actions constituted excessive force, failure to intervene, illegal search and seizure, and wrongful arrest. Before the matter went to trial, the court dismissed the Shays’ excessive-force complaints, including Stephan Shay’s contentions that the police “brutally grabbed” him and threw him to the ground and that the officers’ use of “brutal and completely unnecessary force” ruined his career. The jury ruled on the remaining allegations. Defense counsel contended that Stephan Shay held up his hands and that Rockett responded by grabbing him and restraining him to the ground. Counsel also contended that Nathan Shay protested with profanity and that Subia took out his Taser and warned him that he would use it if he did not back away. Defense counsel argued that the officers were attempting to control the situation and that any force used was reasonable, lawful and caused by the plaintiffs’ actions., Stephan Shay claimed he sustained to a shoulder, a hip and an ankle during the incident. After his arrest, Stephan Shay requested to see a doctor, so paramedics took him to Huntington Beach Hospital, where he was examined and released from the emergency room shortly thereafter. He was then taken to jail. Later, Stephan Shay saw a physical therapist for a few weeks. Stephan Shay claimed he was unable to train for the Olympic Trials, which were 3.5 weeks after the incident. Although he was able to compete for the trials, he claimed he was not selected for the U.S. Olympic team because his affected his results. Nathan Shay claimed he suffers from emotional distress as a result of the incident. The Shays sought recovery of damages for their respective physical and/or emotional pain and suffering. They also sought recovery of punitive damages as a result of the alleged false arrest, false detention, and improper search and seizure claims.