'Bama battle over gesture not over yet

MOBILE, Ala., Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The city of Mobile, Ala., is contesting a judge’s $3,000 award to a man arrested for flipping off a cop who later sued the city.

The favorable decision for Addison DeBoi, 56, of Mobile, which was rendered by District Judge Michael McMaken, was the subject of an Aug. 7 Fox News Channel talk show segment titled “Is it legal?” during which host Bill O’Reilly labeled the judge a "pinhead," the Mobile Press-Register said.

The judge, in making the award, wrote that legal precedent holds that police officers should have a “thicker skin” than someone in the general public when it comes to disrespect and insults.

DeBoi had accused the cop of embellishing the facts of his one-finger salute offense in order to further the prosecution’s case.

The city's attorney has denied McMaken is a pinhead and contended there were other issues about the case warranting a new trial.