Hector was prosecuted following police seizure of 80 pounds of drugs from his airplane. The seizure was held to be unlawful, the evidence was suppressed, and the suit against Hector was dismissed. He then sued the government officials involved in his arrest and prosecution to recover $3,500 in bail-bond expenses, $23,000 in attorney's fees, and $2,000 in travel costs. The district court held that he could not recover the costs incurred during the criminal prosecution.
Hector appealed. Can he recover those costs?
[Hector v. Watt, 235 F.3d 154, 3rd Cir. (2000)]