How much can a person expect in damages related to false imprisonment ?

They should not expect any damages, but it would be nice if they got some. Suits for a false arrest are very difficult to prove. Essentially, a person has to prove that the complainant made a knowingly false complaint. If the person wants to sue the police, then they have to prove the police believed it was false too. It can be very difficult to prove that a person knowingly lied, unless you have their admission of course. Simply because a case is dropped does not mean everyone knew it was knowingly false. Assuming a person can meet this burden, they would first be limited to economic damages, that is, precisely the amount of money they spent/lost as a result of the arrest. Any noneconomic damages would be gravy.

You are best served by asking your question to a lawyer who specializes in False Arrest cases. My colleague is correct in general. These cases are hard to prove and most cases get turned down. However, run your facts by a lawyer who specializes in that area of law.

Consult with an attorney in your area.