Taser Lawsuits

A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) technology". Someone struck by a Taser experiences stimulation of his or her sensory nerves and motor nerves, resulting in strong involuntary muscle contractions. Tasers do not rely only on pain compliance, except when used in Drive Stun mode, and are thus preferred by some law enforcement over non-Taser stun guns and other electronic control weapons.

Tasers were introduced as less-lethal weapons to be used by police to subdue fleeing, belligerent, or potentially dangerous subjects, often when what they consider to be a more lethal weapon would have otherwise been used. The use of Tasers has become controversial following instances of Taser use that have resulted in serious injury and death, and while they are far less lethal than many other weapons.


Taser Lawsuits in the United States

The U.S. Supreme Court may change the way stun guns are used, after the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida petitioned the court on behalf of a north Florida man claiming a law enforcement officer was excessive with the device.

They will hear testimony from law enforcement administrators and industry experts putting the most positive spin possible on the design and use of this "valuable non-lethal law-enforcement tool". After all, it was introduced as an enlightened step up from the unfortunate circumstance of police having to use their guns to subdue or restrain violent and resisting parties.


2010 Taser Lawsuits

Man awarded $1 in California Taser lawsuit
07/10/2010 - A man who sued a California police department after he was shocked twice with a Taser has been awarded $1 in damages. A federal court jury in Ventura County awarded Max Vasquez the minimum figure earlier this month in his excessive-force lawsuit. Vasquez claimed a Santa Paula officer jolted him twice – including once while he was partially handcuffed – during his arrest three years ago on suspicion of domestic violence and resisting an officer. The charges were later dropped. Last year, Santa Paula agreed to pay $250,000 in a lawsuit by a man who claimed he suffered a serious back injury when he was taken to the ground and shocked twice in 2006.

Wrongful death lawsuit filed after police tasered man in psych hospital (Ohio)
06/12/2010 - A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the family of a man who allegedly died after being shot with a Taser by police while defenseless and doped up on sedatives in an Ohio hospital’s psychiatric ward.

Mentally ill man tasered three times sues Taser Inc. (California)
04/05/2010 - A California judge has cleared the way for a Taser brain damage lawsuit to proceed to trial, rejecting Taser International's attempts to dismiss the claim that their stun gun caused a man's heart to stop. The trial is scheduled to begin in August, and Taser International was also ordered to pay the plaintiff's expenses in defending against a portion of their motion, which the court indicated was filed in bad faith.

Police brutality lawsuit filed over death from Taser (Maryland)
03/26/2010 - A $10 million wrongful death lawsuit in Maryland has been filed against Baltimore County police by the family of a bipolar man who died after being struck with a Taser stun gun.

Taser wrongful death lawsuit filed by family of a doctor (Nevada)
01/02/2010 - The family of a 33 year-old doctor who died after being shot with a stun gun by Nevada Highway Patrol officer has filed a lawsuit against Taser International, alleging that the stun gun maker failed to adequately warn about the potentially fatal effects of Tasers.


2009 Taser Lawsuits

Taser heart risk leads to recommendation to avoid chest shots
09/23/2009 - Taser International, maker of the widely used Taser stun gun, is now recommending that police officers not directly aim for the chest to avoid the risk of heart-related injuries and to reduce their potential exposure to liability through police brutality lawsuits.

Taser death triggering Texas wrongful death lawsuit
08/01/2009 - The family of mentally disabled man, who died in police custody after being shot twice with a Taser stun gun, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Fort Worth and one of its police officers. The lawsuit comes after a local medical examiner in Texas declared the man’s death a homicide caused by use of the Taser.

Taser video system could provide new evidence for police brutality lawsuits
08/13/2009 - A new portable video recorder system for police being developed by Taser International, Inc. could provide crucial evidence for police brutality lawsuits, either supporting a plaintiff’s claim or providing clear evidence that justifies the police conduct.

Police brutality lawsuit over Taser death will proceed to trial (Maryland)
07/21/2009 - A federal judge has ruled that a Maryland wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a teenager killed after being struck by police with a Taser will go forward to trial against a Fredrick County sheriff’s deputy.

Taser lawsuit settled for $2.4M and police will suspend stun gun use (Missouri)
07/07/2009 - A Missouri municipality has agreed to pay $2.4 million to the family of a man who died after police shocked him several times with a Taser. The local police police department also agreed to suspend use of the controversial stun guns, which have been linked to hundreds of deaths nationwide by Amnesty International.

Taser shares plummet as company loses its first lawsuit
06/10/2009 - Jury orders Taser to pay included $1,021,000 in compensatory damages and $5.2 million in punitive damages to the family of Robert Heston, of Salinas, Calif. who died Feb. 19, 2005, after being hit multiple times with Taser stun guns by Salinas police officers.

Judge awards $1.4M to lawyers in Taser lawsuit (California)
02/05/2009 - A federal judge has ordered Taser International Inc. to pay $1.4 million in fees to the to lawyers for the family of a Salinas man who died after police officers repeatedly shocked him with stun guns.


2008 Taser Lawsuits

Cops won't face charges in Taser death case (British Columbia, Canada)
12/12/2008 - Four federal police officers will not face charges for using a Taser gun on an agitated Polish traveler in a confrontation that ended with the man dying at a Canadian airport, prosecutors said Friday.

San Jose to pay $70K in Taser death settlement (California)
12/17/2008 - The city of San Jose will pay $70,000 to the family of a man who died after police used a Taser stun gun on him.

Vegas police officers sue makers of Taser weapons (Nevada)
11/23/2008 - Two Las Vegas police officers who were seriously hurt after being shocked by Taser weapons in 2003 have sued its makers, saying the company failed to properly warn the department about the potential for injury.