Taser International ordered to pay $6 million in damages

[Dion]

The court found that when someone is shocked by a Taser device, their muscles release lactic acid. If someone is shocked repeatedly and for a prolonged period of time, the increasing amount of lactic acid can increase the risk of heart failure.

Taser must pay $5 million in punitive damages and $1 million in compensatory damages to the parents of Robert Heston, who died in 2005 after being continuously shocked by stun guns for nearly 75 seconds.

In a press release, Taser stressed that the company's products were not found to be the sole cause of Heston's death. The release was titled: "Jury Finds Extended Taser Device Application 15 Percent Responsible for Arrest Related Death of Robert C. Heston."

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0610?hub=World

[MelBridgeman]

Interesting.
But some personal responsibilty on the part of the deceased who was on METH should be taken for his own death. Sorry cold hearted maybe....but people seem to not want to be held accountable for their bad decisions, in fact how much of being on drugs THAT kill play a part?

[Thor]

Why lawsuits are ruining the US justice system.

[Phaneuf3]

Wow. That's interesting. I'm not saying Tasers are safe but when they're CLEARLY not being used how they were intended, I'm surprised Taser is being held liable... the police department on the other hand....


In any case, I'm just waiting for Ford to be sued for $10 million because an F150 was used in a hit and run case once...

[arsenal]

This is ######ed. Anything used in a way it is not intended to be used, can be dangerous or harmful.

[Azure]

I think we should start suing Ford and GMC everytime there is an accident.

[Ford Prefect]

I'd be interested to know how a jury, who were likely only laymen, could determine the Taser was "15 per cent" responsible for the death. How could they determine the degree of cause like that? And is the family going to sue whoever was responsible for the other 85 per cent of the cause of death. Maybe the parents own defective genes were responsible for about 60 per cent of the cause (i.e., FAS, or family history of heart problems). If that's the case, maybe somebody should sue the parents for propagating defective genetics.

On the other side of the coin, with the number of controversial cases involving Taser-related deaths, police officers seem to be either improperly trained in their use or quite possibly improperly informed by Taser in the first place.

[Boblobla]

So just doing a quick bit of math here, you are telling me that the life of a meth head is worth 40million bucks? I find that hard to believe.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

So just doing a quick bit of math here, you are telling me that the life of a meth head is worth 40million bucks? I find that hard to believe.

interesting.... i'm clearly in the wrong line of work.

I'm heading down the 8th st mac's, ttyl!

[flylock shox]

This case isn't actually that big of a deal in the larger Taser safety debate. Essentially, Taser's liability stems from misrepresenting to the police the dangers associated with Taser use. It seems clear to me that the police did not use the Taser in a safe manner, but it also seems the jury found the police were under the impression, fostered by Taser Int., that the Tasers were not capable of causing these types of injuries/deaths.

It's not really the same debate that's going on in Canada where the concern has long been use of the Taser per se, as opposed to excessive use of a Taser. Kind of like delivering a single blow from a baton as opposed to 2 minutes worth of blows from a baton.

As for the value of the award, the article notes that punitive damages were the bulk of the monies paid out. Punitive damages have absolutely nothing to do with the assessed value of the actual damage suffered (in this case, the death of a person), and everything to do with punishing corporations which cannot be held accountable through any other practical means.

[Ford Prefect]

^^^^^ Compensatory damages were still pegged at $1 million, which prorates out to about $7 million as the value of the meth head's life. Still whacked.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

^^^^^ Compensatory damages were still pegged at $1 million, which prorates out to about $7 million as the value of the meth head's life. Still whacked.

What is the punitive damage for then?

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

What is the punitive damage for then?

$5 million according to the article, which are meant to punish the company (Taser Intl'l) as Flylock pointed out. I don't know who Taser pays the punitive damages to, but I assume it's not the family.