Historical tidbit on taser trainee injuries and lawsuits

Police officers in five states also have sued Taser International, alleging they were seriously injured during training exercises, according to a 2005 Canadian Police Research Institute report. [LINK]

In some of these cases (most?), Taser International folded like a cheap lawnchair and settled. Then they misleadingly announced that the cases had been "dismissed", very intentionally leaving a false impression of an unbroken string of legal victories.

In other case of trainee injury, they fought back tooth-and-nail, using every legal trick in the book, and (last I had heard) this approach had left the life of an Officer essentially ruined (unable to work, no justice). I wonder if their "Foundation" might consider kicking the poor man some cash...

UPDATE:

More...

One officer, a Missouri police chief, alleges that he suffered heart damage and two strokes after he volunteered to be shocked with a Taser in April 2004, while hooked up to a cardiac monitor that was supposed to show the Taser was safe. The officer also claims he suffered hearing and vision loss as well as neurological damage.

Other injuries claimed by the officers involved include spinal fractures, burns, a dislocated shoulder, and soft-tissue damage. A previous lawsuit file in February 2004 alleged a sheriff’s deputy suffered a fractured back in 2002.

The lawsuits challenge Taser International’s central marketing claim that its device is safe and charge the manufacturer of misleading its customers concerning the potential risks posed by the stun guns. Taser is also accused of minimizing and misrepresenting the 2002 fractured back case even after its own doctor found a one-second shock from a Taser caused the injury.

The lawsuits also allege Taser International withheld reports of injuries to at least 12 other police officers and that the company has ignored credible research suggesting the device can be extremely dangerous, if not fatal.

Old ref from 2005: [LINK]