"This one will stick."

First posted WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011:

Taser International found liable in killing of Darryl Turner

Taser International, manufacturer of potentially lethal stun guns, was found partially responsible for the death of 17-year-old Darryl Turner after police in Charlotte, N.C., used a Taser device on him during an altercation at a grocery store on March 21, 2008.

Mr. Turner was young and in generally good health, was tasered and was dead almost immediately.

Taser International was ruled responsible for about $9.23 million of the total award; about $6 million of that will be covered by insurance. The city of Charlotte will cover $730,000 as part of a settlement, and $40,000 will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance.

The $3M+ judgment not covered by their insurance consumes their potential profit for even a good year; and that's going to bite very hard. The next pain they feel will be when their insurance carrier(s) realize that this is the new trend. The third pain will be when the investors (a.k.a. morons) read about this and start complaining.

I've not been posting much recently, primarily because I've been waiting for this day.

Taser International can appeal this judgment all they want. The cold hard fact remains that their "safe" product killed Darryl Turner directly.

This one will stick.

The judgment was reduced to about $4M, but the legal findings and the fantastic legal loss stand.

Tasers can kill. Through various mechanisms.

Taser International knew about these risks, but failed to warn.

They're heavily liable in who-knows-how-many other cases. Case law has been established.

Court upholds ruling: Tasers kill

Taser International "...knew its weapon could kill..."

A legal blow to the maker of Tasers as controversy grows over the weapon's safety.
Taser International lost its appeal Tuesday in the most costly case against the company to date. Last summer, a jury awarded the family of Darryl Turner, who died after being tasered, $10 million, ruling that TASER knew its weapon could kill and did not properly warn police.
On appeal, the U.S. District Court Western District of N. Carolina Charlotte Division ruled in favor of the plaintiff on all objections, but did rule the damage award “excessive" and reduced it in half to $5 million. "This is a huge victory for safety," said plaintiff attorney John Burton, "…and people concerned that this device is being given to police with false assurances of its safety." Burton added, "The judge viewed the evidence and said the jury was justified in its conclusion." Dr. Douglas Zipes, an electrophysiologist who testified for the plaintiff that Tasers could kill, said the reduction of the award was fair, and that the court's ruling "totally vindicates what we said, that Taser causes sudden death and the judge accepts that concept." There has been no comment yet from Taser International. ... MORE-> [LINK]

Cpl. Benjamin Monty Robinson found guilty of Obstruction

Cpl. Benjamin Monty Robinson was found guilty Friday of obstruction of justice in connection to a fatal traffic accident in which he was involved while off duty. [LINK]

Robinson is one of four officers charged in the death of Robert Dziekanski, who was jolted several times with a Taser at Vancouver's airport in 2007. All four are scheduled to stand trial on Perjury charges in 2013.