Darryll Turner 4th Circuit Appeal Taser failed to warn

Taser International loses significant appeal. http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Published/121617.P.pdf Some are assuming that the above may have played a role in Taser International's decision to settle their other cases. I believe that all this relates to only one of several taser death mechanisms. I believe that their liability continues in cases that are not straight cardiac effect death. But that's just my opinion. Merry Christmas.

Taser paying millions in settlements

Taser International is paying MILLIONS to settle lawsuits. [LINK]

Taser death of Robert Dziekanski is ruled homicide

The Coroner's Report has finally been issued, dated March 20, 2013. [LINK] The taser caused death of Robert Dziekanski has finally been official declared a "homicide". This term does not mean murder nor does it assign blame. It means that Mr Dziekanski did not "die", he was killed. What killed him? The taser of course. The Braidwood Inquiry previously found that the single most significant thing that happened between being alive and being dead was the taser hit. It was the primary factor. The Coroner's Report is in keeping with the findings of the Braidwood Inquiry. Tasers can kill. Not all the time of course, but it's a damn lie to claim that they're "safe". The folks that make this sort of claim are either thick or deceptive, or potentially both.

'Qualified Immunity' revoked for excess tasering

The 4th Circuit revived claims that Baltimore police officer Stephen Mee killed Ryan Meyers by using his taser 10 times while responding to a domestic violence call in 2007. ... Once Meyers was down, Mee used his taser an additional seven times, ultimately killing the 40-year-old... The Meyers do have a case as to the subsequent seven firings of the taser. "It is an excessive and unreasonable use of force for a police officer repeatedly to administer electrical shocks with a taser on an individual who no longer is armed, has been brought to the ground, has been restrained physically by several other officers, and no longer is actively resisting arrest," Keenan wrote. "...additional taser shocks violated Ryan's Fourth Amendment right to be free from the use of excessive and unreasonable force. Accordingly, we hold that the District Court erred in concluding that Officer Mee met his burden of proving that he was entitled to qualified immunity." [LINK]

U of Cincinnati pays $2M in Taser death case

The University of Cincinnati will pay $2 million and suspend the use of Tasers by university police as part of a settlement with the family of a student who died after being shocked with a Taser. The settlement, obtained Wednesday by the Enquirer, also requires UC to create a memorial for the student, to provide free tuition to his siblings and to send a letter to the family expressing regret over the incident. The student, Everette Howard Jr., died Aug. 6, 2011, after a confrontation with a UC police officer. A coroner’s investigation could not determine the cause of death, but Howard’s family and expert witnesses blamed the shock from the Taser. ...

[LINK]

Family of Brian Cardell achieve settlement

The family of Brian Cardell has reached a settlement with the police [LINK]. Brian Cardell died immediately after being tasered. Tasers can and do kill.