Shocking Verdict: TASER hit for $10 Million

A federal jury in Charlotte, North Carolina awarded $10 million in the death of a local teen.  Here's reporter Doug Miller's account at the Charlotte Observer:

A federal jury has ordered Taser International Inc. to pay $10 million to the family of a 17-year-old Charlotte teenager who died after a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer struck him with a Taser.
The incident happened in March 2008 at a Food Lion in northeast Charlotte.

Police at the time said the officer violated policy when he shocked Darryl Turner (pic) for about 37 seconds, contributing to the teen's death. Turner fell to the floor during the confrontation and died.

The jury returned its verdict Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.

Lawyers for Turner's family persuaded jurors that the manufacturer knew the product could cause heart problems if it struck near the heart but failed to warn customers, the newspaper reported.
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Great.  Go after TASER Inernational and the Boys who think they need these toys as often as merited.  While I don't think this weapon should be unavailable to law enforcement TASERS should be used rarely.  In other words current usage levels are out of control.  These are dangerous, often fatal weapons too often deployed by knuckleheads with badges.

Taser Tragedies Mount

The NYPD police officer, Lt. Michael Pigott who ordered the tasering of the mentally disturbed man in this video killed himself.  NYC is now trying to block "discovery" of the officer's suicide note as the matter heads to a civil trial on a wrongful death action filed by the victim's family according to report in the NY Post.



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Tasers are the non-lethal alternative for law enforcement. 

Instead of gettting a mental health professional on the scene, instead of waiting for this pathetic man to calm down, they tased Mr. Morales and he fell to his death. 

Now the police office who ordered the Taser's use has killed himself and his wife claims it is because the City made him a scapegoat for the fatality use of the taser. 

The taser is the non-lethal alternative for law enforcement.  Yep.