After winning 45 wrongful death or injury lawsuits, Taser International, who markets the ubiquitous stun gun, lost a federal case in San Jose, California on Friday, June 6th. The federal jury found that Taser was responsible for the death of 40-year-old Robert Heston Jr. and awarded his family more than $6 million in damages.
An autopsy showed that Heston died from a combination of meth, an enlarged heart, and from being shocked by a Taser. His family sued Taser International alleging the company did not adequately warn users that the stun gun was dangerous or lethal when used in conjunction with chest compressions and on people under the influence of drugs. Salinas, California police testified during the trial that they were never warned the shocks were dangerous. The verdict gave Heston’s family $5.2 million in punitive damages, and $1.021 million in compensatory damages. The six-person jury found that Heston was 85 percent responsible for his death, and Taser 15 percent responsible.
Perhaps inevitably, Taser’s executives found this verdict to be a victory for them. A company statement about the case was titled “Jury Finds Extended Taser Device Application 15 Percent Responsible for Arrest Related Death.” However, Taser stock dropped nearly 12 percent after the verdict was announced.
This comes at the same time that New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly announced that 520 Tasers would be made available to officers. This may have been helped by a RAND Corporation report stating that, “455 police-involved shootings found 25 cases – including three fatalities – where Tasers might have prevented the gunplay.”
Due to the number of occasions where police officers use Tasers on those they feel pose a danger, this will not be the last time Taser International will face a jury. However, as a multimillion dollar company that markets its product not only to law enforcement, but military and citizens, too, it’s going to take more than a $6 million verdict to really affect Taser International.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a Taser, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.
