Taser Lawsuit Filed Following South Carolina Death in 2006

A lawsuit was filed last week in Charleston, South Carolina, by the family of a man who was fatally shocked with a Taser in 2006. The complaint names Taser International, Inc., who manufactured the weapon, together with the local police department, the city and the county.

Tasers are weapons used by many law enforcement agencies throughout the United States in situations which do not necessarily call for the use of a traditional firearm.

The device uses Electro-Muscular Disruption technology to incapacitate neuromuscular function, allowing police to subdue people who pose a threat, who are fleeing or who are potentially dangerous.

In October 2006, North Charleston police used a Taser to subdue Kip Darrell Black, a mentally ill 38 year old man. Police officers used their Taser when they encountered Black acting erratically after using cocaine.

Although only about 1 to 2 jolts are generally necessary to subdue an individual, police officers delivered up to 10 Taser jolts on Black. The family claims that his subsequent death at a local hospital was caused by the Taser use.

The Taser lawsuit alleges that the officers knew or should have known that the excessive use of the weapon might result in death. It also contains product liability counts against Taser International, Inc. for manufacturing and selling the dangerous weapon.

There are a number of lawsuits involving Tasers which have been filed throughout the United States alleging severe and fatal injuries after the weapon was used. Taser International, Inc. has been named in many of these lawsuits, but has generally been successful in defending themselves in the product liability lawsuits.

Amnesty International has documented over 245 deaths that occurred after use of a Taser.