Taser company’s winning streak ends

As of last week, Taser International had won 69 straight court cases brought against it. On Friday, that run came to a $6 million dollar halt.

The electronic protection device maker lost its first liability lawsuit in federal court in California, bringing a shocking end to its winning streak.

The Monterey County Herald reported:

A federal jury has held Taser International responsible for the death of a Salinas man in U.S. District Court in San Jose on Friday, and awarded his family more than $6 million in punitive and compensatory damages.

An attorney for the family called the verdict a “landmark decision,” and indicated that it was the first time Taser International had been held responsible for a death or injury linked to its product.

Although they are not suing Taser, a Maryland family made headlines recently when they filed a $145 million dollar lawsuit against Frederick County after their son, Jarrel Gray, died last November after being shocked twice with a Taser by a county police officer.

After all of this: Should we reconsider how Tasers are being used?

RICHARD SIMON, The Daily Record