Personal Injury Law

Chicago Wrongful Death in Fatal Police Taser Incident Results in $500,000 Settlement

A $500,000 Chicago wrongful death settlement has been reached between the City Council and the family of Ronald Hasse. The 45-year-old died in 2005 after a Chicago police sergeant Tasered him for 62 seconds when he resisted arrest. At the time, Hasse had crystal methamphetamine in his system. While the drugs were a factor, he died from Taser-related electrocution.

Police are not supposed to use force beyond what a situation warrants and they must take precautions so as not to inflict injury or kill a suspect or a prisoner. For example, considered a less lethal alternative to a gun, Tasers are extremely painful and have been linked to serious health complications, injuries, and even death. However, there are less painful ways to apprehend someone.

According to the Independent Police Authority, Chicago cops have nearly quadrupled their Taser use since earlier this year when every beat car was given an electric-shocks weapon. Tasers were discharged 285 times during the second quarter of 2010 alone. Already this year, men in Riverdale, Waukegan, and Melrose Park died after police stunned them with Tasers. The police say that one man was drunk and the other two had taken drugs.

Unfortunately, many people continue to suffer injuries or die because officers used too heavy a hand when doing their job. These victims of excessive police force and Chicago police brutality often do not realize that their rights have been violated and that they may have grounds for a Chicago personal injury case.

Just this week, in Peoria, 35-year-old Terrrance D. Jackson sued City Hall because he claims he was the victim of ?excessive force? involving repeated Taser use. He is seeking unspecified damages.

Officers detained Jackson on January 26, 2009 after they saw him drive away from an alleged drug house. He says that his seatbelt was stuck but that the officers thought that he either had drugs in his mouth or was resisting arrest. They Tasered him repeatedly. According to Jackson?s Illinois police brutality lawsuit, he was treated at a hospital for a dislocated shoulder, Taser burns, and unspecified injuries.

Police Taser use increases sharply, Chicago Sun-Times, August 5, 2010

$500,000 to family of man Tasered to death by Chicago police, Chicago Tribune, July 28, 2010

Lawsuit: Police used 'excessive force', Pjstar.com, July 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
City of Chicago: Police

Independent Police Authority, City of Chicago

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on August 05, 2010 (boomark / email).