Not Guilty Verdict Issued in Taser Wrongful Death Case of Maryland Man

CBSLocal.com reports that the jury has now heard all of the evidence in a wrongful death case against a Frederick County Sherriff’s deputy and has determined that the defendant is not liable. The sheriff in this case was facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit following the death of a 20-year-old Maryland man who was Tasered by the Corporal and subsequently died.

The incident occurred in November of 2007 when people in the victim’s neighborhood believed they heard a fight and called 9-1-1. Though this report does not specify if the 20-year-old was involved in the fight, it does state that when police arrived, they ordered the 20-year-old to get down on the ground and shocked him. The young man fell to the ground after the first Taser shock, and after the man was unresponsive to the officer’s commands, he issued a second shock to the victim. He died in the middle of the street.

Eye witnesses and the family of the deceased feel the Corporal had no reason to fire the Taser as the young man was complying with the officer’s demands, both physically and verbally. The federal jury’s ruling said the officer used only enough force to protect himself, concluding that the officer’s use of the Taser was appropriate. The wrongful death lawsuit, which was filed by both the mother and father of the victim, was asking for a total of 145 million dollars for alleged “excessive use of force.” More than 10 MD residents have died in Taser-related incidents, including the young man in this case, which prompted the state attorney general’s office in 2009 to recommend more stringent training on the use of the devices.

The sudden death of a loved one is extremely devastating for family and friends, but when the death may have been caused by another’s negligence, the family of the deceased may be rightfully entitled to compensation. Though no monetary award can ease the pain of losing a loved one, it can help with the unexpected financial costs that may arise. The wrongful death attorneys in Maryland with the law firm of Alpert Schreyer are dedicated to helping families obtain compensation and hold any negligent parties responsible for the individual’s death legally accountable. Please call (800) 489-1577 for a complimentary review of your case.