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A grandmother in El Reno, Oklahoma, has decided to settle a case she filed after local police shot her with a Taser in her own bed, a New York Injury Lawyer has learned. “I’m glad it’s over with,” said the 87-year-old woman.
“There’s one thing I told them, though. I wish that every person in law enforcement would have to take a full and complete course in paramedics. That way, maybe, they would think first before they shoot.”
The woman and her grandson sued the city of El Reno and the police officers after she was shot with the Taser in her own apartment. The grandson, 48 years old, explained that when he said “Don’t tase my granny!” to the officers, they threw him to the ground and handcuffed him.
There was going to be a civil trial on the matter, but the lawsuit was settled just days before the trial would have started. A Bronx Personal Injury Lawyer was unable to determine how much the settlement was, which would be paid to both grandmother and grandson out of the city’s insurance.
“We settled it with them. We can’t divulge the money end of it. But, you know, I bet they won’t be doing it ever again,” said the grandmother’s attorney.
According to the police, they came to the apartment after being told the grandmother may have been attempting suicide through a drug overdose. She was 86 at the time. A police officer reported that when they arrived, the grandmother withdrew a knife from under her pillow. “[The woman] looked me in the eyes and said, ‘If you try and get the knife, I will stab you and kill you.’
This officer says he did not use his Taser until other officers arrived and the woman continued to threaten him. According to him, his first shot did not have enough effect, so a second officer also used a Taser.
The grandmother denied she ever made any threats. She also denied she was ever attempting to commit suicide, either. And the knife? She said was using it to slice an orange and eat it in bed as she watched TV, as she often did.
A good attorney can make all the difference, so it important to ensure that you hire quality legal counsel. A trial, or even a settlement, can be a complex affair. You will need someone skilled in the law to help you navigate it. Contact Stephen Bilkis and Associates for a free consultation.