Police sued for Taser use on woman in diabetic shock

By Amy Teeple

Published on May 08, 2006

The lawsuit was filed by Leila Fuchs in King County Superior Court. Fuchs, 34, maintains that the police officers negligently used a Taser gun, instead of getting her the medical attention that she needed.

On July 10, 2005, Fuchs suffered from a drop in her blood sugar while driving. Falling into diabetic shock, Fuchs was unable to stop her car at a red light and rear-ended the vehicle in front of her. When police arrived on the scene, they assumed that Fuchs was drunk and uncooperative.

Incapacitated by diabetic shock, Fuchs did not exit her car when ordered by police. An officer broke the window on the passenger's side of her vehicle and issued a warning. After Fuchs remained motionless and only stared forward, she was shot by a Taser gun. Fuchs was removed from the vehicle, put on the ground, handcuffed, and dragged to a police car. When firefighters arrived, they immediately realized that Fuchs was suffering from diabetic shock and treated her with glucose. A breathalyzer was administered, which showed that Fuchs had not been drinking.

The million dollar lawsuit argues that police officers used a Taser gun on an innocent woman who posed no threat and who needed medical assistance.

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