Taser Wrongful Death Suit Filed in Federal Court
By Richard Seward
Published on September 10, 2007
In the lawsuit, Wendy Wilson alleges that her son died after a police officer used a Taser device on the back of his head. According to the lawsuit, Ryan Wilson collapsed unconscious, went into convulsions, and died after being stunned. Included in the lawsuit is a toxicology report that confirms the absence of drugs or alcohol in Ryan's system. It was later determined that he had a pre-existing heart condition.
Ryan was pursued by police on August 4, 2006, after he fled from a field where police had received a tip that marijuana was being grown. According to police reports, Ryan appeared to reach for a knife that was clipped to his pants before one of the officers used a stun device. The officer was cleared in an internal investigation.
Because of allegations that Ryan's constitutional rights were violated, the lawsuit – which names the city of Lafayette, the city police department, and Taser International as defendants – was filed in federal court.
Wendy Wilson is also filing a product liability suit against Taser International, claiming that the company’s stun device is not safe for use on humans.
An autopsy concluded that the shock from the stun device contributed to Ryan's death, but was not the sole cause. Exertion and his heart condition were also determined to be factors in his death.
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