Taser maker goes to court to clear name

[Algorem]

Source: Plain Dealer

Taser maker goes to court to clear name
Posted by Karen Farkas April 21, 2008 17:45PM
Categories: Breaking News

Tasers don't kill, say the makers of the stun guns, so they went to court Monday in Akron to protect the company's reputation.

Taser International Inc. wants a judge to order Summit County Medical Examiner Dr. Lisa Kohler to change her rulings that "electrical pulse incapacitation" contributed to three men's deaths.

A hearing began Monday in Summit County Common Pleas Court before visiting Judge Ted Schneiderman and is expected to last several days. Experts for Taser and Kohler will testify whether any medical, scientific or engineering evidence can demonstrate a Taser can cause or contribute to a death.

In Ohio, the ruling of a medical examiner is assumed to be presumptively valid, John Manley, chief counsel of the civil division of the prosecutor's office, said last week. Manley is representing the medical examiner's office at the trial...



Read more: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/04/taser_maker_goes_to_court_to_c.html

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Taser maker wants Summit death certificates revised

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/17975139.html

By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 12:50 p.m. EDT, Apr 21, 2008

Opening arguments were done in Summit County Common Pleas Court this morning in a case examining whether the use of Tasers contributed to three local deaths.

The company that makes the stun-gun like weapons is suing Summit County Medical Examiner Lisa Kohler for her finding that Tasers were — at least partially — to blame in the three cases. The City of Akron, whose officers were involved in one of the incidents, is siding with Taser.

The civil trial, before visiting Judge Ted Schneiderman, is expected to last through Thursday, with both sides calling competing expert witnesses. Kohler will testify either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Taser wants Schneiderman to order that the death certificates be changed to remove any reference to the weapons being responsible for the deaths...

[whistle]

1. This will become known as "Operation Bullshit"

[Robb]

2. I have been a vocal supporter of tasers, with caveats

...because I believe any additional options given to law enforcement are inherently a good thing.

That said, the implementation of tasers has been reprehensible by many, even most departments. They have been rolled out and used in situations where they are not remotely appropriate.

This is a nonsense lawsuit put forth for all the wrong reasons; were the taser company to prevail, it would have a chilling effect on medical examiners and any agency or person who has an oversight role.

[Xithras]

3. Yep, the problem isn't the technology, it's how it's used.

When Tasers were originally released, we were told that they'd be used as a "less than lethal" alternative to a firearm in a deadly force situation. What we have instead seen is Tasers being used indiscriminately as a behavior control device, in situations that would NOT have warranted the use of ANY weapon 20 years ago. And in those deadly force situations? They still reach for their guns.

IMO, Tasers would be fine if they were used as they were originally intended. When a police officer uses a Taser, he should immediately be suspended while a full investigation takes place. If it's found that the Taser wasn't justified (i.e., the tased victim wasn't a threat to himself or others), then the officer should be fired.

[OKthatsIT]

5. No, the technology is deadly for those with unknown heart conditions

Not everyone knows they have a heart condition...and certainly the police won't stop to ask.

[Xithras]

9. Far less deadly than a bullet.

Remember, these were originally sold to us as alternatives to the use of a firearm in life threatening situations. I gurantee that, statistically, Tasers are less lethal than bullets. I'm sure most criminals would prefer being tased over being shot.

The problem is that Tasers are used in situations today that a firearm would NEVER be used in. That's my complaint, and it's the reason why they're perceived as being more dangerous. These things were supposed to reduce the number of people being killed by police officers, but their misuse has prevented that from happening.

[Robb]

7. Actually, in a sense it is the technology, too

Marketing aside, I'd be interested to hear from cops why they don't reach for it in real, honest-to-Pete life-threatening situations. They don't, they still go for the gun.

If the taser really was an alternative, they'd use it, no? Perhaps the technology doesn't work well enough to be a real less-lethal alternative, and that's why it's being used for control. New product doesn't fit the mission, change the mission to fit the product. :shrug:

[Xithras]

10. Possibly a very good point there. I've never been tased, but I've spoken to several who have.

One of whom is a friend and a local sherrif's deputy who carries one on duty and was tased twice during training.

They all swore that they were totally incapacitated while being tased. I've been hit by a regular stun gun, and I couldn't move with THAT hitting me.

My guess is that it's a risk/reward issue. Tasers would probably work in 90% of lethal force situations, but no officer wants to take the chance that they'll be one of the 10% that doesn't. So they pull a gun, something they know works 100% of the time.

[OKthatsIT]

4. Could we all agree that this device should not be use unless...

someone is threatening others, or police, with a weapon?

The police have subdued violent people with overwhelming force for ions.

[Pastiche423]

6. In-fucking-credible!

There have already been many deaths due to tasers recorded. I dearly hope Taser Inc loses and ME Lisa Kohler is awarded court costs and attorny fees.

[jody]

8. Tasers have been tested only on healthy people, never pregnant women, those with heart disease,

those taking prescription medicines, etc.

IMO it's a lie to claim tasers are safe when they have never been tested and judged safe for targets who are not healthy.