72 year old woman tasered in Austin. Justified?? (Howe: appraise, assault)

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Looks like Granny might get some money out of this. She wants $135K, County has offered $40K "firm". I hope she turns it down and goes to trial so we can get a decided outcome.

does she have the money to move forward? if she doesn't, will her attorney be willing to work pro bono or take the case on reduced or contingent fees?

The County, however, probably views the $40K settlement as cheaper than winning in court.

County makes offer to Tasered 72-year-old (http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/09/30/0930taser.html - broken link)

you mean 'cheaper than losing in court', don't you?

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by another_hot-day

Or do...

it wouldn't hurt to do a little research on the number of moronic/incompetent police officers like the one here, find out their patrol schedules and meet them on the streets after a few bottle of beers ... and DARE them to taser you.

beat the hell out of collecting unemployment insurance.

find out the name of the lawyer representing the 72-yr old.

[another_hot-day]

exactly

[tibbar]

I was just in a restaurant and talking to a police officer about this lady. He said she got paid $40,000 and I thought she should have gotten nothing. Then he said this same woman had been stopped twice before and just driven off. Now I know why she was trying to get back in her pickup.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by tibbar

I was just in a restaurant and talking to a police officer about this lady. He said she got paid $40,000 and I thought she should have gotten nothing. Then he said this same woman had been stopped twice before and just driven off. Now I know why she was trying to get back in her pickup.

Yep, she took the settlement offer. So she's stupid, but not that stupid.

It would cost us taxpayers more than $40K to take her to court and win, so this was a fiscally sound decision but not emotionally gratifying for those of us who would have liked to see all the facts, for better or worse, come out at trial. And for those of us who would have liked to see the officer at least have his chance of being vindicated.

Steve

[love roses]

Originally Posted by tibbar

I was just in a restaurant and talking to a police officer about this lady. He said she got paid $40,000 and I thought she should have gotten nothing. Then he said this same woman had been stopped twice before and just driven off. Now I know why she was trying to get back in her pickup.

Too bad they won't just take her license away next time she tries to renew it.

[iceshots]

Doesn't she still have to face her criminal charges? Or does this mean they were dropped? I still think she is criminally at fault even though the cop let it get out of hand.

[si33_1960]

Originally Posted by iceshots

Doesn't she still have to face her criminal charges? Or does this mean they were dropped? I still think she is criminally at fault even though the cop let it get out of hand.

Check the papers. It's up to the DA, I think.

[si33_1960]

Originally Posted by SnappyBob

I saw the footage last night on the news. Personaly, I think they both should be ashamed of themselves. The woman was being very combative and I think she should have been cuffed and arrested for such but I think it could have been done without the taser. Tasering someone is not a trivial thing. People have been known to die from it. Tasers were first touted as being a good tool to use instead of leathal force. So are we to assume that without the advent of tasers he would have been forced to shoot this lady? She should be fined for her behaviour and he should be given some time off without pay for his. If you can't handle a 72 years old woman without first paylizing her with a taser perhaps you need to find some tamer line of work.

Totally agree.

[austin-steve]

Here is a good article in the Oak Hill Gazette updating the story.
Steve