Recent Posts in Police Brutality/Excessive Force Category

The family of a North Carolina teenager who was killed after police tasered him with a stun gun has filed a lawsuit against the gun’s manufacturer.

Darryl Wayne Turner, 17, died of cardiac arrest after Charlotte police officers used a taser on him during a confrontation at the grocery store where he worked. Although the city of Charlotte will not admit to any wrongdoing, they did pay Turner’s family $625,000 last August.

Now Tuner’s family has filed a lawsuit against Taser International, claiming the company failed to warn its customers that the weapon could potentially be lethal if used near the chest.

A spokesperson for Taser International would not comment on the case because it is still pending, but did say the company stands by the safety of their products.

At Lanier Law Group, we offered experienced legal counsel to victims of defective product injuries throughout all of North Carolina. Product makers have a legal obligation to ensure their products are safe for public consumption. Part of that obligation includes making sure any products made available to the public are packaged with proper warning labels. Without warning labels that clearly state the dangers and risks associated with using the product, as well as the proper way to use the product to reduce the risk of injury or death, the designer, manufacturer, distributor, and/or retailer can be held liable for damages in a product liability lawsuit.

In addition to handling defective products claims, we also represent victims of police brutality and excessive force. Sometimes police officers take their position of power and authority a little too seriously and cross the line. If you believe an officer’s use of excessive force led to your injury, you can turn to Lanier Law Group for help.

To arrange a free consultation with an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney to discuss your claim, contact Lanier Law Group today at 1-888-CONSULT!

A lawsuit has been filed against four Florida police departments and several individual officers by the family of a man who was fatally shot by a Lee County sheriff’s deputy last year.

The family of Arthur Lee Coleman claims Coleman’s death was unjustified, and is now seeking monetary damages. Michelle Berthiaume, the attorney representing Coleman’s family, argued that “overzealous police work caused him to lose his life.”

Coleman was allegedly acting as an informant for the sheriff’s department and other law enforcement agencies, helping them break up a vehicle-theft ring operating out of Fort Myers and Miami. A fugitive task force was after him for violating his probation when he was shot by the officer.

Coleman, a well-known car thief himself, was facing 16 criminal counts, including racketeering, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and dealing in stolen property. As part of a plea deal, Coleman agreed to plead guilty and, in exchange for going to jail, serve 30 months of probation. Going undercover and helping police with the theft ring was also part of that plea deal.

Berthiaume says Coleman’s family could be entitled to up to $150,000 in damages.

If you believe your loved one was unjustly killed at the hands of a law enforcement officer, you can turn to Lanier Law Group for help. Excessive force and police brutality are the cause of many injuries and deaths, but often times people don’t take legal action because they feel they don’t have chance against a police officer. At our firm, we believe that every victim has a voice, and are committed to doing whatever we can to ensure justice is served. Whether you’re interested in filing a wrongful death lawsuit or a personal injury claim, you can depend on an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney at Lanier Law Group to advocate your legal rights and help you pursue a claim for maximum compensation.

A police officer with the Highland Park Police Department in Michigan is standing trial for using excessive force against an inmate.

The incident occurred in November 2007 after 33-year-old Veretta Burnett was taken into police custody after getting into a fight with her neighbor. Burnett claims that while she was at the city’s mini-station Stevenson handcuffed her to a cage and positioned her as if she were hanging from a cross. Then, with a pair of leather gloves, Stevenson started to repeatedly punched Burnett in the face until she began bleeding profusely. Burnett also claims that, despite her injuries, Stevenson left her standing handcuffed to the cage, bleeding and in pain for hours. In her lawsuit, Burnett also claims that Stevenson wouldn’t let her use the restroom and refused to get her medical attention until the next morning.

Burnett’s attorney compared what happened to Burnett to be as traumatic as getting raped.

Stevenson said she never hit or punched Burnett, but several officers at the station backed up Burnett’s account.

According to Highland Park Police Chief Theodore Cadwell II, the department is currently conducting an internal investigation into the matter, but for now Stevenson still works for the department.

Unfortunately, police brutality continues to occur around the country. If you are victim of police brutality in North Carolina, an attorney at Lanier Law Group can help. A North Carolina personal injury lawyer at our office would be happy to assist you in pursuing a lawsuit against the officer who assaulted you, as well as against the department and the city or country the officer worked for. To learn more about your legal options and rights to compensation, please contact Lanier Law Group to schedule a consultation.