Taser Loses Product Liability Lawsuit

Taser Loses 1st Product-Liability Suit; Jury Awards $6 Million By Margaret Cronin Fisk June 7 (Bloomberg) -- Taser International Inc. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=TASR%3AUS <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=TASR%3AUS> , the largest stun-gun maker, lost a $6.2 million jury verdict over the death of a California man who died after police shot him multiple times with the weapon. The defeat is the first for Taser in a product- liability claim. A San Jose, California, jury yesterday said Taser had failed to warnpolice in Salinas, California, that prolonged exposure to electric shock from the device could cause a risk of cardiac arrest. The jury awarded $1 million in compensatory damages and $5.2 million in punitive damages to the estate of Robert Heston, 40, and his parents. The jury clearedthe police officers of any liability. The lawsuit is Heston v. City of Salinas, C 05-03658 JW, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Jose).