$300,000 Settlement of Stun Gun Suit
Recognize the term stun gun? It is a device used by law enforcement agencies to control violent people without inflicting great bodily harm. This device was used by the Huntington Beach Police Department in order to control those who might have injured themselves or others.
Because of this device that saved many from major injuries, the city of Huntington Beach and its officers were sued for $5 million.
The Orange County district attorney and the FBI both showed “insufficient evidence” to bring criminal charges against those named in the lawsuit.
The city attorney hired an outside legal firm to handle the case with them. After an “exhaustive” investigation by both, they decided to recommend an offer of $300,000 to the plaintiffs. I’ll give you one guess as to what happened then. The plaintiffs had the check cashed before the ink dried!
It cost the city “five figures” to hire an outside attorney to settle a case that should have gone to trial.
The Huntington Beach Police Department is not guilty of any wrongdoing. And the payment of $300,000 only shows that the city attorney is guilty of not standing up and fighting for what is right.
HOWARD D. SUBNICK
Huntington Beach
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