Judge awards $1.4M to lawyers in Taser lawsuit

February 5, 2009
The Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif — A federal judge has ordered Taser International to pay $1.4 million to lawyers for the family of a Salinas man who died after police officers repeatedly shocked him with stun guns.

U.S. District Court Judge James Ware last week ordered the Scottsdale, Ariz. company liable for attorneys fees accrued by the family of 40-year-old Robert Heston. In June, a jury held Taser responsible for Heston's 2005 death and awarded his family $6 million.

Jurors found that Taser did not inform officers the device could be harmful if used repeatedly. Heston died a day after officers used Taser devices as many as 30 times while trying to subdue him.

An autopsy showed that Heston died from methamphetamine intoxication, an enlarged heart and the Taser shocks.