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$395,000 Settlement For Excessive Tasing Death By California Police
Family members of Gregory Saulsbury, Jr., brought a wrongful death action against the City of Pacifica (California) and it's police after excessive tasing allegedly caused Saulsbury's death in 2005. The suit settled for $395,000 without guilt admission.
Saulsbury's family called 911 because they feared that his aggressive behavior, which prevented paramedic assistance, would harm him or others. He attacked his father who pinned him until police showed up and distracted the father, allowing Saulsbury to escape and beat a sgt. with his own flashlight. He then attacked another policeman and, after a series of tasings became motionless. Paramedics then took Saulsbury to the hospital where he was pronounced dead four and a half hours later. The defendants claimed that his excitement coupled with cocaine use caused asphyxia which resulted in his death.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California at San Francisco approved the $395,000 settlement agreement admitting no liability. See: Saulsbury v. The City of Pacifica. Case No. 3:05-cv-01471-MJJ (N.D. Cal. Jan. 9, 2007).
Saulsbury's family called 911 because they feared that his aggressive behavior, which prevented paramedic assistance, would harm him or others. He attacked his father who pinned him until police showed up and distracted the father, allowing Saulsbury to escape and beat a sgt. with his own flashlight. He then attacked another policeman and, after a series of tasings became motionless. Paramedics then took Saulsbury to the hospital where he was pronounced dead four and a half hours later. The defendants claimed that his excitement coupled with cocaine use caused asphyxia which resulted in his death.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California at San Francisco approved the $395,000 settlement agreement admitting no liability. See: Saulsbury v. The City of Pacifica. Case No. 3:05-cv-01471-MJJ (N.D. Cal. Jan. 9, 2007).
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Related legal case
Saulsbury v. The City of Pacifica
| Year | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Case No. 3:05-cv-01471-MJJ (N.D. Cal. 2007) |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 395,000.00 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |