Taser maker sues people for claiming product was involved in death

This story is reminiscent of the "food slander" lawsuits launched by agribusiness a decade ago. These weren't just civil actions. Some states actually passed laws making it a criminal offense to criticize food products that were dangerous.

Now, Taser International - which makes the device used by police - is the target of numerous wrongful death or personal injury suits. How does Taser fight back? By suing anyone who dares to suggest that a police stun gun may have killed anyone.

Taser International sues people for suing them or for suggesting the device caused death. The company even sued a coroner in Ohio for concluding that the device contributed to the deaths of 2 men.

It isn't just criminal suspects who are suing Taser International. The 100 suits against the company include at least 10 filed by cops injured by the device during training.

A woman who worked for the Arizona-based company also claims her home was shot at after she witnessed company officials shredding documents regarding injuries attributed to the product. In a sworn affidavit, she said, "Since leaving Taser International, I have lived in fear of what Taser International will do to me. The company has enormous resources and connections through law enforcement." She claims police in Chandler, Arizona, pawed through her garbage.

The court needs to come down hard on Taser International for abusing the system by filing SLAPP lawsuits against the people who sued it.

(Source: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gW0phZRRqc3h8CzMK97QPg5Q5lGA;
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=2b3b519c-56ae-402e-bfb2-fd8565ee9c35&k=19086&p=1)