Significant Results:

NEWS FLASH (6/6/08) - Heston vs.
TASER International (
products liability, police
misconduct, wrongful death
) - 6.2 Million
Dollar Verdict
:

We are extremely proud, along with our co-counsel, John
Burton, to be the FIRST attorneys in the country to obtain a
products liability verdict against TASER Intl., as a result of
the wrongful death of Robert Heston.

We are thrilled to report that the facade of invincibility
peddled for so long by TASER Intl., has finally begun to
crumble.   In the case of Heston v. TASER, Intel., et al., we
were able to convince a jury in the U.S. District Court for
the Northern District of California (San Jose) that TASER
knew about the potential risks of its M26 model due to
prolonged discharges but failed to warn about such risks.
  
In order to do this, we took a slightly different approach
which we hope will become more well known in the
coming days and months. For over a year and a half, we
reviewed all of the known research that was available
concerning the physiological effects of TASER
discharges.  Much of that research has to do with direct
electrical stimulation of the heart - one theory that many
believe explains why people die suddenly while being
subjected to TASER discharges. We rejected this theory
because the state of the research, in our opinion, is mixed
at best.    Instead, we put forth another theory which is not
as widely known but is supported by medical research -
metabolic acidosis. Our position is quite simple. TASERs
admittedly cause severe muscle contractions which cause
the muscles to produce lactate or lactic acid. As the
acidity of the blood continues to rise, pH drops. If pH
drops to far too quickly, cardiac arrest can occur. This is
well documented in the medical literature.   In fact, we
believe this is precisely what happened to Mr. Heston. It
should also be noted that our jury rejected Excited
Delirium as the cause of death (ED is nothing more than a
way for police agencies to shift the blame for a person’s
death away from their conduct and onto the victim)
  
Rick Smith, the CEO of TASER, issued a press release
suggesting that the Heston jury reached its decision
based on sympathy for the family.  If so, how does he
explain the 85% reduction of compensatory damages.  Mr.
Smith's statement is nothing more than spin from TASER.
Peter Williamson was the only attorney to speak with
some of the jurors after the trial. Their decision was well
reasoned and based on a very solid understanding of the
facts of our case. The jury was convinced that TASER
knew about the risks of prolonged applications (Mr.
Heston received 25 total discharges from 3 different
devices) but did nothing to warn its customers. As the Jury
Foreman put it, TASER could have easily sent warnings to
its customers but choose not to do so. This explains the
5.2 million dollar punitive damage award.
  
As we told the Heston family after the verdict was
announced, it is still possible for a David to beat a Goliath
in a U.S. Court of Law.  Once again, JUSTICE has
prevailed.



Morales vs. County of Ventura, et al. (police
misconduct
) - 2.1 Million Dollar Verdict:

While attending a family wedding, Anthony Morales, a
former police officer, attempted to take a pistol away from
a drunken wedding guest.   During the ensuing struggle,
the gun discharged.   Ventura County Sheriff's Deputies,
who had been called to the scene, surrounded the area.  
One of the deputies, who had less than 4 months of patrol
experience, believed the was being pointed in her
direction.   In fear for her life, she fired our own gun at the
wedding guest, striking Mr. Morales instead.   The bullet
struck Mr. Morales in the back causing permanent nerve
damage.  

The County of Ventura contended that because the deputy
believed her life was being threatened at the time she
fired, neither she or the County should be held liable.   As
a consequence, the County offered Mr. Morales only
$10,000 to settle his case.

After a three week trial in the United States District Court
(Los Angeles), Peter Williamson, along with his co-
counsel John Burton, obtained a unanimous verdict in
favor of Mr. Morales in the sum of 2.1 million dollars.   This
verdict represents the largest verdict against a police
agency in Ventura County history.  The case was ultimately
settled after trial for $2,475.000.00.  



Milton vs. National RV, Inc., et al. (personal
injury - auto accident
) - 1.7 Million Dollar
Verdict
:

Lisa Milton was returning home from work on a Friday
afternoon when she came to a T-intersection on a rural
road in Riverside County.   As she slowly entered the
intersection, the defendant, driving a 40' motor home ran
his stop sign at about 45 mph broadsiding her vehicle.  
Ms. Milton suffered numerous fractures and other
debilitating injuries.  She underwent 7 surgeries and was
unable to return to work after the accident.

The defendants claimed that Ms. Milton was solely  
responsible for the accident because she rolled through
her stop sign without completely stopping.  They argued
that if she had completely stopped, the accident would
never have happened.   They also claimed that she was
under the influence of various drugs at the time of the
accident including cannabis, opiates and amphetamine
(according to a toxicology screen performed in the
emergency room) which contributed to the accident.

After a four week trial in Riverside County Superior Court,
Peter Williamson obtained a unanimous verdict in favor of
Ms. Milton in the sum of 1.7 million dollars.   More
importantly, the jury unanimously found that Ms. Milton did
not contribute to the accident and rejected the defense
evidence that she was under the influence at the time of
the accident.   The defendants were held 100% liable for
her injuries and other damages.



Daniels vs. County of Ventura, et al (police
misconduct, wrongful death
) - $700,000
Settlement
:

On April 8, 2003, James Daniels, 19-year old resident of
Thousand Oaks, California with a long history of mental
illness was observed cutting himself with an "exacto" knife.
Deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department
were called and responded in an attempt to obtain help for
Mr. Daniels.   A 10-minute foot pursuit of Mr. Daniels by
the deputies ensued.   Mr. Daniels never threatened
anyone verbally nor brandished the knife towards anyone.   
Every time he encountered either a bystander or a deputy
sheriff, he ran away from them.  However, as Mr. Daniels
walked up a driveway leading to a Swim School with his
back turned towards the deputies, he was fatally shot 8
times.  Seven of the 8 shots has a back to front trajectory.  
Williamson & Krauss were retained in the this much
publicized case to represent the parents of Mr. Daniels.  
Before the case went to trial, the deputy who shot Mr.
Daniels to death filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals.  Mr. Williamson orally argued the case
before the Court of Appeals and was successful in
defeating the appeal.   The case was ordered back to the
District Court for trial.   Weeks before trial was to begin,
Mr. Williamson reached a settlement with the defendants
for $500,000 on behalf of James' mother.   The case
proceeded to trial on behalf of his father which resulted in
a favorable verdict on one claim and  a hung jury on a
second claim.    A mistrial was declared by the court.  
Subsequently, Williamson and Krauss obtained an
additional $200,000 settlement on behalf of James' father.



People vs. Kilzi (criminal defense/police
misconduct
) - Acquittal:

Peter Williamson and Todd Krauss recently defended Mr.
Kilzi against charges that he interfered with a police
officer's attempt to arrest another Kilzi family member.   
During the arrest, Mr. Kilzi was subjected to several jolts
from a TASER stun gun although, luckily, he was not
seriously injured.   The use of the TASER became the
centerpiece of our defense.    Although a trial in West
Covina Superior Court resulted in a hung jury, the District
Attorney's office decided to drop all charges against Mr.
Kilzi.   Williamson & Krauss subsequently filed a civil rights
action against the West Covina Police Department for its
officer's excessive use of force and obtained a $100,000
settlement for Mr. Kilzi.
RESULTS
THAT MAKE
A DIFFERENCE
Williamson & Krauss                                             Tel: (818) 344-4000
Williamson & Krauss                                             Tel: (818) 344-4000
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