A federal jury awards a panhandler $100 million after he broke his neck in a tumble caused by a police officer’s stun gun during a foot chase in 2018. Paralyzed Over four years, a 69-year-old built up $14 million in medical expenses and requires round-the-clock care.
Jerry Blasingame, 69, was panhandling in Atlanta on July 10, 2018, when a police officer stopped and pursued him.
The police officer’s stun gun caused him to fall and shatter his neck.
The jury determined that Officer Jon Grubbs employed excessive force against the subject.
Six months after the incident, Grubbs was authorized to resume full duty.
So far, Blasingame, who is now paralyzed and requires $1 million per year in round-the-clock care, has accrued $14 million in medical expenses.
In 2018, a federal jury awarded $100 million to a panhandler who fell and shattered his neck in Atlanta after a police officer stunned him with a stun gun during a foot chase.
Attorney Ven Johnson told the jury that Jerry Blasingame, 69, who is paralyzed after falling and banging his head on the cement, requires round-the-clock care costing $1 million per year and has accrued $14 million in medical expenditures to date.
On July 10, 2018, the jury ruled that Officer Jon Grubbs used excessive force on Blasingame, who was 65 years old at the time and had asked drivers for money.
WXIA-TV and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a jury ordered the Atlanta Police Department to pay $60 million and Grubbs, who was allowed to return to full duty six months after the event, to pay $40 million.
The city has filed a directed verdict motion. A judge’s determination on this motion may alter the jury’s verdict.
Jerry Blasingame, 69, who fell and broke his neck in Atlanta in 2018 after a police officer stunned him with a stun gun, now requires 24-hour care and has $14 million in medical bills.
On July 10, 2018, jurors determined that Officer Jon Grubbs (pictured) used excessive force on Blasingame, who was 65 at the time and had asked drivers for money.
According to online court records, Judge Steve Jones has not yet ruled on this motion. Jones determined prior to the commencement of deliberations that jurors could fairly conclude that Grubbs used excessive force, and that they could weigh the city’s position.
Jones wrote on Friday that the record would permit the jury to conclude that Mr. Blasingame was not committing a serious crime prior to being tased, that Officer Grubbs did not fear for his safety, and that the exigent circumstances were not otherwise severe enough to justify Officer Grubbs’ use of force.
Keith Edwards, Blasingame’s guardian, filed a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta and the officer, Jon Grubbs, for the expense of Blasingame’s past and future medical bills.
According to the lawsuit, Grubbs exited the patrol cruiser and ordered Blasingame to halt, but Blasingame moved to a guard rail and Grubbs ran at him.
Then, Grubbs exits the vehicle and begins after the 65-year-old guy, causing him to fall and break his neck with a stun gun.
Body camera footage shows Blasingame on the ground facedown after being shocked.
The newspaper stated that Johnson and civil rights attorney Craig Jones argued Grubbs broke department rules by using a stun gun on an elderly man who was fleeing.
According to Edwards’ lawsuit, Blasingame was on the street begging for money when Grubbs and another officer observed him conversing with a motorist.
According to the lawsuit, Grubbs exited the patrol cruiser and ordered Blasingame to halt, but Blasingame moved to a guard rail and Grubbs ran at him.
“Grubbs exits the vehicle and begins pursuing my client, a 65-year-old guy, and for what?” For potentially soliciting funds from others?’ Johnson stated.
Johnson asserted that the city did not conduct a comprehensive enough inquiry into Grubbs’ conduct and reinstated him to full duty six months after the incident, before the investigation was complete.
In his closing statement, he told the jurors, “This is how an officer gets away with excessive force.” You must bury it.
One of the attorneys for Atlanta and Grubbs, Staci J. Miller, stated that Blasingame’s injuries were terrible, but that municipal training and department policy were not to blame.
The newspaper reported that the attorneys for the City of Atlanta, who also represented Grubbs, were unavailable to comment on the ruling, and a representative for Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens declined to comment.
According to records from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, Grubbs became a cadet with the Atlanta Police Department in December 2013. A year later, he became a full officer and has remained on the force ever then.
The state police certifying agency lists him as an officer in good standing and his POST file contains no punishments.