Police Officer Suffers Permanent Injury from Taser Dart

This case involves a police officer who was severely injured when he was struck in the head by a dart from a taser. At the time of the incident in question, the officer was participating in weapons training with other members of his department. Another member of the police department was using a taser when it accidentally discharged, striking the officer in the back of the head. The officer was rendered unconscious immediately, and was noted to not be breathing for a short period of time. As a result of his injuries the officer now suffers from ongoing headaches and visual disturbances.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Please describe your experience reviewing warning labels, specifically for non-lethal firearms.

2. Will you be able to determine whether or not the warning labels were sufficient for this product?

Expert Witness Response E-000942

I have extensive experience designing and evaluating warning labels and manuals. I have reviewed numerous cases involving warning labels and manuals for industrial equipment and consumer products, including medical equipment. I am on several ASTM committees that develop standards for the content of warning labels. I am very familiar with the ANSI standards for labels and warnings. I wrote a chapter in a report for the AAMI on warnings and labels for medical equipment. I can speak to if the labels for the taser meet existing standards, were reasonably placed, and if the labels were tested properly or not. I have significant experience developing and evaluating the testing for labels. A product is determined to be dangerous or not based on hazard evaluation and risk analysis. After the product is deemed dangerous, then the labels can be evaluated on sufficiency to warn. I would be able to review the label and/or manual that accompanies the taser and opine on if they were sufficient enough.