Facts

Deputy Sheriffs for the County of Los Angeles responded to a disturbance call at the home of Brian Pickett's mother, who told authorities that Pickett was acting erratically and had been smoking methamphetamine and phencyclidine during the course of the day. The mother also told the authorities that Pickett threatened to kill her and her daughter. The deputy sheriffs entered the home and found Pickett standing on the bathroom counter, squatting in the sink and starring at a mirror. Pickett proceeded to shout obscenities at the deputies, refused commands to place his hands behind his back and step out of the bathroom, and grew increasingly agitated. Then, a deputy fired his stun gun, shocking Pickett for 29 seconds, which is nearly six of the device's 5-second activation cycles. However, after Pickett was handcuffed, he continued to violently thrash and kick at the deputies. Two deputies applied a "Ripp Hobble" to restrain Pickett's legs. After being retrained, Pickett was carried into the living room and was laid on his left side. Pickett went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Pickett's children brought a civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles and the deputies.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS: Plaintiffs contended that defendant deputies used excessive force against Pickett and caused his death.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: Defendant deputies denied the allegations and contended that their actions were reasonable.

Result

The case settled for $3.8 million.