Man awarded $100 million after Atlanta police left him paralyzed

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A jury has awarded $100 million to Jerry Blasingame, a Georgia man who was paralyzed after an Atlanta police officer reportedly shocked him with a stun gun during a foot chase, according to reports.

Jurors found that Officer Jon Grubbs used unreasonable force against Blasingame, who was 65 years old and had been panhandling, asking drivers for money on July 10, 2018.

Jerry Blasingame awarded $100M

Now 69 years old, Blasingame requires round-the-clock care costing $1 million a year, and has $14 million in medical bills so far, said his attorney Ven Johnson.

Jurors found that the Atlanta Police Department should pay $60 million and Grubbs should pay $40 million, WXIA-TV and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Blasingame’s conservator, Keith Edwards, sued the city of Atlanta and the police officer, Jon Grubbs, for the cost of his past and future medical bills.

Blasingame’s attorneys said Grubbs violated department policy by using a stun gun on an elderly man who was running away, the newspaper reported.

Edwards’ lawsuit said Blasingame was on the street and asking people for money when Grubbs and another officer arrived and saw him talking with a driver.

Grubbs stepped out of the patrol car and told Blasingame to stop, but he moved out of the street to a guard rail, and Grubbs ran toward him, according to the lawsuit.

“Grubbs gets out of the car and starts chasing my client — a 65-year-old man — and for what? For potentially asking people for money?” Johnson said.

Johnson said the city did not conduct a thorough investigation into Grubbs’ conduct and let him return to full duty six months after the incident and before the investigation was concluded.

“This is how an officer gets away with excessive force,” he told the jury in his closing argument. “You bury it.”

The city has filed a motion for a directed verdict. A ruling from a judge on that motion may amend the jury’s verdict.