$500,000 settlement proposed in Taser case

COLUMBIA, Mo., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A man who fell from an overpass in Columbia, Mo., after police allegedly shocked him with a stun gun should receive a $500,000 settlement, his lawyer says.

Attorney Todd Johnson said the city should pay Phillip McDuffy $500,000 or should prepare for ligation prompted by a July 25 incident that resulted in his client falling from an Interstate 70 overpass, the Columbia (Mo.) Tribune said Tuesday.

McDuffy had been feeling suicidal the day of the incident, but had calmed down when Sgt. Dan Beckman shot the subdued individual with a Taser stun gun, Johnson alleged in a letter to City Counselor Cavanaugh Noce.

Johnson said the alleged police attack was likely the result of police retribution, prompted by earlier disagreements between his client and Officer Mark Brotemarkle.

The attorney alleges after being shot by Beckman, his client became disoriented and was shot with another Taser by Officer Sean Dutton. It was then that McDuffy fell from the overpass, breaking numerous bones requiring three surgeries, Johnson said.

Johnson told Noce his client's medical bills have reached nearly $167,000 and McDuffy still must undergo physical therapy to recover from his injuries, the Tribune reported.