Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — A federal jury says Pittsburgh police wrongfully used a Taser to get a man out of his car, but say he is entitled only to $269 to cover his medical bill.
Twenty-nine-year-old Robert Rucker, of Penn Hills, had been seeking at least $75,000 in punitive damages. Rucker had said in his lawsuit that he was complying with police orders when Officer Neal Marabello used the stun gun on him in 2006.
The jury on Thursday agreed that the officer used excessive force. But the panel rejected claims by Rucker, who says he developed health problems and lost his job as a result.
Police suspected Rucker had hit his girlfriend with his car. He says she jumped on it during an argument and fell off.
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