Villages Agree to Pay Man in Taser Lawsuit

The villages of La Grange Park and Brookfield will pay $262,000 to a man who during a diabetic seizure in April 2009, according to records obtained by Patch.

David Lassi filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the two villages and several police officers in December 2009. The suit accused a La Grange Park officer of using a Taser on Lassi 11 times over the course of 56 seconds.

Federal court records show the case settled in late February. A copy of the settlement agreement indicates neither village is admitting fault, but settled the case to avoid the cost of prolonged litigation.

Lassi and his attorney, Roshna Bala Keen, agreed not to discuss the settlement, she said. The settlement papers indicate Lassi "agrees to keep confidential and not disclose the facts, terms, conditions and amounts of the settlement" with anyone, and "in particular, agrees not to communicate with the media regarding said agreement."

A copy of the four-page settlement was obtained in response to a March 1 Freedom of Information request to both villages. It does not indicate how much each government body will pay toward the $262,000.

As part of the settlement, individual police officers were dropped from the lawsuit and both sides agreed to pay their own legal fees. Brookfield officials stated they have not made any payments to any law firm for representation.  A similar FOIA request relating to the Lassi is still pending with with La Grange Park officials.

On April 9, 2009, Lassi's roommate called 911 after finding Lassi on the floor foaming from the mouth in what records describe as a diabetic seizure. Paramedics from La Grange Park, as well as police from the village and Brookfield arrived at the apartment a short time later.

The lawsuit alleged that, as officers helped paramedics move an unresponsive Lassi, his arm flailed and struck an officer. Lassi was restrained and immobilized when La Grange Park officer Darren Pedota fired the Taser at Lassi and "electrocuted him 11 times," court records show.

In a previous interview, Keen said Lassi suffered a host of issues, including "emotional stress," neurological and muscle damage and diminished quality of life. Attorneys for the villages acknowledged Pedota used the Taser, but denied the number of shots or time duration. Brookfield and its officers were sued based on an alleged failure to intervene on Lassi's behalf.

The case was awaiting a ruling on a summary judgment—when a judge essentially determines whether to continue moving a case toward trial—at the time of the settlement.