SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 8, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), the market leader in advanced electronic control devices, announced that the United States District Court for the District of Nevada issued an order in the product liability wrongful death lawsuit entitled Neal-Lomax, et al. v. TASER International, et al. The order granted TASER International's Daubert motions limiting the testimony of plaintiffs' causation experts and granted TASER International's motion for summary judgment. In addition, the plaintiffs in the case of Robert Earl Williams, Jr., et al. v. TASER International, et al. filed a Plaintiff Notice of Nonsuit with the District Court of Mclennan County (TX), 74th Judicial District, which effectively dismissed this product liability wrongful death litigation against all defendants.
"In granting TASER's motion for summary judgment in the Neal-Lomax litigation, the United States District Court ruled as follows: 'Plaintiffs have failed to produce any admissible evidence stating to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the (TASER electronic control device) caused or contributed to Lomax's death. Plaintiffs therefore have not raised a genuine issue of material fact as to causation, and the Court will grant Defendant's (TASER International) motion for summary judgment'," said Doug Klint, Vice President and General Counsel of TASER International.
"The Court also ruled to exclude Plaintiff's principle causation experts, Brett H. Woodard, M.D. and Jared Strote, M.D. The Court excluded Woodard's opinions by finding that his opinions are not based on reliable medical or scientific methodology. The Court excluded Strote's opinion because it lacks any objective medical source linking the eyewitness testimony and his opinions as to what caused Lomax's death. Absent any medical or scientific basis to support his opinions, Strote's opinions are not based on reliable medical or scientific methodology. It should also be noted that the Court granted the Las Vegas (NV) Metropolitan Police Department's (LVMPD) motion for summary judgment and ruled that the LVMPD Officer used objectively reasonable force in his use of the TASER(r) X26(tm) on Mr. Lomax," said Klint.
"We are also pleased to announce that as a result of TASER International's successful litigation against the Summit County Ohio Medical Examiner, which corrected the autopsy report in the 2006 Mark McCullaugh, Jr. death, one Summit County deputy sheriff was recently acquitted of a murder charge and criminal charges were dismissed against two other deputies," concluded Klint.
About TASER International, Inc.
TASER International's products protect life. TASER provides advanced Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) for use in the law enforcement, medical, military, corrections, professional security, and personal protection markets. TASER devices use proprietary technology to incapacitate dangerous, combative, or high-risk subjects who pose a risk to law enforcement officers, innocent citizens, or themselves in a manner that is generally recognized as a safer alternative to other uses of force. For more information please call TASER International at (800) 978-2737 or visit our website at www.TASER.com.
The TASER International logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2931
Note to Investors
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements, without limitation, regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking information is based upon current information and expectations regarding TASER International. These estimates and statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.
TASER International assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release. These statements are qualified by important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: (1) market acceptance of our products; (2) our ability to establish and expand direct and indirect distribution channels; (3) our ability to attract and retain the endorsement of key opinion-leaders in the law enforcement community; (4) the level of product technology and price competition for our products; (5) the degree and rate of growth of the markets in which we compete and the accompanying demand for our products; (6) risks associated with rapid technological change and new product introductions; (7) competition; (8) litigation including lawsuits resulting from alleged product related injuries and death; (9) media publicity concerning allegations of deaths and injuries occurring after use of the TASER device and the negative effect this publicity could have on our sales; (10) TASER device tests and reports; (11) product quality; (12) implementation of manufacturing automation; (13) potential fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; (14) financial and budgetary constraints of prospects and customers; (15) order delays; (16) dependence upon sole and limited source suppliers; (17) negative reports concerning the TASER device; (18) fluctuations in component pricing; (19) government regulations and inquiries; (20) dependence upon key employees and our ability to retain employees; (21) execution and implementation risks of new technology; (22) ramping manufacturing production to meet demand; (23) medical and safety studies; (24) field test results; and (25) other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, those factors detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Form 10-Qs.
The statements made herein are independent statements of TASER International. The inclusion of any third parties does not represent an endorsement of any TASER International products or services by any such third parties.