Homeless Atlanta man expected to receive millions from being paralyzed by fall after officer Tasered him
A homeless man who fell, hurt himself and ended up paralyzed while running away from Atlanta police officers is expected to receive a multimillion-dollar payout from the city, which could impact future services, one city leader said. A jury initially awarded Jerry Blasingame $100 million after he was Tasered and left paralyzed. A federal judge reduced the amount, meaning Blasingame could receive at least a $40 million payout, Fox Atlanta reported. "This would put a substantial dent in the amount of services that we would be able to provide to citizens across the board," City Councilman Michael Bond told the news outlet. Blasingame, 69, was panhandling near a freeway when he attempted to run away during the July 10, 2018, encounter with police officers.