-> RG> So civil claims aren't based on the hard cold facts of a incident,
-> RG> often the awards are the result of the emotional state the courtroom
-> RG> theatrics leave the juryin.
-> I really don't think comparing a pain & suffering, television-ad 
-> court case with the death of a person at the hands of the police is 
-> worthwhile. Completely different circumstances.
Television didn't have anything to do with that case...
-> There's more, of course, including the fact that they employed 
-> hog-tying, which was banned at their department at the time.
Banned or not for use except under extreme cases.  What city is
involved?
-> Regardless, discussing one anecdote does us no good.
There are literally hundreds of cases where citizens, Police, Fire
Fighters, Doctors or Lawyers were found innocent of criminal charges,
yet found to be "at fault" to some degree in a civil trial.
-> Do you think police brutality is a problem in our society, and if so,
-> what should be done about it? 
-> I'd be interested in hearing what the cops on this echo think of police
-> brutality..
There is _no_ profession which doesn't have it's share excesses, many
cause pain and suffering to the victim.  There are many processes in place 
to detect and prosecute excessive use of force by Law Enforcement.  Just
watch the news now and again and you'll sure to see such a case.   
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