Just read an article from the Houston Chronicle.  Kathryn Winkfein, a 72-year-old central Texas woman whose Tasering by a deputy constable was shown on video nationwide, has accepted Travis County’s $40,000 settlement offer.

This is the woman I mentioned before who dared the deputy to Taser her during a May 2009 traffic stop.  Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe said defending a lawsuit would have cost more than $40,000.  She had originally sought more than $135,000 for pain and suffering, medical expenses and humiliation.

Before you judge me for being unfeeling and jump up claiming how law enforcement is out to get people, watch the video.  This “lady” was no lady.  She was disrespectful, argumentative, and dangerous.  The argument that no one deserves to be Tasered is a valid one, but I don’t believe she deserved to sue and then be awarded for her behavior and her behavior’s consequences.  Why can’t people learn to behave properly?

I had blogged about frivolous lawsuits before, but this brings a whole new perspective to the field.  It was better to settle with $40,000 of taxpayer money than to take this case to court.  Amazing.  You can get rich by breaking the law and then suing.  Why didn’t I come up with a scheme like that?

Maybe HusbandMike should think more highly of me when I lose my temper.  It may pay off for us in the end.

I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one:
“O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.” And God granted it.
~ François-Marie Arouet (1694 – 1778)
better known by the pen name Voltaire