Deputies can be sued for using Taser on doctor

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP (AP) — Oakland County sheriff’s deputies accused of excessive force can be sued in the case of a doctor who was hit with a Taser and handcuffed during a dispute over his father’s death.

An appeals court on Wednesday said the deputies don’t have governmental immunity. In a 2-1 decision, the court affirmed the ruling of an Ann Arbor federal judge.

In 2013, Rick Kent was in poor health when he died at the Commerce Township home of his son, Dr. Michael Kent. The doctor’s wife called authorities to report a natural death.

Michael Kent became upset when emergency medical technicians arrived and said they must do everything to try to save his father unless there was a do-not-resuscitate order.

Deputies said Kent was a threat. The appeals court disagreed.