Earlier this year, New Carlisle News photographer Andy Grimm was shot because of his camera. Clark County deputy Jake Shaw confused Grimm’s camera and tripod for a gun and reportedly shot him without warning. The photographer has now decided to file a lawsuit against Shaw, seeking over $75,000 in damages.
The shooting happened when Grimm encountered a traffic stop and pulled over to take photos. Reports say that Deputy Shaw confused the camera and tripod for a gun, and shot Grimm twice without warning. One bullet struck him in the chest, and the other grazed his shoulder. A few days after the shooting, the bodycam footage was published. Here you can hear the conversation and confirm that, indeed, there was no warning from Shaw before he pulled the trigger.
After the shooting, Grimm was rushed to Miami hospital for surgery. He had high chances of reaching full recovery, but his camera didn’t make it. As reported before, Grimm and Shaw know each other. You can also assume it from the conversation you can hear in the bodycam video.
RIP my Nikon D750. It sat in the rain all night as evidence in the shooting.
Posted by Andy Grimm on Tuesday, September 5, 2017
After the incident, Grimm confirmed that he knew Shaw. He called the shooting “misunderstanding” and said he didn’t want Shaw to lose his job over it. However, he has eventually decided to sue him, along with the city of New Carlisle and the county Board of Commissioners.
The lawsuit lists Andy Grimm, his wife Melanie Grimm and KBA News as plaintiffs. As the lawsuit reads, KBA News is known as the New Carlisle News, and Grimm and his family are the owners.
The lawsuit includes the violation of the Fourth and/or Fourteenth Amendment, common law assault and battery, emotional distress, loss of consortium, lost wages, and intentional interference with contractual relations. These are the claims for relief from the lawsuit:
- Andrew Grimm against Defendant Shaw for Excessive Force in Violation of the Fourth and/or Fourteenth Amendments
- Andrew Grimm against Defendants Clark County, Ohio and the City of New Carlisle, for Failure to Hire, Train, and Supervise and for Customs, Policies, and Practices Causing Violations of the Fourth Amendment
- Andrew Grimm Common Law Assault and Battery against Defendants Shaw, Clark County, Ohio, and City of New Carlisle, Ohio
- Andrew Grimm and Melanie Grimm’s Common Law Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims against Defendants Shaw, Clark County and the City of New Carlisle
- Melanie Grimm Loss of Consortium against Defendants Shaw, Clark County and the City of New Carlisle)
- Andrew Grimm Lost Wages against Defendants Shaw, Clark County and the City of New Carlisle
- KBA News, LLC Claim of Intentional Interference with Contractual Relations against Defendants Shaw and Clark County
As FOX 45 reports, the incident didn’t just cause Grimm to miss his time at work and lose wages. The lawsuit also states an assortment of symptoms he’s suffered as a consequence of the shooting: “headaches, shaking, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and lowered self-confidence, as well as feeling of hopelessness, embarrassment, paranoia, helplessness, confusion, fear, and nervousness.”
Based on all these claims, Grimm seeks over $75,000 in damages, not including interests and costs. You can read the full lawsuit here.
[via FOX 45]
Thats insane.
Only 75..bet that’s exactly what the coverage of insurance is that the city has for cops in this situation is
Glad i dont live in a trigger happy, shoot first ask questions later country like America
At least we have a court system where unfortunate incidents like this can be tried for unconstitutionality.
I am glad you don’t, too, lol. Proud to be an American.
Our police still wear cowboy hats and ride around on horses.
Why such buthurt? Have you been personally offended by America. And your statement is absolutely idiotic and meaningless.
Why does this only happen in the USA? Surely not every citizen is so dangerous that cops have to panic like this…?
It doesn’t only happen in America. We just have more rights than other countries where this happens.
I’m with you. Americans believe they are the best of the best. And i would not live there even if they pay me for doing nothing. Freedom is to go for a walk at 3am, by empty dark streets, with your camera and still feeling safe.
75K has to be his losses…..I don’t think he is trying to screw anyone here…..75K seems pretty reasonable to me.
But the pain and suffering the mental anguish. If his losses were $75,000 then he needs to up it to $120,000
I thought the same thing. If he’s only asking for 75K.. they need to just give it to him before he realizes he could get an easy 500K ++
It’s not much considering what happened not to mention the consequences
75K? seems low… based on his symptoms, his ability to earn will be impacted indefinitely.
I didn’t read the actual lawsuit, but is this only against the cop personally? Some homeowner’s policies actually provide you some amount against civil suits. Perhaps that’s there the $75,000 comes from. You think there would be separate lawsuits against the sheriff’s department and county. I also think getting shot on the job would make it difficult for anyone to return to the job.
Find where the copper lives and sit outside his house and name and shame the fool
Mate the mindset of dopey yanks
Fools with guns.
I thought they knew each other. ?
He should sue for more than $75,000. This photographer is now suffering from PTSD.
Only $75,000? I would have gone for a lot more.
I hope they fire that cop and also every other cop.
I have never met a cop who wasn’t a sociopathic bully. Very Sad.