# Robber Sues Victims After They Beat Him **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 13, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-sues-victims-after-they-beat-him/360605 "2006-06-13T19:21:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrightSmite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@BrightSmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightSmite)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-sues-victims-after-they-beat-him/360605/1 "2006-06-13T19:21:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*The Associated Press > Monday, June 12, 2006; 7:58 AM > ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A man is suing an auto-parts store for assault and battery after he attempted to hold up the business and employees responded by beating him with a metal pipe. > > Dana Buckman, 46, walked into an auto shop brandishing a semiautomatic pistol last summer, only to have it turned on him by two AutoZone employees, police said. The men beat Buckman with a metal pipe and held him with his own gun. > > Buckman escaped and was arrested a week later. > > He pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 18 years in prison as a repeat violent felon. > > Buckman claims the men chased him out of the store and continued to beat him. He is suing the auto shop and the men for the injuries he suffered and for emotional distress. > > “In some respects, you wonder if a case like this even needs a defense. It speaks for itself,” said lawyer Patrick B. Naylon, who represents AutoZone and the employees. > > But lawyer Phillip R. Hurwitz, who represents Buckman, said the employees crossed the line by pursuing Buckman and attacking him. > > “The danger was past,” Hurwitz said. “These two employees took it upon themselves to go after Mr. Buckman after he left the store.\*” [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061200352.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061200352.html) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-sues-victims-after-they-beat-him/360605/2 "2006-06-13T19:40:04Z")
I don’t have a lot of sympathy for the people being sued. While they were having fun, the thief escaped, and he might have hurt someone later. If they had just disarmed him and restrained him, the cops could have gotten him and he wouldn’t be a danger any more. They also went well above the level of force required, but I’m more concerned about them letting him get away. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-sues-victims-after-they-beat-him/360605/3 "2006-06-13T19:56:39Z")
There’s already a thread on this. > **[No - you aren't allowed to sue for emotional damages...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=375259)** > > …when the people you tried to rob at gunpoint use the gun you brought to intimidate you. Not having all the details, I can’t say that this suit is completely frivolous - the allegations that the plaintiff’s lawyer are outlining may well be serious... ---
**Author:** ![BrightSmite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@BrightSmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightSmite)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robber-sues-victims-after-they-beat-him/360605/4 "2006-06-13T20:21:00Z")
[QUOTE=Telemark] There’s already a thread on this. > **[No - you aren't allowed to sue for emotional damages...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=375259)** > > …when the people you tried to rob at gunpoint use the gun you brought to intimidate you. Not having all the details, I can’t say that this suit is completely frivolous - the allegations that the plaintiff’s lawyer are outlining may well be serious... [/QUOTE] Ooops, I DID do a search before I posted this. The ^^ 's OP was a \*little \* too ambigious as to the actual content of his/her thread in regards to me finding it in search. I hate reposts just as much as anybody… Thanks for the “notice”.