Daughter Of Man Shot And Killed By Deputies In Marion County Files $30 Million Lawsuit

  • Wednesday, December 27, 2017

The daughter of a man who was shot and killed by Marion County deputies last Dec. 27 is suing Marion County, Deputy Chris Masterson and unknown deputies.

The complaint brought in Marion County Circuit Court by Deidra Ann Berner asks $10 million compensatory damages and $20 million punitive damages.

The suit says William John Berner went to visit Randy Ford at his mobile home at Whiteside in Marion County. The Berners are from Catoosa County, Ga.

It says William John Berner began drinking and fell asleep on the couch.

The suit says Deputy Masterson showed up at a residence on a disorder call. It says Randy Ford declined to let him inside.

The complaint says William John Berner then made a "hostile call" to the Jasper Police Department. Then he walked out to his F-150 pickup truck.

It says a number of officers yelled for Berner to get out of his vehicle and that a volley of shots were fired "without any justification" when he tried to drive away. One shot hit him in the chest, but he continued to drive before wrecking into a bridge. 

The suit, filed by attorney Robin Flores, said the force used was "unlawful, unnecessary and unreasonable under the circumstances."

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