Lawyer: DoorDash driver tased has had ‘profound negative mental and emotional effect’
Image from Body Camera video of Ian Cuyper confrontation (February 28, 2024)
SUPERIOR, Wis. – A federal judge has ruled when a Superior Police officer tased a DoorDash driver about two years ago it was a violation of the driver’s constitutional rights.
The incident happened during a traffic stop on the evening of February 28, 2024. Superior Police Officer Taylor Gaard shot Ian Cuypers with her taser on Cuypers’ lower back and legs.
FOX 21 talked to one of Cuypers’ lawyers Nora Snyder. Snyder said they expected this ruling from a jury – but were surprised the judge made this decision just a short time after they asked for it. “It’s unusual for a judge to issue this kind of ruling. On the other hand, you know, we felt, and the judge obviously agreed, that the law in this circumstance is very clear. You cannot use a taser on someone who is not actively resisting does not pose a threat,” Snyder said.
She also said the entire incident has had a “profound negative mental and emotional effect” on Cuypers. Snyder explained, “This has been a rough thing in his life… We’re now almost two years later, and he still has significant trauma from what happened to him. It’s extremely triggering anytime that he has to interact with law enforcement or even see them in a movie. It’s something that has had a really profound negative mental and emotional effect on him.”
The case is slated to go to trial in late July 2026 where a jury will have to decided on compensatory and punitive damages. Snyder would not comment on the amount of money they will be seeking in this case.
They will also have to determine if other officers on scene acted appropriately. Snyder said, “I think it’s important to recognize that it’s not just one officer. It’s every officer on the scene had a constitutional duty to intervene – to prevent a use of excessive force, and failed to do so. Which is an important piece of the case as well.” Snyder continued, “We also have excessive force claims related to the fact that two of the officers pointed their guns at Mr. Cuypers during the traffic stop, which we’re also arguing is an excessive use of force.”
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Lastly they are claiming that Cuypers was over charged. “We have a malicious prosecution claim related to the fact that Mr. Cuypers was charged with resisting or obstructing an officer, despite the fact that there was absolutely no probable cause that he had to believe that he had done that.”
Cuypers did go to court for resisting/obstructing an officer charges where he was found to be not guilty.
Snyder said he Cuypers sued not just for himself, “from the beginning, Mr. Cuypers, pursued this lawsuit to seek justice for himself, but also, really because he wanted to try to prevent this from happening to anyone else… We really see this as something that’s a problem that goes beyond just what happened to Mr. Cuypers, and we hope this decision, you know, will send a message to the City of Superior that they need to rethink how they are training their officers.”
