GILBERTSONInvestigations Inc. (239) 571-1840
Use of Force · Tasers, Canine & Less-Lethal

Tasers, Canine &
Less-Lethal Force

$42M
Plaintiff settlements & judgmentsSecured by retaining counsel in matters since 2014 · See the case file

Direct line: (239) 571-1840  ·  GregoryGilbertson@proton.me

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only

Less-lethal is a category, not a permission slip. Tasers, chemical agents, impact weapons, projectiles, and canine deployments each carry their own standards, and each leaves a record that shows whether those standards were followed.

From the Bench
U.S. District Court Western District of Washington

Never excluded. Professor Gilbertson’s testimony has not been excluded at trial in any state or federal court.

Ruling on a motion to exclude his testimony in Alvarez v. King County, No. C16-0721RAJ, 2017 WL 3189025 (W.D. Wash. July 27, 2017), Judge Richard A. Jones entered the following opinion.

“Mr. Gilbertson’s qualifications demonstrate extensive experience in policing. His expansive work as a police officer in Georgia, with assignments as a SWAT team officer, juvenile court investigator, school resource officer, stakeout squad officer, senior patrolman, and patrolman; then a career as a tenured college professor and university lecturer teaching criminal justice courses to degree-seeking students at colleges and universities, and as a licensed private investigator conducting felony pretrial investigations for attorneys in Washington State in dozens of criminal cases, makes him unique in the field of police expert witnesses. The Court finds that, based on his experience, Mr. Gilbertson’s testimony can be expected to have a reliable basis in knowledge and experience of police practices.”

The Hon. Richard A. Jones United States District Judge
The Scope

What this covers.

Within this engagement

  • Taser and electronic-control-device force
  • Pepper spray and chemical-agent force
  • Baton and impact-weapon force
  • Less-lethal projectile force
  • Police-canine force and deployment decisions
  • Proportionality, necessity and available alternatives
How it is analyzed

Device logs where produced, video, use-of-force reports, canine deployment records, training histories, and the agency's device-specific policies, measured against proportionality and necessity on the totality of the circumstances.

Engagement terms and the published fee schedule: For Retaining Counsel →

Questions

Before the record is sent.

Do less-lethal cases really turn on policy?
Frequently. Device-specific policy and training set the terms: when activation is authorized, for how long, against whom, and what warnings and aid are required. The record shows whether practice matched them.
What does retention cost?
A non-refundable $9,000 flat fee covering discovery review and the written expert report, with a bullet-point outline approved with counsel before writing begins. The full published schedule is on the For Counsel page.
Retain

Send a less-lethal record.

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only. Conflicts are checked before anything substantive, and you will hear about a conflict immediately.

Taser, canine & less-lethal inquiry

For counsel with a less-lethal or canine deployment matter.

Inquiry sent.

You will hear back directly. If the matter is urgent, call (239) 571-1840.

(239) 571-1840Direct line, Naples, Florida GregoryGilbertson@proton.meDirect email, prefilled for this matter.
Nationwide practiceRetained in 42 states and D.C. · Based in Naples, FL

Conflicts are checked before any substantive discussion. Please do not send privileged material with a first inquiry; after retention the record is exchanged on physical media. Gregory consults for attorneys and their staff only, and does not provide legal advice or attorney referrals to individuals.

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