An Inclusive Litany

7/12/93

Wearing a stocking over his head, Timothy Anderson walked into a Milwaukee McDonald's and pulled a gun on the restaurant's manager. As Anderson helped himself to the contents of the cash register, John Hobson, a security guard, ordered him to drop his gun. Anderson turned to point his gun at Hobson and the guard fired, wounding him seriously in the leg. Anderson made it to his car, where he was found a short time later, unconscious behind the wheel.

After being convicted, Anderson sued Hobson for unspecified monetary damages, saying excessive force was used against him. Anderson's attorney, Scott Anderson (who is no relation) explained, "The mere fact that you're holding up a McDonald's with a gun doesn't mean you give up your right to be protected from somebody who wants to shoot you."

Defense attorney Russell Goldstein, who doesn't think much of Anderson's case, joked wryly that because Anderson's wound cost him the use of his right leg, "he may be making a claim for earnings lost because he hasn't been able to hold up anyone."

Actually, that turned out not to be the case. After Anderson was released from the hospital and prior to his conviction, Anderson was charged in another case. He had allegedly robbed a man who was making a call from a pay phone, taking $50. With his crutches in the back seat, he drove up beside the man, pointed a gun at him and demanded money. Anderson pleaded not guilty in that case.