darkblue, you come downstairs at night and someone is in your house. you dont know if he has a weapon or not. you can either call the cops, wait for them to get there, and give him more than enough time to kill you and your family, or you can beat the shit out him. OP was right on. personally, i would have just grabbed a shotgun.

I live in England where we have no personal protection rights and i would've killed the son of a bitch with my hands anyway, since i'm not allowed to carry a firearm either. Sure i'd probably go down for it, but whats the point in being free if you arn't going to defend yourself and that freedom? You did good man, i hope you win Then take the bastard out with a 50'cal rifle :)

That's bullshit. Get a good lawyer and counter sue. There is a saying here in Montana "Somewhere out here in Montana is a deep, deep hole with somebody's name on it, and even the buzzards won't find it." You should have shot him and there wouldn't be any questions. Just make sure it's in the back. Oh, I meant nuts. OOH sorry, I just feel reeeeeeallly bitchy tonight!

You don't HAVE to pay for anything but an attorney, because he's just suing you. So get a lawyer, defend yourself, and counter-sue while you're at it. And **** all, don't listen to the nuts on either side. You were right to subdue and restrain him, and it would have been wrong to kill him, so good on you for not being one of THOSE people.

How did you restrain him with zip ties?

I would have just cut his nuts off. If you have sympathy for people like that, you DON"T want to come to where I live. We work too hard to get where we are in life to have some douchebag just help themselves. I don't mind sharing, but don't you dare touch my stuff that I worked hard to buy and then expect me not to be pissed off about it. Why don't these people just get jobs and buy their own stuff? Who ever says there are no jobs is lazy or lying, there is always something. McDonald's if you have to. Get some pride. Dang it, still bitchy.

When someone breaks into your house. You have the full right to protect it. You could definitly counter sue. Oh and to #87 the guy might have been unconsious.

everyone has stolen or cheated the system at least once in their life. even if its a pen or pencil, or ordering water and leaving with a coke from mcdonalds. its stealing.

You have a shitty lawyer

that's what I like about living in TEXAS because you can shoot an intruder in your property and not be in trouble.