ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - The Winnebago County Board has paved the way for an $85,000 settlement to be paid to a woman who sued after being shocked by a stun gun while she was in handcuffs.

Heather Quinn fell and suffered head injuries in March of 2008 after a sheriff’s deputy deployed the stun gun. She was under arrest after a traffic stop and deputies were investigating whether she was a victim of domestic abuse.

Her attorney, Patrick Moore, says she wasn’t warned before the deputy used the stun gun as she was walking away from him.

Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen says the board approved the settlement because of the risk of going to trial. He says the settlement was in taxpayers’ interest.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press