Portland Jury Rejects Burglar's $10 Million Claim Against Business Owner Who Shot Him
A Portland jury found in favor of James Grant, the owner who shot burglar Kenneth Voyles, dismissing the latter's $10 million lawsuit.
In March 2023, Kenneth Voyles entered the Touchstone Granite & Marble facility in Portland, Oregon, allegedly looking for food and items to steal. James Grant, the proprietor who resided in the shop’s back room, responded by hurling a cup of urine at Voyles before retrieving a firearm and shooting him three times. Local authorities declined to file criminal charges against Grant, whereas Voyles pleaded guilty to burglary and completed a year in prison plus a five-year sentence in the city’s drug-court program.
Seeking compensation, Voyles filed a $10 million civil suit, arguing the shooting was unjustified. After a seven-day trial, a jury concluded that Voyles’ decision to break in was a substantial factor in his injuries and dismissed the lawsuit. Grant expressed disbelief at the outcome, calling the laws “bad” and “unfair.”
Why it matters
The verdict highlights how courts may view self-defense claims when a victim’s illegal actions contributed to their injuries.
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