He's sort of combining criminal action and civil suit. Self defense is a 3 point problem, first survive Micky the mugger, do it in a manner that keeps the prosecutors office happy and then deal with the civil suit.

It's not unknown for prosecutors to allege a cocked gun/negligent discharge, this sets you up for aggravated assault (or whatever in your state) or manslaughter. [Of course you're claiming self defense, you're trying to cover your butt over your criminally negligent gun handling!] It's fairly common practice in a civil suit. Negligence increases the damages.