Portland(OR) officer sues Glock for millions

Oregonlive ^ | 2/8/06 | Ashbel S. Green

[DuckFan4ever]

A Portland Police officer who was injured while firing a handgun has filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the manufacturers of the gun and the ammunition.

Officer Florin B. Pirv was taking a qualification test in March 2004 with a .45 caliber Glock 21 when the “breech/cartridge feed ramp fractured, causing backward propulsion of hot gases, hot air, and shrapnel to be blown into Pirv’s face, body, and hands,” according to the suit.

The lawsuit names Glock and two ammunition-makers, Federal Cartridge Company and Alliant Technosystems, also known as ATK. Glock is based in Georgia. The ammunition-makers are based in Minnesota.

None returned phone calls and emails seeking comment.

Pirv was one of two Portland officers injured while firing .45-caliber Glocks in March 2004, prompting Portland Police Chief Derrick Foxworth to order the recall of the weapons carried by 230 officers.

The bureau replaced them with 9mm Glocks.

Pirv’s suit seeks $50,000 in compensatory damages, $3 million for pain and suffering and $50 million in punitive damages.

Pirv is assigned to a patrol shift, according to a Portland Police spokeswoman.

[Supernatural]

It sure could go either way. If I were on that jury they would have to show me some very convincing proof that the manufacturers of anything were at fault.

[paul51]

Get a Sig

[1035rep]

Hey careful with the woman thing. The 9mm's have a smaller handle and not as much kick as a .45 but fear of the recoil?

Play nice :)

[Nova]

I've only actually seen it in 9mm. I shouldn't have implied otherwise. I immediately figured that the chamber failure was caused by excessive pressure and assumed the use of +P+.

[Supernatural]

Some women can sure handle one, no doubt about it.

There are men who flinch badly at the recoil of a .45 ACP round.

If you want to see some guns, check out my homepage. Guns are my favorite subject.

This turned out to be a very interesting thread.

[1035rep]

They do make them in .45, hydrashock made by Federal and SXT made by Winchester and Cor-bon

Most guns cannot handle that kind of pressure but that ammo is available.

[1035rep]

I just checked it out. Very Nice

[endthematrix]

Can you say 12 gauge? I've seen guys not wanting to continue after a few shots. And patrolwomen have to qualify.

[Supernatural]

Thank you. You sound very knowledgable about guns yourself. So do most or all on this thread. Usually you get some who don't know what they are talking about. At least a few.

[Nova]

I was surprised at how punch drunk I got from firing a few groups of 3in mag slugs in my 12G Rem870. Didn't feel like I should drive for a bit.

[Myrddin]

My wife handles a 1911 just fine. She prefers the single stack P225 Sig in 9mm. The double stack mag models are too fat. As for recoil aversion...she handles the Ruger .454 Casull with Corbon 300 gr at 1500 gps/1500 ft-lbs muzzle energy just fine. She doesn't care for the N frame S&W 629 because the reach from fingertip to the web of her hand is such that the Hogue MonoGrip nibbles flesh off the joint at the base of her thumb. L frames are just fine.

[1035rep]

This thread caught my attention because of the constant criticism of the Glock. Glock is a good gun as well as many others.

I enjoyed the chat.

[Myrddin]

Try shooting a box of 20 Hornady .454 Casull 300 gr at 1500 fps. Your palms sting from being slapped like a baseball bat. Your whole body has a nervous quiver for a few hours.

[Myrddin]

If the guy modified the gun in any way or used ammunition not approved by the manufacturer, he will lose the case. The user manual is specific about what is permitted. Most manufacturers specifically disavow any responsibility for use of reloaded ammunition.

[1035rep]

The Ruger .454 Casull with Corbon 300 would be comparable to shooting a VW out of a cannon

[1035rep]

That's right but he is denying it. When they get to court it will be pretty obvious what he did but then it's up to his 12 neighbors.

[KingofZion]

did this guy somehow miss the new federal law which bars lawsuits against gun manufacturers?

[Supernatural]

Me too. Glocks are good.

Goodnight!

[1035rep]

The new law applies to third party acts and this lawsuit I believe is for manufacturer negligence.

[Nova]

Sounds like a load for Grizzly, or maybe Rhino?