Judge throws out Grunow gun verdict (Poll needs Freeping!)

Palm Beach Post ^ | Feb 27, 2003 | Palm Beach Post Staff

[jdege]

Judge throws out Grunow gun verdict

Palm Beach Post Staff Reports

WEST PALM BEACH - A judge threw out a jury's verdict today in what had been considered a landmark case against the distributor of a gun used in the shooting death of middle school teacher Barry Grunow.

In November, Valor Corp. was found negligent for not supplying a lock with the tiny .25-caliber pistol. The gun itself was not defective, a jury said in a 6-0 decision.

Although the judgment for Grunow's widow, Pam Grunow, was $24 million, Valor was found liable for only $1.2 million because jurors ruled the gun distributor just 5 percent responsible for the teacher's death. Jurors had found the Palm Beach County School Board 45 percent responsible for the May 2000 shooting.

The jury put the greatest blame - 50 percent - on Elmore McCray, a Brazill family friend who kept the Raven Arms gun in an unlocked dresser drawer even though a gun had been stolen from his home once before.

Since neither McCray nor the school board were defendants in the civil trial, they did not have to pay damages. Both have previous settlements with Pam Grunow.

Bob Montgomery, a prominent personal injury attorney who won an $11.3 billion settlement against the tobacco industry, had sought $76 million in damages against Valor. The case was closely watched because it was the first to combine claims that Saturday night specials are inherently defective and should be sold only with safety locks.

Judge Jorge Labarga ruled today that because the jury had not found a defect the product liability case, there could be no negligence claim. "The allegations in the negligence claim were completely dependent upon a finding of a defect in the product," Labarga said in his ruling.

[jdege]

There's a poll question: "Was the judge right to throw out the Grunow verdict?".

Currently running Yes: 40%, No: 60%.

We need to fix that.

[jdege]

Bang!

[Joe Brower]

YES is now at 67% as of 1621 EST.

[ArrogantBustard]

Saturday night specials

Please, Mr. Palm Beach Post Staff, use the correct term. It's "Niggertown Saturday Night special".

Oh, yes, right. We can't admit that the gun control freaks are also racists. So sorry.

[Paleo Conservative]

Currently running Yes: 40%, No: 60%.

Looks like our Freeping efforts are paying off fast.

Was the judge right to throw out the Grunow verdict? Yes 67% 411
No 33% 201
Total Votes 612

[bigfootbob]

FReeped.

[Redcloak]

Been there.
FReeper that.

70:30... That's more like it!

I can't be sure, but it looks like one could vote more than once. (It is a Florida site, after all.)

[FreeTally]

Judge Jorge Labarga ruled today that because the jury had not found a defect the product liability case, there could be no negligence claim. "The allegations in the negligence claim were completely dependent upon a finding of a defect in the product," Labarga said in his ruling.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

I predicted this would happen.

[The Old Hoosier]

The judge is a Cuban Republican--he made a well-crafted ruling in the "hanging chads" part of the 2000 election that really hurt Gore.

[arly]

Being this is a Florida site make sure you get that chad punched thru all the way!!

[BJClinton]

Was the judge right to throw out the Grunow verdict?
	Yes	72%	650
	No	28%	253
Total Votes			903

[arly]

It is now Yes 75% No 25%

[clintonh8r]

It's possible to do multiclicks on the vote button, if anyone is so inclined. Remember, multiple voting is a time honored tradition in lefty venues like the PBP...

[chuknospam]

Yeah baby!! Freeped the poll too.

[FateAmenableToChange]

Note that there is no cookie limiting the number of times you can vote. Just like New Orleans, Chicago and South Dakota, you can vote as many times as you want.

[clintonh8r]

Do tell.....

[FateAmenableToChange]

Do tell.....

You beat me to it. But I'll be that I have more votes in than you. Heh, heh, heh....

[clintonh8r]

By rapidly clicking your mouse before the connection is made you can rack up 40 or 50 votes in a minute or so.

[RetiredArmy]

Freeped: 81-19 now. Yes is doing it to it.

[gnarledmaw]

85% Y es
15% No