California Passes Bill Making Gun Lawsuits Easier
Christine Hall, CNSNews.com
Monday, Aug. 26, 2002
California's Democratically controlled General Assembly Friday passed a bill making it easier to sue gun makers. The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, changes a 1983 law that explicitly exempted gun manufacturers from liability in suits alleging willful or negligent acts or omissions in the design, distribution and marketing of firearms and ammunition.
"This is a legal earthquake for the gun industry," said Luis Tolley of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March, which sponsored the bills and organized dozens of gun victims to lobby legislators.
"Gun manufacturers are facing judgment day," said Tolley. "They will no longer be able to hide from the courts and escape legal accountability when they engage in dangerous and irresponsible conduct that hurts and kills people."
The Brady Campaign is hoping to replicate an Ohio Supreme Court ruling in June that reinstated Cincinnati's lawsuit against the industry and allowed the city to proceed with product liability, negligence and public nuisance claims against fifteen gun manufacturers. Similar suits are pending in twelve California cities and counties.