Gun Company Must Pay Teacher's Widow

Click10.com ^ | 11/14/02

[correctthought]

BREAKING NEWS: Gun Company Must Pay Teacher's Widow Posted: 5:02 p.m. EST November 14, 2002 Updated: 5:31 p.m. EST November 14, 2002

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. -- A jury has awarded the widow of teacher Barry Grunow $1.2 million from a gun distributor. Pam Grunow's lawsuit accused Valor Corp of distributing a gun that was "unsafe, defective and lacked features that would have prevented a minor from using it."

The case stems from the murder of teacher Barry Grunow by one of his students. Nathaniel Brazill shot Grunow to death two years ago in a West Palm Beach classroom.

Pam Grunow's lawyer asked for $76 million. But the jury found gun distributor Valor Corporation 5 percent liable for Grunow's death. The owner of the gun and the school board held the most of the liability, the jury found.

The jury didn't find any liability for Nathanial Brazill, who pulled the trigger. Brazill stole the unloaded gun and bullets from a cookie tin stashed away in a dresser drawer of family friend Elmore McCray.

The jury said Grunow's family should get $24 million from the three parties. The school board was told to pay her $10.8 million, and the family friend was told to pay $12 million.

This is the first lawsuit in the country in which a gun company has in any way been held responsible in a murder.

[correctthought]

Did a search, didn't see it.

[San Jacinto]

If the court enters a judgment based on this jury's award, it will be reversed on appeal-- my prediction.

[A_perfect_lady]

Man.... we are going down in flames if we don't roll back this tide.

[correctthought]

Hope so, this did not make my day.

[jdege]

In any other state but Florida, I'd agree with you.

But I have little respect for Florida appellate courts.

[Eastbound]

So why wasn't the can manufacturer fined for selling a can that didn't have a child-proof lock on it?

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

It's a good thing the kid didn't kill her with a screw driver or a hammer.

[Hodar]

So, then if the teen had used a hammer to kill the teacher; "Stanley" should be liable as well.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This will be reversed on appeal.

[Lunatic Fringe]

The jury didn't find any liability for Nathanial Brazill, who pulled the trigger.

Another stupid vote by Floridians.

[correctthought]

Shouldn't his parent's be liable for creating him?

[Eastbound]

Using the court's reasoning, if a sword was used in the crime, would the sword manufacturer be held liable for not putting a safety lock on the sheath?

[sauropod]

This had better be reversed. Else, car makers, lawnmower makers, cutlery makers, etc. will be held liable also.

What silliness.

[1_Of_We]

What kind of people live in Palm Beach? Seems like we hear about a lot of problems from that part of the country.

[UbIwerks]

There is only liability if the product is defective; these gun suits are just plain wrong and smack of a rotten, materialist philosophy.

[correctthought]

Obviously defective ones, maybe we can collect damages.

[JoeMomma]

Did the jury give the verdict using a Votomatic by chance? If so, the gun maker should demand a hand recount.

[The SISU kid]

"PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. -- ...."

Says it all in a nut shell...

[Sender]

Beam me up, Scotty!

[FourPeas]

The jury didn't find any liability for Nathanial Brazill, who pulled the trigger. Brazill stole the unloaded gun and bullets from a cookie tin stashed away in a dresser drawer of family friend Elmore McCray.

The ultimate in stupidity. No, it's not the kid's fault. He only stole an unloaded gun, stole bullets, and shot someone. Nope, no liability there. It's the gun manufacture's fault. Uh, huh, right.