Victims of 2019 San Diego synagogue shooting allowed to sue gunmaker
A judge says victims of the 2019 synagogue shooting in San Diego County that killed one worshiper and wounded three can sue the manufacturer of the semiautomatic rifle and the gun shop that sold it to a teenager.
A 2005 federal law shields gunmakers from damages in most cases for crimes committed with their weapons, but allows lawsuits if the manufacturer was negligent or knowingly violated a state or federal law. In this case, victims and families in the Poway synagogue shooting have adequately alleged that Smith & Wesson, the nation’s largest gun manufacturer, knew its AR15-style rifle could be easily modified into a machine-gun-like or an assault weapon in violation of California law, San Diego County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Medel said Wednesday. ...
