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City of Philadelphia v. Polymer80, Inc., et al

Protecting Communities from Ghost Guns

    Last updated .

    In Philadelphia and across the country, ghost guns are being used to kill. Together with Philadelphia, we sued to hold sellers and manufacturers accountable. 

    Philadelphia sued Polymer80 and JSD Supply for selling build-it-yourself ghost guns that have allowed illegal, untraceable firearms to proliferate and contributed to increased homicide and nonfatal-shooting rates in the city.

    On July 5, 2023, the City of Philadelphia, represented by Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Hausfeld LLP, filed a lawsuit against Polymer80, Inc. and JSD Supply, Inc., two of the largest ghost gun companies in the United States. In April 2024, the case was settled favorably for Philadelphia.

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    The Complaint

    Our complaint alleged that Polymer80 and JSD Supply have substantially contributed to gun violence in Philadelphia through their illegal sales of ghost gun products. 

    We also alleged that the companies have been negligent and have created a public nuisance through their marketing, selling, and distributing of unserialized firearms to Philadelphia residents without conducting background checks or keeping appropriate records. 

    The complaint detailed how the companies’ actions have harmed the health, safety, and well-being of Philadelphia residents and contributed to a public health crisis in the city.

    We sought injunctive relief on behalf of Philadelphia to require Polymer80 and JSD Supply to stop selling ghost guns to customers in the city, as well as monetary damages to compensate for the harm the companies’ business practices have caused.

    Status

    The case settled in April 2024. 

    Under the terms of the settlement, Polymer80 is permanently prohibited from selling ghost gun products in Philadelphia, must pay the city $1.3 million in damages, and, for a period of four years, must stop selling in any of the nine counties located within the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The company must further prohibit all dealers that sell its products in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia from selling to residents of Philadelphia for four years. 

    JSD Supply is prohibited from selling ghost gun products anywhere in Pennsylvania for a period of four years and must prohibit all vendors at its Eagle Shows in Pennsylvania from selling ghost gun products. Any violation of the agreement subjects JSD to a $1,000 penalty payable to Philadelphia.

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