Giffords Law Center Reacts to US Supreme Court Decision to Allow Sandy Hook Families to Proceed With Their Lawsuit Against Gun Manufacturers
November 12, 2019 — Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence reacted to the decision by the United States Supreme Court to deny Remington Arms Co.’s attempt to block a lawsuit brought by the families of victims killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, against the manufacturer of the assault weapon used in the shooting.
Adam Skaggs, Giffords Law Center Chief Counsel & Policy Director:
“Today’s announcement that the Supreme Court will allow the Sandy Hook families to have their day in court is a watershed moment that means no business is above the law or above accountability, including the gun industry. This victory signals that no industry, no matter how many lobbyists they hire or how many millions they funnel to politicians who carry their water, can slam the courthouse doors shut to the victims of their illegal marketing practices. We are glad that the Sandy Hook families’ case will go forward and we look forward to providing them any support that we can, and to supporting all victims of American gun violence as they pursue justice.”
The decision by the court allows families of Sandy Hook victims to proceed with their claim that the marketing and sale of the assault weapon violated Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). Remington appealed to the US Supreme Court after the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that the families can proceed with their claim under CUTPA, a reversal of a lower court filing that dismissed the CUPTA claim because the families lacked a business relationship with the assault weapon’s manufacturer.
Giffords Law Center’s amicus brief explained why that ruling was an error, and the Connecticut Supreme Court agreed. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, a leader in the Firearms Accountability Counsel Taskforce (FACT), authored the brief on behalf of Giffords Law Center, in conjunction with Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge LLP of New Haven.