BALTIMORE — A Baltimore City jury delivered a historic ruling late Monday night, awarding $62 million in damages against Hanover Armory, a Maryland-based gun retailer. This amount marks the largest jury verdict ever awarded to a gun dealer in the United States, with the case centering on the retailer’s sales of ghost gun kits.
The six-member jury found Hanover Armory negligent for its role in selling untraceable and unserialized firearms, deemed ghost guns, which contributed to public safety concerns in Baltimore. After just 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury concluded that the company’s practices significantly contributed to a public nuisance that has affected local communities.
This landmark decision followed a week of testimony in Baltimore City’s Circuit Court. Jurors reviewed compelling evidence that linked Hanover Armory’s sales to a dramatic increase in violent crime across neighborhoods, highlighting the growing dangers posed by these weapons.
The case was initiated on behalf of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, who were represented by a coalition of law firms including Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, Berger Montague, and Brady: United Against Gun Violence.
Saba Bireda, a partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight and co-counsel in the case, emphasized the significance of the verdict. “This ruling sends a strong message that gun manufacturers and retailers must acknowledge the broader implications of their sales practices,” Bireda stated. “The jury’s quick verdict underscores the critical nature of Hanover Armory’s actions and illustrates that profit margins cannot overshadow community safety.”
Evidence presented during the trial indicated a staggering 1,500% increase in ghost gun recoveries in Baltimore from 2019 to 2022. Many of these firearms were directly connected to shootings, homicides, and crimes involving minors. The lack of required background checks for purchasing ghost gun kits makes them especially appealing to those prohibited from owning firearms, including minors and individuals with felony convictions.
The trial proceeded after a significant U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2025, which classified ghost gun kits as firearms under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968, further underscoring the legal implications of such weapons.
This $62 million verdict not only establishes a precedent in holding gun retailers accountable for their role in escalating gun violence but also reflects a growing trend towards increasing legal scrutiny on the firearm industry.
The victory is a part of Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight’s ongoing dedication to public impact litigation, leveraging the legal system to confront systemic issues and advocate for marginalized communities nationwide.
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