A federal jury in Georgia has ruled against firearms manufacturer Sig Sauer, awarding $2.3 million to a man who claimed he was shot by his own P320 pistol without pulling the trigger. This verdict could set a precedent, being the first successful litigation against the New Hampshire-based company for an alleged misfire involving this particular model.
Robert Lang, a self-described gun aficionado with extensive shooting experience, sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh in December 2018. According to legal documents, the incident occurred as he was drawing the pistol from its holster. The discharge of the firearm reportedly caused distress and panic among his family members who were present during the incident.
Evidence presented at trial led the jury to conclude that Sig Sauer had been negligent in designing the firearm, specifically noting its lack of a trigger safety. This decision has broader implications as the P320 is a popular firearm within the United States, boasting sales exceeding 2.5 million units.
Sig Sauer has expressed disagreement with the jury’s decision and plans to appeal. The company maintains that there is no substantial evidence to support the claim that the pistol has a design defect or that negligence contributed to its firing. It suggests that the incident could be a result of Lang’s handling of the firearm.
The legal woes for the P320 model don’t begin with Lang’s case. Since 2018, numerous lawsuits have been filed against Sig Sauer by both civilians and law enforcement officials, all alleging unintended discharges due to what they claim is a design flaw in the pistol.
Despite these claims, some cases have been settled out of court, including two involving police officers who similar to Lang, sustained injuries to their legs when their department-issued P320 pistols discharged accidentally.
“We call upon Sig Sauer to redesign this pistol for the safety and benefit of all users,” stated Robert Zimmerman, Lang’s attorney who is also representing other plaintiffs in P320 related lawsuits. Zimmerman highlighted the jury’s recognition of the firearm’s alleged defects and voiced a commitment to continue legal actions against the gunmaker.
In addition, before the civilian claims emerged, concerns about the P320’s safety had previously been raised in 2017 by an online firearms retailer, which noted the weapon’s potential to fire when dropped at certain angles. This led Sig Sauer to initiate a voluntary upgrade program which revised the hardware of the trigger and striker mechanisms.
The controversy surrounding the commercial version of the P320 stands in contrast to its adaptation by the U.S. military. In 2017, a modified version of the P320 was chosen as the official sidearm for the Army, a contract valued above $500 million. This model, designated as the M17 and M18 and outfitted with an external safety feature, was later adopted by other branches, including the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy.
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