Judge rules lawsuit against gun manufacturer, dealers linked to Highland Park mass shooting can proceed
A lawsuit against firearm manufacturer Smith & Wesson and two other gun dealers linked to the July Fourth 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park will be allowed to move forward, a Lake County judge ruled Tuesday.
Judge Jorge Ortiz denied Smith & Wesson's motions to dismiss counts of unfair business practices and negligence but granted a motion to dismiss allegations around deceptive business practices in a 34-page decision.
Ortiz also denied a motion to dismiss filed by the other two gun dealers named in the case, Red Dot Arms in Lake Villa and Budsgunshop.com. Lawyers and advocates hailed the decision as a 'major victory' for the plaintiffs in the case, who were injured or lost family members in the shooting.
Survivors of the shooting and its victims first accused Smith & Wesson of 'negligent and unlawful marketing' targeting people such as Robert Crimo III in September 2022. The lawsuits, now consolidated into one case, also alleged that Red Dot Arms and Bud's Gun Shop in Kentucky both facilitated Crimo's purchase of M&P 15, an AR-15-style weapon produced by the gunmaker. Crimo pleaded guilty to carrying out the shooting last month with that weapon.
'Today's historic decision sends a clear message that the gun industry does not have carte blanche to engage in irresponsible marketing of assault rifles, without any concern for the obvious dangers of such marketing,' a group of attorneys representing the plaintiffs said in a statement.
Attorneys for Smith & Wesson didn't respond to an emailed request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Crimo, now 24, pleaded guilty to the criminal charges against him on March 3 in an about-face that relieved survivors of the shooting and their families, who had been preparing to recount their experiences of that day in court.
Robert Crimo III pleads guilty to Highland Park parade shooting; Mayor calls it '1,000%' better than a trial
Crimo's father Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty in 2023 to seven counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct for sponsoring his son's firearm license application. Crimo Jr. was ordered to spend 60 days in Lake County Jail but was freed early for good behavior.
Another flurry of lawsuits was still pending against the Illinois State Police for approving Crimo's firearm owner's identification card application despite concerns he was a danger to public safety.
The civil case is next set for a hearing May 1. Crimo is set to be sentenced April 23.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Macquarie's $3.6 billion S. Korean gas firm draws interest from KKR, Brookfield and industry peers, sources say
By Kane Wu and Yantoultra Ngui HONG KONG/SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Potential bidders for Macquarie Asset Management's South Korean industrial gas firm DIG Airgas include investment firm KKR & Co, Brookfield Asset Management, and French gas supplier Air Liquide, in a deal that could fetch up to $3.6 billion, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. Macquarie has hired Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan to run the sale and is expecting non-binding bids this month, the sources said, declining to be named as the information is not public. DIG Airgas, South Korea's third-largest industrial gas producer, has also attracted interest from infrastructure funds including I Squared Capital and Stonepeak, and U.S.-based global gas and chemical firm Air Products, said the sources. The Seoul-headquartered company has about $170 million to $180 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA), and Macquarie expects a sale to value the firm at 18-20 times core earnings, said one of the sources. DIG Airgas and Air Liquide did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Macquarie, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, KKR, Brookfield, I Squared Capital and Stonepeak declined to comment. Air Products declined to comment on the sale. "South Korea is a vital and growing market, and Air Products remains committed to growing its industrial gas business serving customers safely and reliably," its spokesperson said. Established in 1979, DIG Airgas produces industrial gases, electronic gases and gas equipment, according to its website. Macquarie bought the company, formerly known as Dausung Industrial Gases, from South Korean private equity firm MBK Partners for 2.5 trillion won ($1.85 billion) in 2019, local media reported at the time. ($1 = 1,351.8900 won)
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Colorado joins lawsuit against ATF over deal ending ban on rapid-fire triggers for rifles
DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado is one of 16 states that have sued the Trump administration over its plan to allow the sale of forced-reset triggers that make semiautomatic rifles fire more rapidly and return devices already seized to their owners. The suit announced Monday argues that returning the triggers would violate federal law, pose a threat to residents and law enforcement and worsen gun violence. It was filed in federal court in Maryland. Governor signs bill requiring training for semiautomatic guns, banning rapid-fire conversion devices 'It's hard enough for our local law enforcement officials to protect Colorado communities from gun violence without the federal government willfully ignoring the law,' said Attorney General Weiser. 'The law is clear: machine guns, and devices that turn a semiautomatic weapon into a machine gun, are illegal. We're suing to stop the ATF and the administration from making our communities more dangerous by distributing thousands of devices that turn firearms into weapons of war. These weapons have no place in our communities, and I will continue to fight to keep Coloradans safe from gun violence.' The Colorado law banning the sale of rapid-fire conversion devices, including forced-reset triggers, was signed into law in April and will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2026. Second Amendment supporters have called on the U.S. Attorney General to investigate the measure as an infringement on the U.S. Constitution. Weiser said in a release announcing the state's participation in the lawsuit that machine gun conversion devices like the forced-reset triggers are frequently used in violent crimes and mass shootings. The state attorney general said that by using these devices, firearms can exceed the rate of fire of many military machine guns. 'ATF has noted a significant rise in the use of these types of devices, leading to incidents of machine-gun fire increasing by 1,400% from 2019 through 2021,' Weiser said in a press release. There had been several legal battles over the devices, which replace the typical trigger on an AR-15-style rifle. The Biden administration had previously argued the triggers qualify as machine guns under federal law because constant finger pressure on the triggers will keep a rifle firing, essentially creating an illegal machine gun. The ATF previously classified the triggers as machine guns, but under a directive from the Trump Administration, the bureau signed the settlement agreement that promises to stop enforcing federal law against the devices. New requirements begin July 1 for Colorado concealed carry permits Rare Breed Triggers, the maker of the devices, had argued that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was wrong in its classification and ignored demands to stop selling the triggers before being sued by the Biden administration. The Justice Department reached a deal announced last month with Rare Breed Triggers to allow the sale of forced-reset triggers. The company was previously represented by David Warrington, Trump's current White House counsel. Under the settlement, Rare Breed Triggers agreed not to develop such devices to be used on handguns, according to the Justice Department. The settlement requires the ATF to return triggers that it had seized or that owners had voluntarily surrendered to the government. The states' lawsuit is being led by the attorneys general of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. Other states involved are Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, along with the District of Columbia. The attorneys general in those states are all Democrats, though the office in Hawaii is technically nonpartisan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Country Star Conner Smith Kills Elderly Woman in Car Accident: Police
Originally appeared on E! Online Conner Smith is at the center of an ongoing investigation. The country artist was behind the wheel of a pickup truck that struck a pedestrian June 8 in Nashville, according to a press release from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. The 77-year-old victim, identified as Dorothy Dobbins, appeared to be walking inside a marked crosswalk when the incident occurred, according to authorities. She was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she died shortly thereafter. Authorities listed the preliminary contributing factor for the fatal accident as Smith's failure to yield the right of way to Dobbins, noting in the release that the 24-year-old showed 'no signs of impairment.' No charges have been filed in the case. One day after the tragedy, Smith's attorney addressed the matter on behalf of the musician. 'On June 8th, Mr. Smith was involved in a car accident that tragically claimed a life,' Worrick G. Robinson said in a statement to E! News. 'His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time.' More from E! Online Justin Bieber Slams "Transactional Relationships' After Hailey Bieber Split Rumors Blake Lively Breaks Silence on Legal Victory Against Justin Baldoni Farrah Abraham's Daughter Sophia Shares Rare Glimpse at Family Vacation Robinson added, 'Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.' Smith first rose to prominence in 2021 with his viral single 'I Hate Alabama' and released his debut album Smoky Mountains in 2024. Earlier in the weekend, he performed at the 2025 CMA Fest in Nashville, describing the event as a career highlight. 'I just remember coming down here and watching people on that stage and dreaming about it, and looking up to the guys on that stage,' he said in an interview with American Songwriter posted on their TikTok page June 9. 'And then when you get to be up there and see people come in and pack out that lawn for you, it feels really cool.' Smith, who wed surfer Leah Thompson in April 2024, added that having his loved ones present made the performance all the more memorable. 'We always have family and friends out here as well,' he continued, calling the gig 'a really special moment.' For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
