New Hampshire's new law protecting gunmakers faces first test in court over Sig Sauer lawsuit
The 2-month-old law was created by the Republican-led Legislature in response to mounting lawsuits faced by the Newington-based manufacturer over its popular P320 pistol. The lawsuits say that the gun can go off without the trigger being pulled, an allegation Sig Sauer denies.
Sig Sauer, which employs over 2,000 people in New Hampshire, said the gun is safe and the problem is user error.
Several large, multi-plaintiff cases filed since 2022 in New Hampshire's federal court representing nearly 80 people accuse Sig Sauer of defective product design, marketing, and negligence, in addition to lawsuits filed in other states. Many of the plaintiffs are current and former law enforcement officers who say they were wounded by the gun.
They say the P320 design requires an external mechanical safety, a feature that is optional. The most recent New Hampshire case, representing 22 plaintiffs in 16 states, was filed in March. It's the focus of Monday's hearing.
The new law on product liability claims against Sig Sauer and other gun manufacturers covers the 'absence or presence' of the external safety and several other optional features. Claims can still be filed over manufacturing defects.
Attorneys for Sig Sauer argue it should apply to the March case, even though the law didn't exist at the time.
'New Hampshire has a clearly articulated position against such claims being cognizable in this state,' they argue in court documents for breaking up the cases and transferring them to court districts where the plaintiffs live.
Lawyers from a Philadelphia-based firm representing the plaintiffs, disagree, saying the law 'has zero implication' on the case and only applies to future lawsuits.
New Hampshire was the chosen location because federal rules allow lawsuits against a company in its home state, the plaintiff's attorneys say. Those lawsuits have been assigned to one federal judge in Concord. Sig Sauer is trying to decentralize the case, they say.
Sig Sauer has prevailed in some cases. It has appealed two recent multimillion-dollar verdicts against it, in Pennsylvania and Georgia. A judge recently allowed the Pennsylvania verdict to stand, but vacated $10 million in punitive damages awarded to the plaintiff.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Looking ahead to the race for Rhode Island attorney general
The campaign to replace term-limited Attorney General Peter Neronha will be one of the most-watched races in the state next year. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
I Asked ChatGPT How Trump's Tax Cuts Could Impact My Family Budget — Here's the Breakdown
President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he signed on July 4, will impact millions of households, from their student loan repayments to their access to Medicaid and other social safety net programs. I, however, was most concerned with how the legislation's sweeping changes to U.S. tax law might impact my obligations to the IRS. Since my tax attorney charges by the quarter-hour for phone calls, I went with the next-best thing — ChatGPT. I asked the AI platform how Trump's tax cuts could impact my family budget. Here's what it told me. Find Out: Read Next: Many Households — Including Mine — Will Save Money The AI platform began with a bulleted list of benefits that will help many families lower their tax bill. It relied on sources such as the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Tax Policy Center to generate the section, which it titled, 'What You'll Likely Save.' This is its word-for-word synopsis of the potential savings for my family and others. Extended 2017 TCJA benefits — no major tax increases that were scheduled to take effect in 2026. Higher standard deduction — receives a $2,000 extra (married) or $1,000 (single) until 2028 on top of inflation adjustment. (CTC) — boosted to $2,500 per child through 2028, then reverts to $2,000. New tax benefits — exemption from federal tax on tips and overtime income (under $160K), a $40K state-and-local-tax (SALT) cap and a one-time $1K 'Trump account' per child. Learn More: Have a Little, Get a Little; Have a Lot, Get a Lot Next, my unofficial AI accountant used a Tax Policy Center analysis and a CBS News report to surmise that most families would see at least some benefit, with an average household tax bill reduction of $2,900 in 2026. However, it generated the following bulleted list, cited here verbatim, which showed that the 'haves' stand to gain more than the 'have-nots.' Bottom quintile households (≤ $35K income): ~$150 saved (~0.8% of income) Top quintile (≥ $217K income): ~$12,540 saved (~2.5%). Middle-income families fall in between, likely saving several hundred to a few thousand dollars annually. Taxes Aren't the Only Thing That Impact Family Budgets The platform then outlined how what it called the 'offsetting effects' of the tax cuts could shake up my family's — or anyone's — finances. This, too, is in ChatGPT's own words. Cuts to Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP) — billions in savings, but may reduce public benefits your family relies on. Reduced social safety nets — tougher work requirements; lower-income families could see net income decline despite tax cuts. Growing deficit — adds $3-$5 trillion to federal debt over 10 years, increasing future borrowing costs and potential for inflation/higher interest rates. Which Provisions Impact Which Families the Most? It included the following table to break down how different aspects of the legislation will impact different income groups. Income Level Estimated Annual Savings Key New Provisions Watch-Outs Low Income ~$150 Child Tax Credit, tip/overtime exemption Less SNAP/Medicaid Middle Income (~$50K-$100K) $500-$1,500 Standard SALT deduction bump, CTC, SALT cap Social cuts, inflation High Income (>$200K) $5K-$12K+ All above, plus SALT/ deduction benefits Future tax, interest pressure Make Your Situation as Big and Beautiful as Possible It concluded with a numbered list titled 'How To Maximize Benefits,' which outlined steps that my family and others can take to get the most out of the new changes. Use enhanced standard deduction — reduces taxable income directly. Claim full child tax credit if eligible — $2,500 per child. Take advantage of tip/overtime deductions — especially if you receive a lot of tips or extra hours. Monitor public benefits changes — if your household receives Medicaid or SNAP, check whether new work requirements or eligibility changes impact your budget. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money 6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025 This article originally appeared on I Asked ChatGPT How Trump's Tax Cuts Could Impact My Family Budget — Here's the Breakdown
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Teenage motorcyclist killed in western Minnesota crash
A teenage motorcyclist was killed in a crash in western Minnesota Monday afternoon, authorities said. The crash happened around 2:15 p.m. at southbound Highway 23 and Travis Road in Marshall, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The 16-year-old boy driving the motorcycle died at the scene. The other driver, a 67-year-old woman in a Subaru, was not hurt. The patrol released few other details about the crash. The teenager has not been publicly identified. Marshall is about 150 miles west of Minneapolis.
